generally, yes, anything that could sensibly be a problem if it came detached in a fire, can, by definition cause a problem. It's ability to entangle or trip up is  not affected by what it plugs into. One might argue if it was hair thin, and broke like cotton thread, that it might not matter - otherwise, the fire risk assessment should be the same, even if you argue its a different set of regs.

Mike.

Thanks, they're arguing BS7671 is Requirements for Electrical Installations so doesn't cover data installations.

The Client's told them to install steel tie-wraps but I wondering for future instances.

is the data not carried by the movement of current in  the cables or electromagnetic waves in fibres ? They don't have to work to BS 7671, but then neither do the electricians, its not law after all.

However you'd all look pretty silly gripping the bar in court saying you ignored the advice in a British standard without being able to justify the choice of a sensible alternative that was equivalently safe.

Firstly you should ask can the cable fall anywhere if the clips fail ? - if it is already at floor level, or droops a bit but stays well above head height and is then trapped by other structural elements, then it is probably not an issue. The fact that those other elements will eventually fall sets  a cut off time, as  by then a rescue is either all over, or no longer possible.

If however long before the rest of the structure has burnt through, the cable has dropped to a level where it creates a lethal sticky garrote for folk fleeing the fire or attempting rescue, then this is the situation to be avoided.

By far the worst are things like plastic trunking running under a ceiling, as once it softens it drops everything, leaving the screws behind.

I suspect that plastic ties upwards into almost anything ,even a flammable support, are not really ever sensible  as the main means of support, as with heat from below, the plastic will always soften well before the structure above gives way.

So, whose signature is it that says it is fit for purpose fire wise and is that person happy to appear in court if required, bearing in mind his/her professional insurance would almost certainly  not back it ?

Mike.

The requirements have been removed from Part B, but they have now been included in BS9991

regards burn

That will be
BS 9991:2024 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings.

In a commercial building, the companion standard  is probably

BS 9999:2017: Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.

I don't have a current copy to hand here, but I'd be most surprised if it was not very similar.

Mike

Data cables incuding fibre oprtic cables, are covered by BS 7671 see 110.1.2 (vi). It does not surprise me that data installers are unaware of the need to comply with BS 7671 from the installations I commonly see escecialy in respect of the need to support cables just like any other cable. As for this particular case the cables should be prevented from premature collapse with metalic cable ties not nylon ties.

JP

Thanks, really appreaciated.

This is really about one's neighbour - Donahue v Stevenson. It could be washing lines. Precautions should be taken against premature collapse of any structure which might imperil fire-fighters, not just ones which can enable electrons to shuffle back and forth.