#heatresistantcables

Fire safety features are essential for all buildings, particularly high-rise buildings as they present several challenges ( like accessibility, evacuation, and smoke control) that are not commonly seen in smaller buildings. Here are some of the key safety tips that our experts at RR Kabel, one of the top cable manufacturers, recommend:

1. Make sure fire safety systems are in place: Smoke alarms, fire alarms, emergency lighting systems, and fire sprinkler systems should be in working order. The supervising team should appoint trained staff for maintaining these fire safety systems.

2. Fire exits should be marked: Fire exits should be clearly marked. All the occupants of the building, whether it is residential or commercial, should be familiarised with the exits. They should know how to use them. Fire exit passage should not be used as a storage space.

3. Fire safety inspection: There are mandatory fire inspections that can help the supervising team improve their preparedness should any emergency occur.

4. Schedule a regular electrical inspection: As electrical fires caused due to short circuits are common, it is important that the supervising team arranged for electrical inspections regularly. A qualified inspector can spot potential electrical defects and prevent short circuits from occurring. A regular inspection will ensure better maintenance of the wiring system, electrical outlets, and other parts of the electrical system, thus reducing the chances of electrical fires.

5. Identify all possible causes of electrical fires: A short circuit is not the only electrical fault that can lead to electrical fires. Poor circuit designing, inadequate wire sizing, compromised circuit integrity, low maintenance of wires and cables, overloading, and poor installation of wires - can also cause a fire.

6. Superior-quality cables and wires can prevent electrical mishaps

There should be no argument that workplace safety is important.  However, sometimes it is unintentionally overlooked.  This leaves workers on the job site exposed to risks. One of the most dangerous casualties that can occur at an industrial unit is a fire outbreak. Elimination of fire hazards can be done by each worker before, during and after their tasks are being accomplished. 

The subject of fire protection is also very important to investors when they erect buildings or purchase production facilities, not least due to statutory regulations. A further problem lies with fire spreading via the cable routing paths installed in industrial units. Here, careful selection of the materials utilised is important. This has led to the awareness of cables and wires used in industrial units. Nowadays there are cables that have low smoke gas development in the event of fire, produce less (visible or invisible) toxic gases and do not conduct the flame like a fuse. Today, they are combined under the term fire protection cables. In the event of a fire, they improve the chances of survival of people and reduce the health risks associated with the inhalation of smoke.

 Different kinds of industrial hazards that can cause a fire outbreak are:

·         Combustible Dust: An insidious threat is combustible/flammable dust. This unmitigated dust which can lead to violent flash fires and explosions. There have been hundreds of dust fires and explosions over the years, many causing catastrophic loss of life and property

·         Oil&Gas: In industrial units, oil and gas can trigger fire and explosion at any time due to ignition of flammable vapours or gases. Flammable gases, such as well gases, vapours, and hydrogen sulphide, can be released from wells, production equipment or surface equipment. Ignition sources can include static, electrical energy sources, open flames, lightning, cigarettes, cutting and welding tools, hot surfaces, and frictional heat. 

·         Chemicals& Lubricants: A fire can also be triggered due to a chemical reaction that ignites a solid, liquid, or gaseous chemical compound.

·         Electrical Sparks: Exposed wiring, overloaded circuits, and static discharge can cause a spark which can thereby serve as an ignition source for combustible dust, as well as flammable liquids and gases.

Role of inflammable cable technology in industrial safety:

In order to curb the above risks and the resulting damage, the cable industry has developed highly inflammable, halogen-free cables, heat resistant cables which meet heightened safety requirements. Halogen-free means that these cables are completely free of the reactive elements bromine, iodine, fluorine and chlorine.

This has many advantages:

There are no corrosive gases released. Irritation of eyes and the respiratory tract is greatly reduced. Aggressive chemical compounds     are also not formed with the extinguishing water. This means that substantial secondary damage is not caused to the building and the     electrical installations due to corrosion.

The proportion of toxic gases is low. Dioxins are no longer emitted from burning cables.

Halogen-free Flame Retardant cables with improved performance in the event of fire are extremely flame-retardant and allow for little spreading of flames. The dreaded fuse effect does not occur, the focus of     the fire does not extend beyond the location of the fire.

Halogen-free cables with improved characteristics produce little smoke in the event of fire. Escape routes and extinguishing routes for the fire brigade are hardly impeded by dense smoke.

 Lapp India, one of the leading cable manufacturers in India has a number of such cable types in its portfolio, and beyond this heat resistant cables for circuit integrity application for Ex:  ÖLFLEX® FIRE, is cable suitable for fire application for CWZ category for 3 hours.

 Also available is the ETHERLINE® FIRE Cat.5e PH120 and HITRONIC FIRE industrial data cable designed for fixed installation inside industrial units. It guarantees record-breaking circuit integrity upon exposure to fire for at least 120 minutes and is the only cable in the market that can withstand at least two hours in fire while still transmitting data.