Approved BS 8519 Category 3 Control Cables
AEI Cables spells out risk of not using
approved Category 3 Control fire performance cables
The cost of not using approved
cabling in signal and control equipment for fire safety is being highlighted by
cabling leader AEI Cables.
The company is leading an
industry-wide campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of not using approved
cabling as specified under the revised version of BS8519, the Code of Practice
for Category 3 fire performance cables.
The systems powered by
these cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire
services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety. The
applications of Category 3 Control fire performance cables also applies to
evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice
communications systems and voice alarm systems in relevant buildings including
tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls and stadia.
Stuart Dover, General Manager
of AEI Cables, said: “If these systems fail because the cable is not able to
function properly then the consequences are apparent. Lives and property are at
stake here. Category 3 Control fire performance cables reduce harmful smoke,
toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire.
“We have seen a lot of
support for our message and our customers are seeing the peace of mind of
installing approved cables which provide continuity of power for these
systems.”
The wider fire safety industry
and professionals have also welcomed the message including the professional
fire safety membership body the Institution of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO).
AEI Cables is the only
supplier in the UK with independent approval from LPCB for BS8519 Category 3
Control fire performance cables with a fire survival time of up to 120 minutes.
AEI Cables’ Firetec
Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B),
Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control.The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains six categories of cables,
three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival
times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes.
Using the very latest in
technology and science, the Firetec Total Fire Solutions range offers Mineral
Insulated Cabling (MIC), Firetec Enhanced fire performance cabling, accessories
and technical support from the AEI Cables distribution facility at Washington,
Tyne and Wear.
All AEI Cables’ products
are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB. It also
holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and
LUL and works to international standards around the world.