Classification route
Fire classification of construction products and building elements — Part 6: Classification of electric cables using data from reaction to fire tests.
Similarly to wall, ceiling, flooring and linear pipe thermal insulation products, all electric cables used in member states are tested using the same test methods and classified using the same classification system. Cables are tested using five test methods and classified by the provisions of EN 13501-6, a parallel standard to EN 13501-1 covering electric cable requirements.
Of these standard tests, EN 50399 is the major test procedure for reaction to fire of cables. This test specification derives from work done in an EU funded project called FIPEC — Fire Performance of Electric Cables — performed by a research group consisting of SP, Interscience Communications, ISSEP and CESI. The FIPEC project included a study of cable installations and relevant reference scenarios as well as a comprehensive test programme of different kinds of cables. This, together with subsequent industry test data, was used in the development of the proposal for the European testing and classification system.
Two round robin exercises have been carried out on EN 50399: the first by the developers of the system, the FIPEC laboratories, and the second through CENELEC across many test sites. The results were good and comparable to the results of the SBI test used for linings in Europe. The test procedure is robust and well developed, and the results are validated for real fires by using reference scenarios in the FIPEC project.
The classification system is built in the same way as that used for linings and pipe insulation, and also includes the possibility to declare optional acidity of the smoke gases (sub-classes a1, a2 and a3). Both EN 50399 and the modifications to EN 13501 were developed in CENELEC TC20 WG10, along with the Extended Application rules for assessing cable family fire performance. During both the FIPEC and CEMAC projects, FTT fire scientists — now part of intersciencefire — were seconded to Interscience Communications to oversee calibration, test, data acquisition and analysis.
| Class | Test method(s) | Classification criteria | Additional classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aca | EN ISO 1716 | PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg¹ | — |
| B1ca | EN 50399 (30 kW flame source) and EN 60332-1-2 | FS ≤ 1.75 m and THR1200s ≤ 10 MJ and peak HRR ≤ 20 kW and FIGRA ≤ 120 W/s — and H ≤ 425 mm | Smoke production²⁵ and flaming droplets/particles³ and acidity⁴ |
| B2ca | EN 50399 (20.5 kW flame source) and EN 60332-1-2 | FS ≤ 1.5 m; and THR1200s ≤ 15 MJ; and peak HRR ≤ 30 kW; and FIGRA ≤ 150 W/s — and H ≤ 425 mm | Smoke production²⁶ and flaming droplets/particles³ and acidity⁴ |
| Cca | EN 50399 (20.5 kW flame source) and EN 60332-1-2 | FS ≤ 2.0 m; and THR1200s ≤ 30 MJ; and peak HRR ≤ 60 kW; and FIGRA ≤ 300 W/s — and H ≤ 425 mm | Smoke production²⁶ and flaming droplets/particles³ and acidity⁴ |
| Dca | EN 50399 (20.5 kW flame source) and EN 60332-1-2 | THR1200s ≤ 70 MJ; and peak HRR ≤ 400 kW; and FIGRA ≤ 1300 W/s — and H ≤ 425 mm | Smoke production²⁶ and flaming droplets/particles³ and acidity⁴ |
| Eca | EN 60332-1-2 | H ≤ 425 mm | — |
| Fca | — | No performance determined | — |
Table notes
EN 50399
Evaluates the potential contribution of a cable to the early stages of a fire under direct exposure to a 20.5 kW or 30 kW flame source.
EN ISO 1716
Determines the potential maximum total heat release of a product when completely burning, regardless of its end use.
EN 60332-1-2
Evaluates the flame spread of a single vertical insulated conductor, cable or optical fibre cable exposed to a 1 kW pre-mixed flame.
EN 61034-2
Measures smoke emission when electric cables are burned under defined conditions in the 3 Metre Cube.
EN 60754-1 · EN 60754-2
Determines the degree of acidity of gases evolved during combustion of materials taken from electric cables by measuring pH and conductivity.
From Eca single-cable testing through to B1ca with smoke, droplet and acidity declarations — our team can confirm the tests your cable products require.
