Cable Coating Fire Breaks have been proven to be an effective, dependable and economical way to prevent fire spread in cable trays.

Some practical locations for fire breaks are:

  • Where vertical trays pass through grated floors or other floor penetrations where penetration fire seals are not practical;
  • At vertical and horizontal cable tray tees and crosses;
  • In cable trays running under grated floors where flammable materials and trash tend to collect;
  • In long horizontal tray runs, particularly where stacked tray conditions exist.

Total Electrical Cable Fire Protection

Is also one of the most economical and maintenance-free ways to protect cables from fire in electrical equipment, cable spreader and control rooms. It is totally reliable because there are no electrical or mechanical activating devices to fail, no human error to be concerned about, no tanks to refill and no periodic maintenance.

The protection time frame that proper cable coating can provide to protect electrical cables from a fire before the insulation begins to deteriorate will depend on the intensity of the flame, type and size of cables, type of insulation and other variables. In the event that a maximum time lapse protection from fire exposure is desired, a heavier coating can be applied to those areas.

How does the Coating work when exposed to fire?:

  • The coating produces cooling vapors from metallic hydrates in the coating. These vapors reduce the heat transmission to the protected cables.
  • Inorganic components in the coating create to form a surface of high emissivity properties that results in the radiation of significant amounts of heat being push away from the cables.
  • Fire retardant components present in the coating inhibit the combustion process in the immediate vicinity of the cables.
 
 
 
 

Effect on Current Carrying Ampacity

While cable coating is very effective in blocking extreme heat from fire exposure, it has no adverse effect on low temperature heat dissipation that might affect cable ampacity. The reasons for this are:

  • The low temperature thermal conductivity of Thermalastic 83C™ is almost identical to P.V.C.
  • The increase in cable diameter and slightly rougher surface after the cable coating is applied provides more cooling surface area to the cable.