Wire and cable flammability testing
In addition to complying with electrical safety requirements, certain wire and cable products must meet large-scale flammability performance requirements in order to be accepted by authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). Communications cables installed in a plenum, for example, must meet U.S. flammability requirements. With more than 100 years of fire testing and certification expertise, UL is a leading resource on fire safety.
UL offers comprehensive services for wire and cable products, including both flammability and physical performance testing for certification to UL, domestic, international and other current industry standards and requirements.
UL collaborated with regulatory authorities to develop many of the flammability test methods for wire and cable products.
UL's wire and cable flammability program tests include the following:
Plenum Applications
- NFPA 262, Standard Method of Test for Flame Travel and Smoke of Wires and Cables for Use in Air-Handling Spaces
- Limited Combustibility (See NFPA 90A)
Riser Applications
- UL 1666, Test for Flame Propagation Height of Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables Installed Vertically in Shafts
Vertical Tray Applications
- UL 1685, Vertical-Tray Fire-Propagation and Smoke-Release Test for Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables
- CSA FT4, Cables in Cable Trays
- IEEE 383, Standard for Type Test of Class 1E Electric Cables, Field Splices and Connections for Nuclear Power Generating Stations
- IEEE 1202, Standard for Flame Testing of Cables for Use in Cable Tray in Industrial and Commercial Occupancies
- JIS C 3521, Flame Test Method for Flame-Retardant Sheath of Telecommunication Cables
- Limited Smoke
UL Listed wire and cable products appear in the UL Product Directory, which is referenced by more than 2,500 authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and code officials annually.
Helping you attain global acceptance
UL also helps wire and cable manufacturers achieve global acceptance for their products by conducting flammability testing in accordance with many international test protocols, including:
- IEC 61034-1, Measurement of Smoke Density of Cables Burning Under Defined Conditions--Part 1: Test Apparatus
- IEC 61034-2, Measurement of Smoke Density of Cables Burning Under Defined Conditions--Part 2: Test Procedure and Requirements
- IEC 60754-1, Test on Gases Evolved During Combustion of Materials From Cables--Part 1: Determination of the Amount of Halogen Acid Gas
- IEC-60754-2, Test on Gases Evolved During Combustion of Electric Cables--Part 2: Determination of Degree of Acidity of Gases Evolved During the Combustion of Materials Taken From Electric Cables by Measuring pH and Conductivity
- IEC 60332-1, Tests on Electric Cables Under Fire Conditions--Part 1: Test on a Single Vertical Insulated Wire and Cable
- IEC 60332-3-10, Tests on Electric Cables Under Fire Conditions--Part 3-10: Test for Vertical Flame Spread of Vertically Mounted Bunched Wires or Cables--Apparatus
- FIPEC Protocol, Fire Performance of Electrical Cables--New Test Methods and Measurement Techniques, published by Interscience Communications Limited
The UL advantage
In addition to its comprehensive flammability testing services, UL's Follow-Up Services program verifies ongoing compliance of wire and cable products through periodic, unannounced inspections at the manufacturer's facility. Through this program, manufacturers, installers and AHJs can be confident that ongoing production consistently meets UL compliance requirements.
When AHJs see wire and cable products bearing the UL Mark, they know that those products are backed by the company that delivers comprehensive testing, certification and Follow-Up Services.
For complete flammability testing and certification services for your wire and cable products, look to UL to deliver the global market acceptance you need.
Additional services
In addition to flammability testing, UL also offers the following service for wire and cable manufacturers:
Cone Calorimeter - This small-scale testing apparatus provides a cost-effective means to predict real-world fire behavior. As a tool to gauge large-scale wire and cable flammability performance in accordance with NFPA 262, UL's cone calorimeter test can help manufacturers save the time and expense associated with full product testing.
