A working fire detection and alarm system will increase the level of safety in a building by automatically warning occupants of fire before they would otherwise detect it.
To ensure the system works, the system must be designed correctly, products must be correctly selected and the systems must be correctly installed and maintained. It is recommended that all systems are designed, installed, commissioned and maintained by contractors who are approved by LPCB to LPS 1014 and that they are connected to Alarm Receiving Centres approved to LPS 1020.
Listings in this section include:
Products
Control and indicating equipment including voice alarm and power supplies
• Wireless, flame, beam, aspirating, smoke, heat and multi-sensor detectors
• Manual call points
• Line units including input and output devices
• Alarm warning devices including visual alarms, loudspeakers and sounders
• Cables
• Alarm transmission equipment
• Signalling systems
• Products are approved in accordance with a range of standards. The details of these standards are given at the front of each section relevant to the product. Some of the above products may be hard wired or wireless (Radio link). Wireless products should also be approved to EN 54-25.
Systems
Fire detection and alarm systems are approved for system compatibility in accordance with:
LPS 1054: Requirements and testing procedures for the approval and listing of component compatibility for fire detection and alarm systems.
• EN 54 - Part 13: Compatibility assessment for system components.
Design, installation, commissioning and maintenance contractors
Contractors are approved in accordance with:
LPS 1014: Requirements for certificated fire detection and alarm system firms.
LPS 1020: Alarm Receiving Centres
Fire rated cables
This section is split into two categories, section 8.1 fire resistant cables and section 8.2 fire retardant cables.
Both types of cables are required to perform differently in the event of a fire.
Fire resistant cables are designed such that in the event of a fire they maintain circuit integrity
Fire retardant cables are designed such that in the event of a fire they limit the generation and spread of fire and smoke.
Fire resistant cables
This section lists fire resistant cables for use in fire safety, fire detection and fire alarm systems and other applications where specifications require cables with specific performance in the event of a fire.
BS 5839-1:2013 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for system design, installation, commissioning and maintenance
BS 5839-1:2013 includes requirements for fire resistant cables for fire detection and alarm systems. It calls for ‘Standard’ and ‘Enhanced’ fire resistant cables and defines the requirements for these in Clause 26.2. These cables have to comply with EN 60702-1 (with a polymeric sheath), BS 7629-1 or BS 7846.
‘Standard’ fire resisting cables also have to:
a) achieve at least Class PH30 when tested in accordance with EN 50200:2006.
and
b) maintain circuit integrity when exposed to a special flame / mechanical shock / water spray sequence equivalent to achieving a duration of 30 minutes when tested in accordance with EN 50200:2006 Annex E.
‘Enhanced’ fire resisting cables also have to:
a) achieve a 120 minute survival when tested in accordance with EN 50200:2006,
and
b) maintain circuit integrity when exposed to a special flame / mechanical shock / water spray sequence equivalent to achieving a duration of 120 minutes when tested in accordance with BS 8434-2:2003+A2:2009.
Only cables complying with these requirements are listed as ‘Standard’ or ‘Enhanced’ under BS 5839-1, Clause 26.2.
BS 8519:2010 Selection and installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems for life safety and fire-fighting applications - Code of practice
BS 8519:2010 gives guidance and recommendations on the selection and installation of power and control cable systems which are required to maintain their circuit integrity for life safety and fire-fighting applications. It also gives specific recommendations for electrical system design for such applications, and recommended limits for survival times.
Category 1: means of escape (30 min fire survival time).
• power cables of 20 mm overall diameter and above meeting the 30 min survival time when tested in accordance with BS 8491, or
• control cables meeting the PH30 classification when tested in accordance with EN 50200:2006, and the 30 min survival time when tested in accordance with Annex E of that standard
Category 2: means of escape (60 min fire survival time).
• power cables of 20 mm overall diameter and above meeting the 60 min survival time when tested in accordance with BS 8491 or
• control cables meeting the PH60 classification when tested in accordance with EN 50200:2006, and the 120 min survival time when tested in accordance with BS 8434-2:2003+A2:2009
Category 3: fire-fighting (120 min fire survival time).
• power cables of 20 mm overall diameter and above meeting the 120 min survival time when tested in accordance with BS 8491, or
• control cables meeting the PH120 classification when tested in accordance with EN 50200:2006, and the 120 min survival time when tested in accordance with BS 8519 Annex B.
Building Regulations 2010 - Fire Safety - Approved Document B
The Building Regulations 2010 - Fire Safety - Approved Document B - Volume 2 - Buildings other than dwelling houses defines a protected power circuit to be able to continue to function during a fire. A protected circuit for operation of equipment in the event of fire should consist of a cable meeting at least the requirements of PH30 when tested in accordance with EN 50200. Larger or complex buildings may require fire protection systems to operate for extended periods during fire and guidance on such systems is given in BS 5839-1, BS 5266-1 and BS 8491 (BS 7346-6).
