What is FP500?
FP500 is the latest addition to the Prysmian fire performance cable range, but what are its benefits and why is it important?
Ensuring life safety and fire-fighting systems work during a fire is essential, and only fire resistant cables are designed to ensure this. These are critical in helping to protect the lives of those unable to evacuate or those needing to use a disabled refuge.
These systems are also designed to protect fire-fighters and other emergency workers whilst they carry out their duties during a fire and are essential for public buildings. Prysmian FP fire resistant cables are produced in the UK and have been for almost 50 years. They have been developed to satisfy the increasing demand for fire detection, fire alarms, and other life safety and fire-fighting systems in large and complex buildings.
A spotlight on FP500
FP500 is the latest fire resistant cable in the Prysmian FP cable range. FP500 is designed to satisfy Cat 3 Control Cable requirements for BS 8519 for life safety and fire-fighting systems. This includes where the control cable is to be used as a single phase power cable.
In short, FP500 cables are part of the control circuitry of a particular emergency system that is required to operate when a fire is detected. This includes life safety and fire-fighting equipment such as, evacuation route pressurisation, sprinkler pumps plus smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems (SHEVs).
FP500 features galvanised steel wire armour mechanical protection built in which delivers extra confidence when comparing with unarmoured Cat 3 control cables, which require additional mechanical protection to be installed. Prysmian FP500 cables help electrical professionals save time on the installation, and there is no need for special tools or glands.
What British Standards does FP500 meet?
It is essential that fire resistant cables continue to work during a fire, which is why they must undergo rigorous testing. Prysmian Group has a team of fire testing engineers in Eastleigh, UK who conduct 1,500 tests every year. FP500 meets the requirements of three British Standard fire tests – as certified in the Prysmian Group Fire Test Lab.
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BS EN 50200 – Test resistance to fire and mechanical impact
BS EN 50200 is the UK approved fire test for small cables with a 120 minute duration for ‘enhanced’ cables designed to have an intrinsic resistance to fire, and intended for use as emergency circuits for alarm, lighting and communication purposes. Cables are tested at a temperature of (830 +40)°C propane-oxygen flame and are also tested for regular indirect impact using 25mm diameter steel bar.
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BS 8434-2 – Test resistance to fire and mechanical impact with water spray
BS 8434-2 is, in total, a 120-minute test which assesses circuit integrity when the cable is exposed to direct flame, mechanical shock and a water spray. All the elements of the test are conducted on the same cable sample in the same period. The cable is tested at a temperature of (930 + 40)°C propane-oxygen flame, and is tested for indirect impact using 25mm diameter steel bar. Cables are tested for 60 mins flame and impact, followed by 60 mins flame, impact and water spray.
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BS 8519 – Annex D
BS 8519:2020 identifies electrical loads designed as life safety or fire-fighting applications, giving specific recommendations for cable fire survival times. Annex D of the standard refers specifically to the testing of Category 3 control cables of core sizes up to, and including, 4mm2 cross sectional area. Cables are tested at the same temperature and indirect impact as they are in BS 8434-2 but are tested here for 115 mins flame and impact followed by 5 mins flame, impact and water spray.
Visit the web catalogue for more information on FP500.
Prysmian FP cables are the original, easy to install, and fully compliant range of fire resistant cables approved by engineers, installers and regulators. Learn more about Prysmian FP cables and discover how they can not only help save lives in a fire, but also provide greater protection to property.