Fire Performance Standard

American & Canadian

Fire Resistance Level

Test Requirement

NEC Article

NEC Article

NEC Article

NEC Article

800

770

725

760

Communication/ Multipurpose Cable

Optical Fibre Cable

Class 2/3 Cable

Power Limited, Fire protective signaling circuit cable

Residential Cables

Restricted use (Lowest)

UL1581 VW-1 CSA-FT1

CMX

N.A.

CL3X CL2X

N.A.

General Purpose Cables

UL-1581 (Vertical Tray)

CSA-FT4 (Vertical Tray)

MP CM

OFN OFC

CL3 CL2

FPL

Riser Communication Cables

UL1666 (Vertical Shaft)

CSA-FT4 (Vertical Tray)

MPP CMR

OFNR OFCR

CL3R CL2R

FPLR

Plenum Communication Cables (Highest)

UL-910 (Steiner Tunnel)

CSA-FT6 (Steiner Tunnel)

MPP CMP

OFNP OFCP

CL3P CL2P

FPLP


European

Property

Grade

Applicable Standard

Definition

Flame Retardancy

PVC/LSZH

IEC 332-1

A single cable is clamped vertically in a metal screen and a flame is applied for 60 sec. The cable has to be self extinguishing.

CEI 20-35

Reduced flame propagation

PVC/LSZH

IEC 332-3A/B/C

The test measures the non propagation of fire of a bunch of cables. With a number of cable pieces of 3.5m long each, the cable are subject to burning by a horizontal flame for 20 mins (part C) or 40 mins (part A) and must not burn for more than 2.5m from the top of the burner.

VDE 0472, part 804 A/B/C

BS 4066 part 3A/B/C

CEI20-22 2/3

NBN C30.004

NFC 32070 C1-C2

IEEE 383

Smoke Density

LSZH

IEC 1034 part 1 & 2

The test measures the level of light transmittance of the sample prepared per IEC 1034-2 using the apparatus specified IEC 1034+1. It measures the value of smoke generated (AO) in a 3m cube test chamber.

VDE 0472 part 816

BS 6742

CEI 2037-3

NFF 16101

UNE 21-172 part 1&2

ASTM E-662

Acid Gas Emission (Halogen Content)

LSZH

IEC 754 part 1

The test measures the halogen gas (HCL) content evolved during combustion. The 0.5% acid has been accepted as a working definition of zero halogen.

VDE 0472 part 815

BS 6425-part 1

CEI 2037-1

UNE 21-147 P1

Corrosive Gas Emission

LSZH

IEC 754-part 2

The amount of acid gas evolved during combustion is expressed in terms of a) conductivity of a solution of the gas in water, in which case the lower the result the lower the acid gas concentration and b) the pH of the solution, in which case the lower the value the higher the acid gas concentration.

VDE 0472 part 813

BS 6425-part2

UNE 21-147 P2

Toxicity Index

LSZH

NES 713

A analysis of the gases evolved when the test specimen is burned and a toxicity index is calculated from the analysis, being weighted according to the known toxicity of the gas present.

CEI 2037-2

UNE 21-174

UITP vol 1

NFF 63808 NFF 16101

Oxygen Index

LSZH

BS 2782-1Method 141

This test gives a measure of the polymers flammability characteristics. It measures the minimum concentration of oxygen in an atmosphere of oxygen and nitrogen which will just sustain combustion of the test specimen.

ASTM S-2863

ISO 4589-2

Flammability Temperature Index

LSZH

BS 2782-1 Method 143

With the oxygen concentration kept constant at 21% in the oxygen index test, the test temperature is varied until the combustion is just sustained.