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Cables and reaction to fire

lyledunn
Why do you suppose that the MHCLG did not feel it necessary to mandate levels of performance for cables with respect to their reaction to fire as was their prerogative under CPR?

Clearly the current non-prescriptive approach is either working or there is no significant evidence that cables and wiring systems have unduly contributed to the propagation of a fire or resulted in emissions that made a situation untenable when it would not have otherwise been. 

Further, what does it actually mean in the note in 422.2.1 that cables need to satisfy the requirements of the CPR in terms of their reaction to fire? I can find nothing specific in the CPR other than the need for CE marking and the requirements placed on the manufacturers for technical information.
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    OMS:

     Selecting the correct cabling plays an important part in protecting that corridor for other occupants should that room compartment be breached.




    It certainly does. I wasn't trying to say the cable shouldn't be flame retardant. I was just trying to make the point that a holistic view is important. The biggest problem is generally not with the cables as it is easy to source flame retardant cables nowadays. A much greater problem is with other materials which claim to be 'low fire spread' but when tested are not (which rather brings back memories of the cladding on Grenfell Tower....). Of course the cables could be in that situation also but the other material is generally more of a hazard if it is not as claimed.

    My problem is with 'knee-jerk reactions' as mentioned by lyledunn; a need to be seen to be doing something and implementing a change, which is then assumed to have fixed the problem. I have no problem with this change being implemented (and am in favour of it - there is no reason why you should install cables which are flammable anywhere, and certainly not in occupied buildings - but we shouldn't think that just because we have installed flame retardant cables that we have solved all the problems.

    Alasdair

    ps On the whole I agree with all that you said, though having been in hotels where the fire alarm has gone off I generally find myself wondering, as I wander towards the assembly point, whether everyone else in the building is happy to be burned alive - you can only do so much to protect the other occupants.

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  • 0

    OMS:

     Selecting the correct cabling plays an important part in protecting that corridor for other occupants should that room compartment be breached.




    It certainly does. I wasn't trying to say the cable shouldn't be flame retardant. I was just trying to make the point that a holistic view is important. The biggest problem is generally not with the cables as it is easy to source flame retardant cables nowadays. A much greater problem is with other materials which claim to be 'low fire spread' but when tested are not (which rather brings back memories of the cladding on Grenfell Tower....). Of course the cables could be in that situation also but the other material is generally more of a hazard if it is not as claimed.

    My problem is with 'knee-jerk reactions' as mentioned by lyledunn; a need to be seen to be doing something and implementing a change, which is then assumed to have fixed the problem. I have no problem with this change being implemented (and am in favour of it - there is no reason why you should install cables which are flammable anywhere, and certainly not in occupied buildings - but we shouldn't think that just because we have installed flame retardant cables that we have solved all the problems.

    Alasdair

    ps On the whole I agree with all that you said, though having been in hotels where the fire alarm has gone off I generally find myself wondering, as I wander towards the assembly point, whether everyone else in the building is happy to be burned alive - you can only do so much to protect the other occupants.

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