Fire Testing
Flame Retardance
1. Reduced fire propagation in accordance with IEC 60332-3
This test is the most common one to verify the behaviour of a cables for the fire propagation. The cables are
installed on a bunch of vertical ladder inside a metal cabinet and undergo the action of a ribbon flame at
750°C.The standard is subdivided in several parts that differ one from the other for the quantity of cable to be
installed, the installation mode and the flame application time.
EN 60332-3-10:2009 / BS EN 60332-3-10:2009 / IEC 60332-3-10 ed1.1 / DIN EN 60332-3-10:2009 / VDE 0482-
332-3-10:2010-0 8 – Common test methods for cables under fire conditions. Tests on electric and optical fiber
cables under fire conditions - Part 3-10: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or
cables.
EN 60332-3-21:2009 / BS EN 60332-3-21:2009 / IEC 60332-3-21 ed1.1 / DIN EN 60332-3-21 / VDE 0482-332-3-
21:2010-08 / CEI EN 60332-3-21:2009 (CEI 20-22/3-1)– Procedures. Tests on electric and optical fiber cables
under fire conditions - Part 3-21: Test for vertical flame spread of verticallymounted bunched wires or cables -
Category A . F/R -Installation In one layer (front).
-Installation In two layers (front and rear) -The quantity of the Installed cable is equal to 7 litres/m of ombustible
materials for cables -The time of application of the flame is 40 minutes EN 60332-3-22:2009 / BS EN 60332-3-
22:2009 / IEC 60332-3-22 ed1.1 / DIN EN 60332-3-22:2009 /VDE 0482-332-3-22:2010-08 / CEI EN 60332-3-
22:2009 (CEI 20-22/3-2)– Procedures. Tests on electric and optical fiber cables under fire conditions - Part 3-22:
Test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cable - Category A -Installation In one
layer (front).
-The quantity of the installed cable is equal to 7 litres/m of combustible materials for cables
-The time of application of the flame is 40 minutes EN 60332-3-23:2009 / BS EN 60332-3-23:2009 / IEC 60332-3-
23 ed1.1 / DIN EN 60332-3-23:2009 / VDE 0482-332-3-23:2010-08 / CEI EN 60332-3-23:2009 (CEI 20-22/3-3)–
Procedures. Tests on electric and optical fiber cables under fire conditions - Part 3-23: Test for vertical flame
spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables - Category B
-Installation In one layer (front).
-The quantity of the installed cable is equal to 3.5 litres/m of combustible materials for cables
-The time of application of the flame is 40 minutes EN 60332-3-24:2009 / BS EN 60332-3-24:2009 / IEC 60332-3-
24 ed1.1 / DIN EN 60332-3-24:2009 / VDE 0482-332-3-24:2010-08 / CEI EN 60332-3-24:2009 (CEI 20-22/3-4) –
Procedures.
Tests on electric and optical fiber cables under fire conditions - Part 3-24: Test for vertical flame spread of
vertically- mounted bunched wires or cables - Category C
-Installation In one layer (front).
-The quantity of the installed cable is equal to 1.5 litres/m of combustible materials for cables
-The time of application of the flame is 20 minutes
EN 60332-3-25:2009 / BS EN 60332-3-25:2009 / IEC 60332-3-25 ed1.1 / DIN EN 60332-3-25: 2009 / VDE 0482-
332 -3-25:2010-08 / CEI EN 60332-3-25:2009 (CEI 20-22/3-5)– Procedures. Tests on electric and optical fiber
cables under fire conditions - Part 3-25: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or
cables - Category D -Installation In one layer (front).
-The quantity of the installed cable is equal to 0.5 litres/m of combustible materials for cables
-The time of application of the flame is 20 minutes.
Iec |
60332-3-21 |
60332-3-22 |
60332-3-23 |
60332-3-24 |
60332-3-25 |
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bs en 50266 |
50266-2-1 |
50266-2-2 |
50266-2-3 |
50266-2-4 |
50266-2-5 |
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ceI |
20-22/3-1 |
20-22/3-2 |
20-22/3-3 |
20-22/3-4 |
20-22/3-5 |
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category |
AF/R |
A |
B |
C |
D |
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conductor cross-sections(mm2) |
＞35 |
＞35 |
≤35 |
＞35 |
≤35 |
＞35 |
≤35 |
＞35 |
≤35 |
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nMV(Iitres per metre ofcable) |
7 |
7 |
3.5 |
1.5 |
0.5 |
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Minimum length of testpieces(m) |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
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standard ladder (500mm wide):• number of layers• maximum width of test sampIe |
1front+ 1rear 300mm |
≥1front 300mm |
1front 300mm |
-- |
≥1front 300mm |
1front 300mm |
≥1front 300mm |
1front 300mm |
≥1front 300mm |
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Wide ladder (800 mmwide):• number of layers• maximum width of test sampIe |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1front 600mm |
-- |
-- |
-- |
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Positioning oftest pieces |
Spaced0. |
Touching |
Spaced0.5×Diameter cable (Max.20mm) |
Touching |
Spaced0.5× Diameter cable (Max.20mm) |
Touching |
Spaced0.5× Diameter cable (Max.20mm) |
Touching |
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number of burners |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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ladder mounting |
Front and rear |
Front, Wider ladder for larger cables |
Front |
Front |
Front |
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flame applicationtime(min) |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
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Test conditions |
Wind speed: <8 m/s; Ternperature: 5°C - +40°C |
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extent of the charred portion |
≤2.5m above the bottom edge of the burner, neither at the front nor at the rear of the ladder. |
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