Cables pioneer - AEI Cables is warning the supply chain not to forget the important implications in the guidance on Category 3 Control fire performance cables among the range of new legislation being introduced in the interests of safety.
The systems powered by these cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety.
Guidance for the selection
These cables reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire
AEI Cables has been highlighting the importance of following the technical guidance for the selection and installation of cables for Category 3 Control fire performance cables under the revised British Standard BS8519: 2020 Code of Practice. These cables reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire.
Stuart Dover, General Manager of AEI Cables, said: “We are advising the supply chain not to forget the process and check for selection of cables through this Code of Practice to ensure they are compliant. There is a lot of new legislation emerging currently and this is an important part of this step change to improve governance around the selection of cables for these important applications.”
Category 3 Control fire performance
The new Code is intended to inform and guide designers, contractors, fire engineers, regulators and enforcers, including building control bodies, fire authorities, health and safety inspectors and equipment suppliers and manufacturers.
The guidance for Category 3 Control fire performance cables applies to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems in relevant buildings, including tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls and stadia.
BS Code of Practice
AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control. The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival times of 30, 60, or 120 minutes.
All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies, including BASEC and LPCB. It also holds approvals from organizations, including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail, and LUL and works to international standards around the world.