• • • SAFETY IN ENGINEERING • • •


The risk of not using approved Category 3 Control fire performance cables


Stuart Dover, general manager of AEI Cables, highlights the cost of not using approved cabling in signal and control equipment for fire safety


A


EI Cabnle is leading an industry-wide campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of not using approved cabling as


specified under the revised version of BS8519: 2020, the Code of Practice for Category 3 fire performance cables. The systems powered by these cables –


including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety. The applications of Category 3 Control fire performance cables also applies to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems in relevant buildings including tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls and stadia. If these systems fail because the cable is not


able to function properly then the consequences are apparent. Lives and property are at stake here. Category 3 Control fire performance cables reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire.


We have seen a lot of support for our message


and our customers are seeing the peace of mind of installing approved cables which provide continuity of power for these systems. The wider fire safety industry and professionals


have also welcomed the message including the professional fire safety membership body the Institution of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO). The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains


six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes. Under the detail of the revised standard, the


practical applications of Category 3 Control fire performance cables extend to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems in relevant buildings including tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, care homes, shopping malls and stadia. The new Code is intended to inform and guide designers, contractors, fire engineers, regulators


and enforcers including building control bodies, fire authorities, Health and Safety inspectors and equipment suppliers and manufacturers. The gives guidance and recommendations on


the selection and installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems that need to maintain their circuit integrity for life safety and firefighting. It is primarily intended for use in buildings


which, due to their size, height, form or use, require the installation of life safety and fire- fighting systems, e.g. sprinkler pumps, wet riser pumps, smoke control systems, fire-fighting and evacuation lifts or other systems as required by a fire engineering strategy. We feel strongly about this issue as a matter of


safety and compliance. Using inferior types of cable for these applications is dangerous and posing a major risk. We are receiving a very positive response from customers who appreciate the information on an issue of such importance. Indeed, these cables also help fire and rescue services to fight a fire and evacuate people in the event of an incident so we shouldn’t underestimate their importance. The standard clearly references and clarifies the


products and levels of performance that should be used from specifiers to contractors and installers. Appropriate cable tests are identified for each


cable category derived from applicable British Standards assessing cable performance under conditions of fire as might be expected in an actual fire incident. BS 8519:2020 also aims to ensure that the level


of circuit fire integrity is not compromised by other components of the whole electrical distribution system, including cable glands, terminations, joints and cable support systems. As the only supplier in the UK with independent


approval from LPCB for BS8519 Category 3 Control fire performance cables with a fire survival time of up to 120 minutes, AEI Cables offers full technical advice services. AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has


been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control. It also holds approvals from organisations


including BASEC, Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world.


14 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • MARCH 2022


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


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