BS 7846:2009
Electric cables - Thermosetting insulated, armoured, fire-resistant cables of rated voltage 600/1000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire - Specification

Standard No.

BS 7846:2009

Release Date

2009

Published By

British Standards Institution (BSI)

Status

Be replaced 2015-11

Replace By

BS 7846:2015

Latest

BS 7846:2015

Replace

BS 7846:2000

Scope

This British Standard specifies requirements for construction and performance, and describes methods of test, for armoured, fire‑resistant cables with thermosetting insulation and of rated voltage 600/1 000 V and low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire. The circuit integrity performance under fire conditions is assessed on the basis of various tests which either separately measure resistance to fire, resistance to fire with water spray, and resistance to fire with mechanical shock (Category F2) or in combination measure resistance to fire with direct mechanical impact and water jet (Categories F30, F60 and F120). Cables specified in this standard are intended for use in fixed installations in industrial areas, buildings and similar applications, where maintenance of power supply during a fire is required for a defined period of time. NOTE 1 Attention is drawn to the fact that the ability of a given cable to meet a particular category in this standard refers only to the test conditions stated, and the level of performance achieved in a particular installation can be influenced by actual installation conditions. Cables covered by this standard have limited evolution of smoke and corrosive gases when assessed under the fire conditions as specified in BS EN 61034-2 and BS EN 50267-2-1. In this standard, the level of corrosive (and acid) gases is determined by measurement of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in accordance with BS EN 50267-2-1. The insulation and other components are suitable to permit operation of the cables at a maximum sustained conductor temperature of 90 °C and for a maximum short-circuit conductor temperature of 250 °C. NOTE 2 Limitation on the temperature of the cables may be imposed in situations where they may be touched. NOTE 3 Due to the relatively high conductor temperature, there is a risk of drying out the surrounding soil causing an increase in thermal resistivity which in turn would lead to the cable temperature rising to a higher value than anticipated. For cable laid directly in the ground, a suitable de-rating factor should be applied or a lower maximum sustained conductor operating temperature should be assumed to take into account the possible effects of soil drying out. NOTE 4 In installations which include cable joints and terminations, the performance of these accessories should be taken into account in deciding the maximum operating temperature of the cable. The cables specified in the standard are either steel wire armoured or interlocked steel tape armoured and sheathed, as follows: a) two-, three-, four- and five-core stranded copper conductor; b) multicore auxiliary stranded copper conductor. Annex A gives recommendations for the selection and operation of cables while recommendations for the installation of cables are given in Annex B. Annex C lists the information that should be given with an enquiry or order.

BS 7846:2009 Referenced Document

• BS 5099 Electric cables — Voltage levels for spark testing
• BS 7655-1.2 Specification for insulating and sheathing materials for cables - Cross-linked elastomeric insulating compounds - General 90 °C application
• BS 7655-1.3 Specification for insulating and sheathing materials for cables - Elastomeric insulating compounds - XLPE - Sec1.3 XLPE
• BS 7655-6.1 
• BS EN 50267-2-1 Common test methods for cables under fire conditions - Tests on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Procedures - Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas - Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas
• BS EN 50363-5 Insulating, sheathing and covering materials for low voltage energy cables. Halogen-free, cross-linked insulating compounds
• BS EN 60228 
• BS EN 60811-1-1 
• BS EN 60811-1-3 Insulating and sheathing materials of electric and optical cables — Common test methods — Part 1 - 3 : General application — Methods for determining the density — Water absorption tests — Shrinkage test
• BS EN 61034-2 Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions - Test procedure and requirements*， 2020-03-31 Update

BS 7846:2009 history

• 2015 BS 7846:2015 Electric cables. Thermosetting insulated, armoured, fire-resistant cables of rated voltage 600/1 000 V for fixed installations, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire. Specification
• 2009 BS 7846:2009 Electric cables - Thermosetting insulated, armoured, fire-resistant cables of rated voltage 600/1000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire - Specification
• 2000 BS 7846:2000 Electric cables - 600/1000 V 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 600/1000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire - Specification was changed to YS/T 95.2-2016 Aluminum foil for cooling fins of air conditioners - Part 2: Coated aluminum foil.