What is the difference between standard and enhanced FP cable?

Prysmian's FP range is the result of 50 years of continuous development of fire resistant cables for fire alarms, emergency lighting and fire safety systems.

BS 5839-1: Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings provides recommendations for the design, installation and commissioning of fire detection and fire alarm systems for non-domestic premises.

BS 5266-1: Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises provides recommendations on the factors that need to be taken into account in the design, installation and wiring of electrical emergency lighting systems in order to provide the lighting performance needed for safety of people in the building in the event of failure of the supply to the normal lighting.

Fire Resistance

Both standards call for cables to meet the requirements of 'standard' fire resistance or 'enhanced' fire resistance. But what do these terms mean and which FP cable is suitable for each level of performance?

The essential differences between the ‘standard’ and ‘enhanced’ requirement called for in the Codes of Practice is survival time and test performance requirements under the test conditions as set out in the following:

Standard Cables

'Standard' cables are required to meet the following fire test requirements: A minimum 30 minute duration of survival when tested to BS EN 50200 (PH 30), for fire alarm circuits or a minimum 60 minute duration of survival (PH 60), for emergency lighting circuits. In addition ’standard’ cables must also meet the 30 minute duration of survival when tested to BS EN 50200 Annex E [which exposes the cable to water spray]

Enhanced Cables

'Enhanced' cables are required to meet the following fire test requirements: A 120 minute duration of survival when tested to BS EN 50200 (PH 120) for both fire alarms and emergency lighting circuits. ‘Enhanced’ cables must also meet 120 minute duration of survival when tested to BS 8434-2, with its additional water spray test.

For most applications BS 5839-1 recommends the use of 'standard' fire resisting cables with appropriate methods of support and jointing. However, for certain applications relating to large un-sprinklered buildings, the BS recommends that use of 'enhanced' fire resisting cables, always with appropriate methods of support and jointing.

Similarly, BS 5266-1 recommends 'standard' cables for general use in emergency lighting systems and 'enhanced' cables for use in certain large and complex buildings in which circuits are required to operate for longer periods to help evacuation.

FP200 Gold is Prysmian's 'standard' fire resistant cable is the original alternative to mineral insulated copper clad cable (MICC). It is a tough, durable and dressable systems cable - easy to install and terminate.

FP PLUS is Prysmian's 'enhanced' dressable fire resistant cable, which is suitable for fire alarm and emergency lighting circuits for applications requiring prolonged use.

FP200 Gold and FP PLUS have Loss Prevention and Certification Board (LPCB) and British Approvals Services For Cables (BASEC) approvals to support them.