BS 7846
Fire-resistant XLPE/SWA/LSZH armoured power cable, 600/1000 V
BS 7846 is the fire-resistant armoured power cable for 600/1000 V: mica-glass barrier and XLPE for circuit integrity in a fire, steel wire armour and an LSZH sheath. For fire pumps, sprinklers, smoke control and emergency lighting. Verified to BS 6387 (C, W, Z). Supplied to order; the lead time is stated in the quote.
BS 7846 fire-resistant armoured power cable is a 600/1000 V cable designed to maintain circuit integrity during a fire, so that essential and life-safety systems keep operating. A mica-glass fire barrier and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation surround stranded class 2 copper conductors, galvanised steel wire armour provides mechanical protection, and a low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) sheath limits smoke and corrosive-gas emission. The cable is rated for a maximum conductor temperature of 90 °C, is manufactured to BS 7846, and its fire performance is verified to BS 6387 categories C, W and Z. It is used for fixed power distribution to fire pumps, sprinklers, smoke-control equipment, emergency lighting and other critical circuits in commercial and public buildings.
Also known as: fire-resistant armoured cable
Applications
- Fixed supply to fire pumps, sprinklers and smoke-control equipment.
- Emergency lighting and other critical circuits in public buildings.
- Circuits that must keep operating with circuit integrity during a fire.
What to look out for
- Circuit integrity to BS 6387 (C, W, Z). If the specification calls for BS 8491 (F30, F60 or F120), choose BS 7846 F120.
- Circuit integrity covers cable and fixings: metal brackets or clips (BS 5839-1 rules out plastic as the sole fixing) at the spacings of the tested system.
- Conductor
- Stranded plain annealed copper, class 2 acc. to BS EN 60228 / IEC 60228.
- Fire barrier
- Mica-glass fire-resistant tape applied over the conductor(s).
- Insulation
- Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE).
- Bedding
- Extruded low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) inner covering.
- Armour
- Galvanised steel wire armour (SWA); single layer of round steel wires.
- Sheath
- Low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) compound; black as standard (other colours, e.g. red, on request).
- Rated voltage Uo/U
- 600/1000 V (0.6/1 kV).
- Test voltage
- 3,500 V AC (routine test acc. to BS 7846 / IEC 60502-1).
- Standard
- BS 7846 (600/1000 V armoured fire-resistant cables); conductors acc. to BS EN 60228; fire tests acc. to BS 6387 and BS 8491.
- Fire performance
- Fire-resistant to BS 7846 category F2 and BS 6387 category C, W, Z (fire, water and mechanical shock); LPCB certified. An enhanced F120 variant (BS 8491, 120 min) is available.
- Flame-retardant
- Acc. to IEC 60332-1-2 (single cable) and IEC 60332-3 category C (bunched).
- Halogen-free
- Low smoke zero halogen; acc. to IEC 60754-1/-2 (corrosive gas) and IEC 61034-1/-2 (smoke density).
- Max. conductor temperature
- +90 °C in normal operation (max. +250 °C for 5 s in short circuit).
- Min. bending radius, fixed
- 6 × outer diameter (circular conductors); 8 × outer diameter (shaped conductors).
- Reaction to fire (CPR)
- No CPR Euroclass (EN 13501-6) is published for this fire-resistant type.
BS 7846 or BS 7846 F120?
BS 7846
- BS 6387 C, W and Z
- separate tests
BS 7846 F120
- BS 8491
- one combined test
The standard BS 7846 falls under category F2: fire, fire with water and fire with mechanical shock are tested separately to BS 6387 C, W and Z. BS 7846 F120 is also tested to BS 8491, which combines fire, mechanical shock and water in one test, and keeps the circuit working for 120 minutes. If the specification calls for BS 8491 or a category such as F30, F60 or F120, only F120 of these two complies. If it calls for BS 6387 C, W and Z, the standard BS 7846 is enough.
View BS 7846 F120 →BS 7846 or BS 6724?
BS 7846
- circuit integrity in a fire
BS 6724
- flame-retardant, not fire-resistant
Both are British armoured 600/1000 V cables with XLPE insulation and a low-smoke, halogen-free sheath. BS 7846 also has a mica-glass tape around the conductors and keeps the circuit working in a fire. BS 6724 is flame-retardant, but not fire-resistant. For fire pumps, sprinklers, smoke control and emergency lighting choose BS 7846; for ordinary supplies where only low smoke and halogen-free are required, BS 6724.
View BS 6724 →
H07BQ-F
Flexible EPR/PUR rubber cable, class 5 Cu, 90 °C
Lead time: On request; the lead time is stated in the quote.
H05BQ-F
PUR-sheathed rubber flexible cable, 300/500 V
Lead time: On request; the lead time is stated in the quote.
RZ1MZ1-K(AS)
Halogen-free armoured power cable 0.6/1 kV, XLPE/LSZH/SWA/LSZH
Lead time: On request; the lead time is stated in the quote.
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