How to choose cables with different flame retardant levels

Fire protection standards vary from place to place around the world, and North American UL standards are rated from high to low, respectively:

● Flame retardant CMP (for ventilation ducts or air return plenum)

● Non-combustion trunk line CMR (for vertical trunk and horizontal areas)

● Non-combustion commercial grade CM (for horizontal areas)

● Non-combustion general purpose CMG (for horizontal areas)

● General home grade CMX (must be laid horizontally)

CommScope SYSTIMAX's 20×× series cables are CMP cables that meet the highest fire rating; 10×× series cables are CMR fire rated cables.

European low-smoke, halogen-free cables contain three standards:

● IEC60332-3 or IEC60332-1 (flame expansion and flame retardant)

● IEC61034 (smoke divergence)

● IEC 754 (corrosion and toxicity)

IEC 60332-1 (only for level) is a vertical burning test with a single wire that has a lower fire rating and is easier to burn. Moreover, even if the open flame is extinguished, it is likely to have a tempering, and the carbon monoxide content generated during combustion is high. While IEC60332-3 (for vertical and horizontal) is a vertical burning test using a cluster of wires, the fire rating is much higher than IEC60332-1. More importantly, the life-saving device will make it easier to isolate the flame and greatly reduce the series of chain hazards caused by the fire.

In the IEC60332-3 standard, it is also divided into A, B and C. Class A requires more cables for testing, and the flame burn time is 40 minutes during the test; the flame burn time is only 20 minutes for the Class C test. Therefore, the cable conforming to IEC60332-3A is more stringent than the cable complying with IEC60332-3C.

CommScope SYSTIMAX's 30×× series cables are low-smoke halogen-free cables that meet the highest fire rating IEC 60332-3A.

Which flame retardancy is equivalent to the flame retardancy of IEC60332-1 and IEC60332-3?

● IEC60332-1 is equivalent to North American UL CM level

● IEC60332-3 is equivalent to the CMR level of North American UL

We recommend that in the integrated wiring part of the important personal safety situation, for safety reasons, the North American UL flame retardant CMP grade or IEC 60332-3A low smoke zero halogen cable is used.