Other Standards Used
The other standards and test methods currently used for certification are listed below. This list includes some "withdrawn" standards. Where possible, these will be replaced by the superseding standards when certificates are renewed. However, where withdrawn standards are called up by current standards, certification to the withdrawn standard may need to be maintained until the calling standard is amended to remove the reference:
- BS 6387:1994 Performance requirements for cables required to maintain circuit integrity under fire conditions
- BS 7629-1:1997 Thermosetting insulated cables with limited circuit integrity when affected by fire. Part 1: Multicore cables
- BS 7629-1:1997 (Incorporating Amendment Nos.1 and 2) Thermosetting insulated cables with limited circuit integrity when affected by fire. Part 1: Multicore cables (The provisions introduced by amendment No.1: 2004 are effective from 1st April 2004)
- BS 7629-1:2008 Electric cables - Specification for 300/500 V fire resistant screened cables having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire - Part 1: Multicore and multipair cables
- BS 7846:2000 Electric cables 600/1000V armoured fire-resistant cables having thermosetting insulation and low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire
- BS 7846:2009 Electric cables - Thermosetting insulated, armoured, fire - resistant cables of rated voltage 600/1 000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire - Specification
- BS 8434-2:2003+A2:2009 Method of test for assessment of the fire integrity of electric cables - Part 2: test for unprotected small cables for use in emergency circuits- EN 50200 with a 930°C flame and with water spray
- BS 8491:2008 Method for assessment of fire integrity of large diameter power cables for use as components for smoke and heat control systems and other certain active fire safety systems
- BS 8519:2010 Selection and installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems for life safety and fire-fighting applications - Code of practice
- EN 50200:2006 Method of test for resistance to fire of unprotected small cables for use in emergency circuits
- EN 50267-2-1:1999 Common test method for cables under fire conditions- tests on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - procedures - Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas
- EN 50267-2-3:1999 Common test methods for cables under fire conditions - Tests on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Procedure 2-3: Procedures - Determination of degree of acidity of gases for cables by determination of the weighted average of pH and conductivity
- EN 60332-3:2009 Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions - Part 3: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables
- EN 60702-1:2002 Mineral insulated cables and their terminations with rated voltage not exceeding 750V - Part 1: Cables
- EN 61034-2:2005 Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions - Part 2: Test procedure and requirements (IEC 61034-2)
- EN 61034-2: 2005 Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions
- IEC 60331-1:2009 - Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 1: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature of at least 830°C for cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0kV and with an overall diameter exceeding 20mm.
- IEC 60331-2:2009 - Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 2: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature of at least 830°C for cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0kV and with an overall diameter not exceeding 20mm.
- IEC 60331-21:1999 Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 21 Procedure and requirements - Cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0kV
- IEC 60332-3:2009 Tests on electric cables under fire conditions - Part 3: Tests on bunched wires or cables
- IEC 60754-1:2011 Tests on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Part 1: Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas
- IEC 60754-2:2011 Tests on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Part 2: Determination of acidity (by pH measurement) and conductivity
- IEC 61034-2:2005 Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions
Notes:
1) The rated voltages Uo/U recognised for BS 6387:1994 are, 300/500V and 450/750V, and for BS 7629-1 are 300/500V, where Uo is the power-frequency voltage to earth and U is the power-frequency voltage between conductors.
2) Testing of single core cable to BS 6387:1994 is not recognised by the standard. This is because it requires the cable to have at least two metallic elements. Therefore LPCB approval of single core cable is based on the cable being tested in a stainless steel conduit.
3) All BS 6387 approvals must include EN 50267-2-1 (acid gas) and EN 61034-2 (smoke density) testing
4) MICC Cables approved to BS 5839-1:2002+A2:2008 Clause 26.2 must be sheathed with an overall polymeric covering.
5) EN 50200:2006 Annex E and BS 8434-2:2003+A2:2009 provide methods of test that meet the requirements for a special flame / mechanical shock / water spray sequences described in BS 5839-1:2013, Clause 26.2 d) and e), respectively.
6) BS 8491 does not cover cables with a voltage rating that exceeds 600/1000V or where the external cable diameter is less than 20mm.
7) BS 8519 standard covers both Power and Control cables; different test methods apply to each cable type. Control cables up to & including 4.0mm2 can be approved to BS 8519.
Fire retardant cables
This section lists fire retardant cables for use in fire safety, fire detection and fire alarm systems and other applications where specifications require cables with specific performance in the event of a fire.
Flame retardant cables are designed with the objective of limiting the generation and spread of fire and smoke.
The below list is typical of the standards to which apply to fire retardant cables
• EN 50267-2-1:Common test method for cables under fire conditions- tests on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - procedures - Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas
• EN 50267-2-3:Common test methods for cables under fire conditions - Tests on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Procedure 2-3: Procedures - Determination of degree of acidity of gases for cables by determination of the weighted average of pH and conductivity
• EN 60332-3: Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions - Part 3: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables
• EN 61034-2: Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions - Part 2: Test procedure and requirements (IEC 61034-2)
• EN 61034-2: Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions
• IEC 60754-1: Tests on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Part 1: Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas
• IEC 60754-2: Tests on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Part 2: Determination of acidity (by pH measurement) and conductivity
• IEC 61034-2 Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions
• IEC 60332-2-22 Tests on electric cables under fire conditions Part 3: test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables Section 22: category A
• IEC 60332-2-23 Tests on electric cables under fire conditions Part 3: test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables Section 23: category B
• IEC 60332-2-24 Tests on electric cables under fire conditions Part 3: test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables Section 24: category C
• IEC 60332-2-25 Tests on electric cables under fire conditions Part 3: test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables Section 25: category D
• EN 60332-1-2, Reaction to fire, Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions - Part 1 - 2: Test for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable - Procedure for 1 kW pre-mixed flame
