4 – FIRE PERFORMANCE bunched cables fixed on a vertical 3.

5 m ladder (see
Part 10 – apparatus).
The fire propagation along a bunch of cables depends on:
Nexans Research Center has adapted a program of
• the volume of combustible exposed to fire
constant improvement for insulation and sheathing
• the geometrical configuration of the cables installation
materials, and cable designs.
(touching or spaced)
Some developments ensure fire performance characte- • the temperature at which it is possible to ignite any
ristics for the Nexans shipboard cables range as flame emitted gases from the cables
et fire retardancy, smoke and fumes emission, fire resis- • the quantity of combustible gas released from the
tance integrity and cable recycling after life time. cables
• the volume of air passing through the cables installation
Nexans shipboard cables are fully withstanding the
requirements the following IEC standards: Nexans provides fire retardant IEC60092 series
shipboard cables meeting the requirements of the
4-1 Flame retardancy: IEC 60332-1 general standard Part 350 that specifies category 22
in touching configuration in one or more layers.
Test on a single vertical insulated
IEC 60332-3 standard indicates 5 categories depending
wire or cable on 2 parameters:
This simple test provides an adequate evaluation of the • the volume of combustible material ( insulation, filler
flame retardant characteristic of a single cable. and sheaths)
Depending on the cable size (diameter and weight) a • the duration of flame exposition ( 20 or 40 minutes)
regulated flame is continuously applied for a calculated For specific and small cables (diameter < 12 mm), fire
time to the cable. test is according to the new category (25 previously D)
The test is passed if the cable has self extinguished and test category that needs less cable quantity.
the burnt portion of the cable has not reached the top
of the sample. Volume of
Test Time of flame
Flame Retardant IEC 60332-1
combustible
category application (min)
(litres/mètres)

21 (A F/R) 7 40
22 (A) 7 40
23 (B) 3.5 40
24 (C) 1.5 20
25 (D) 0.5 20

4-2 Fire retardancy: IEC 60332-3

Test on bunched wires or cables
Copyright © April 2009 - Nexans

Cables, when installed, vertically or horizontally laid,

bunched on cable trays, in conduit or pipes, are potential
vectors for fire propagation. Fire retardant test according
to the IEC 60332-3-22 - Cables installed
in group on a vertical ladder
This test was developed to obtain a method to deter-
mine the fire propagation characteristic of a group of

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 4-3 Fire resistance: IEC 60331 • for data cables (Part 23 - procedure and requirement)
• for optical fiber cables (Part 25 - procedure and
Test of fire resistance integrity of cables requirement)
In case of fire, some circuits must maintain the power For electrical cables, tests are passed if no breakdown
supply for vital safety equipment as emergency lighting, occurs (no failure of the fuses).
alarm systems, fire pumps…
Nexans proposes a large range: power, control and
IEC 60331 standard determines the circuit integrity of instrumentation of fire resistant shipboard cables tested
a cable during and after a prolonged fire with different with test equipment specified in Part 11 and test
test equipments and test methods: method in Part 21.
• flame at 750°C temperature during 90 minutes
To meet these requirements, Nexans offers the traditional
applied to a horizontal cable under the nominal
technology with lapped mica tape + extruded XLPE
voltage (Part 11 - apparatus and Part 21 - procedure
insulation system; and has developed a specific INFITTM
and requirements)
technology with HF90 extruded compound. This new
• flame at 850°C temperature during 90 minutes with
insulation gives installation advantages: easier insulation
shocks on the ladder support applied to a cable
stripping and secured connexions.
under the nominal voltage (Part 12 - apparatus and
Part 31 - procedure and requirements)

Fire resistant test according

to IEC 60331 Part 11 & 21

Fire resistant test according

to IEC 60331 Part 12 & 31

18
 4-4 Measurements
of combustion gases:
IEC 60754 Part 1 & 2
Part 1: this test permits the determi-
nation of the amount of halogen
gas emitted during the combustion
of the different polymeric compounds
(insulation, filler, sheaths) taken
from a cable.
Part 2: this test determinates the
degree of acidity of gases by
measuring pH and conductivity.

4-5 Smoke density:

IEC 61034
(27 m3 chamber)
In case of fire; smoke emissions
considerably reduce the visibility
Measurements test equipment
on board. of combustion gases according to the
IEC 60754-1/60754-2
Passenger evacuation has to be
held in a very short time.
Therefore materials used in ships
should not spread a lot of opaque
smoke.
Nexans shipboard cables are
designed to withstand the require-
ments of IEC 61034 based on the
27 m3 test developed by the
London Transport Executive
Research Laboratory.
This test permits to measure the
density of smoke emitted from burning
cables (light transmittance).
Part 1: apparatus including light
measurement, fire source, smoke
mixing method and qualification
procedure
Part 2: procedure and requirements.
Copyright © April 2009 - Nexans

Measurement of smoke opacity - 27m3 - Chamber

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