BS 6387: 1994

Specification for performance

requirements for cables
required to maintain circuit
integrity under fire conditions

WF Report Number:

147709

Test Sponsor:

FTC - Fabbrica Trentina

Conduttori Srl

Date:

9th August 2005

 WF Report No. 147709

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Warringtonfire Report No. 147709

BS 6387: 1994
Specification for performance
requirements for cables required to
maintain circuit integrity under fire
conditions

Sponsored By

FTC - Fabbrica Trentina Conduttori Srl

Sud Tirol KabelWerke
Via Pineta 21B
38068 Rovereto (TN)
Italy

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 WF Report No. 147709

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CONTENTS PAGE NO.

TEST DETAILS................................................................................................................. 4

DESCRIPTION OF TEST SPECIMEN................................................................................. 5

TEST RESULTS ................................................................................................................ 7

VALIDITY & SIGNATORIES............................................................................................. 8

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Test Details
Purpose of test To determine the performance of a specimen of a cable when it is subjected to
the conditions of test specified in BS6387: 1994 "Specification for performance
requirements for cables required to maintain circuit integrity under fire
conditions".

Scope of test BS 6387: 1994 specifies methods of test for resistance to fire, resistance to fire
with water and resistance to fire and mechanical shock. The specification
recommends three test categories which are as follows :-

Resistance to fire alone (Section D.2): Tests are carried out at:

Category

6500C for 3 hours A

0
750 C for 3 hours B
9500C for 3 hours C
0
950 C for 20 minutes S

Resistance to fire with water (Section D.3): W

Resistance to fire and mechanical shock (Section D.4): Tests are carried out at:

Category

6500C X
7500C Y
0
950 C Z

At the request of the sponsor, tests in accordance with the procedures defined
in Section D.2 (at a temperature of 950°C and rated voltage of 500V-rms for a
period of three hours), Section D.3 and Section D.4 (at a temperature of 950°C
and rated voltage of 500V-rms for a period of fifteen minutes) of the standard
have been performed to determine compliance with the requirements of
Categories C, W & Z.

Instruction to The tests were conducted on the 29th & 30th June 2005 at the request of FTC –
test Fabbricca Trentina Conduttori S.r.l., the sponsor of the test.

Provision of test The specimens were supplied on 19th June 2005 by the sponsor of the test.
specimens Warringtonfire was not involved in any selection or sampling procedure.

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Description of Test Specimen

The description of the cable given below has been prepared from information provided by the sponsor
of the test. All values quoted are nominal, unless tolerances are given.

Plate 1 – Detail of test specimen

Product reference ‘Eurosafe’

Cable function Fire systems connections
Number of cores x core size 4 x 1.50 mm²
Voltage rating 300 / 500 V
Overall diameter 9.3 mm
Composition Solid plain annealed copper wire
Conductors Cross-sectional area of each conductor 1.50 mm²
Weight per unit length 13.52 kg/km
Name of manufacturer See Note 1 below
Composition Silicon rubber
Colours Brown, Blue, Grey & Black
Thickness 0.6 mm
Density or weight per unit length 1.23 kg/dm3
Conductor
Name of manufacturer FTC Fabbrica Trentina Conuttori S.r.l.
insulation
The sponsor of the test has
confirmed that no flame retardant
Details of flame retardant
additives were utilised in the
production of the component
Composition Polyester
Colour Transparent
Clear tape Thickness 12 µm
(surrounding the
Weight per unit area See Note 1 below
four conductors)
Name of manufacturer See Note 1 below
Details of flame retardant See Note 1 below

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Composition Solid tinned copper

Cross-sectional area 0.28 mm²
Drain wire
Weight per unit length 2.5 kg/km
Name of manufacturer See Note 1 below
Composition Aluminium / polyester laminate tape
Thickness 25 µm
Electrostatic Weight per unit area See Note 1 below
screen
Name of manufacturer See Note 1 below
Details of flame retardant See Note 1 below
Composition See Note 1 below
Colour reference Red
Average thickness 0.9 mm
Outer sheath Density or weight per unit area 1.48 kg/dm3
Name of manufacturer FTC Fabbrica Trentina Conuttori S.r.l.
Details of flame retardant See Note 1 below
Cable markings None
Brief description of The conductor wires are insulated by extrusion of a continuous
manufacturing process silicon rubber layer, which has been high temperature cross-linked.
The cores are then twisted together and then screened. The
sheathing is then applied by a semi-compression extrusion process.

Note 1 – The sponsor was unwilling to provide this information

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Test Results
Test results The test results relate only to the behaviour of the specimens of the cable
under the particular conditions of test; they are not intended to be the sole
criterion for assessing the potential fire hazards of the product in use.

Resistance to fire alone (Section D.2, Category C)

When tested in accordance with the procedures specified in Section D.2 of the
standard, for a period of 3 hours at a temperature of 9500C and a rated voltage
of 500V-rms, the cable maintained it’s circuit integrity and consequently satisfied
the performance requirements specified in BS 6387: 1994.

Resistance to fire with water (Section D.3, Category W)

When tested in accordance with the procedures specified in Section D.3 of the
standard, for a period of 30 minutes at a temperature of 6500C and a rated
voltage of 500V-rms, the cable maintained it’s circuit integrity and consequently
satisfied the performance requirements specified in BS 6387: 1994.

Resistance to fire and mechanical shock (Section D.4, Category Z)

When tested in accordance with the procedures specified in Section D.4 of the
standard, for a period of 15 minutes at a temperature of 9500C and a rated
voltage of 500V-rms, the cable maintained it’s circuit integrity and consequently
satisfied the performance requirements specified in BS 6387: 1994.

Applicability of The test results relate only to the specimen of the cable in the form in which it
test result was tested. Small differences in the composition of the product may significantly
affect the performance during the test and may therefore invalidate the test
results. Care should be taken to ensure that any product, which is supplied or
used, is fully represented by the specimen, which was tested.

Conclusion When tested in accordance with BS 6387: 1994: Section D.2, D.3 and
D.4 the cable meets the criteria for Categories C, W and Z.

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Validity & Signatories

The specification and interpretation of fire test methods are the subject of ongoing development and
refinement. Changes in associated legislation may also occur. For these reasons it is recommended
that the relevance of test reports over five years old should be considered by the user. The laboratory
that issued the report will be able to offer, on behalf of the legal owner, a review of the procedures
adopted for a particular test to ensure that they are consistent with current practices, and if required
may endorse the test report.

This report may only be reproduced in full. Extracts or abridgements shall not be published without
permission of warringtonfire.

Responsible Officer
P Webb*

Authorised
P E Lythgoe*

* For and on behalf of warringtonfire.

Report Issued: 9th August 2005

This version of the report has been produced from a .pdf format electronic file that has been provided
by warringtonfire to the sponsor of the report and must only be reproduced in full. Extracts or
abridgements of reports must not be published without permission of Warrington Fire Research Centre.
The original signed paper version of this report, which includes signatures in blue ink, is the sole
authentic version. Only original paper versions of this report bear authentic signatures of the
responsible warringtonfire staff.

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