SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1990
STP23523S

Generation of Smoke from Electrical Cables

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Results are presented in this paper for the generation of smoke in terms of smoke yield, mass optical density, and specific corrosion constant for electrical cables during fire propagation. The data were measured in our studies on cable fire propagation. From this study, cables have been classified into three groups based on the Fire Propagation Index.

For Group 3 cables, self-sustained fire propagation rate is expected to be very rapid, and both thermal (heat) and nonthermal (smoke) damages are expected. For Group 2 cables, self-sustained fire propagation is expected to be less rapid than for Group 3 cables. Thermal and nonthermal fire damages are expected from Group 2 cables, although the severity is expected to be less than for Group 3 cables. For Group 1 cables, self-sustained fire propagation is expected to be difficult. In the presence of external heat fluxes or cable overheating due to electrical faults, fire propagation is expected to be sustained. For Group 1 cables, thermal fire damage is not expected; however, depending on the cables, nonthermal fire damage is expected. For Group 1A cables, nonthermal fire damage is not expected, and for Group 1B cables, nonthermal damage is expected.

The data from the study suggest that nonthermal fire damage is not expected if the following conditions are satisfied: (1) Fire Propagation Index is less than 10; (2) smoke yield is less than 0.30 g/g; (3) mass optical density is less than 0.11 m2/g; and (4) the specific corrosion constant of the cable is less than 0.92 × 10-6 μm/h ppm.

Author Information

Tewarson, A
Factory Mutual Research Corp., Norwood, MA
Khan, MM
Factory Mutual Research Corp., Norwood, MA
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Developed by Committee: E05
Pages: 100–117
DOI: 10.1520/STP23523S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5140-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1386-2