- Author
-
Goransson, U.
- Title
- Brandforlopp i kabelstrak - en forstudie at Brandforsk. [Fires in Cables - A Pilot Study for Brandforsk.]
- Coporate
- Swedish National Testing and Research Inst., Boras, Sweden
- Report
-
SP Report 1991:20
1992
38 p.
- Keywords
-
cables
|
fire tests
|
quality control
- Abstract
- [ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH] In this report several research articles and reports on fire testing of cables are described. Conclusions are drawn from the obtained information and a research program based on those conclusions is presented. The fire properties of cables are normally tested according to IEC 332-3. This method is working relatively well for finding the worst cables. The method has, however, some shortcomings. The precision is not good. A test according to the method cannot give a quantitative measure but only divide products in passes or fails. Cables with good fire properties may not be ranked properly. The test results from the method cannot be used for theoretical fire safety engineering. The cost for testing is relatively high due to the large scale test apparatus. To avoid these shortcomings the method should be revised or replaced by a better test method. The changes that ought to be done are primarily these: Measurements of heat release rate should be included in the test; Measurements of smoke production and production of toxic or corrosive gases should be included as an option; The burner heat output should be increased to distinguish between better products. A suitable methodology for classification testing of cables should include a standardized full-scale test scenario as a reference combined with a small scale test method, preferably the cone calorimeter. To make such a system running a representative full-scale method has to be found. This must give a good picture of the most important fire hazards. The small-scale test method is needed for classification tests and preferably also for quality control and development of new products. Finally a model is needed that correlates the results from the small-scale method with the performance in full scale.