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

bs en 50266

50266-2-1

50266-2-2

50266-2-3

50266-2-4

50266-2-5

ceI

20-22/3-1

20-22/3-2

20-22/3-3

20-22/3-4

20-22/3-5

category

AF/R

A

B

C

D

conductor cross-sections(mm2)

>35

>35

≤35

>35

≤35

>35

≤35

>35

≤35

nMV(Iitres per metre ofcable)

7

7

3.5

1.5

0.5

Minimum length of testpieces(m)

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.5

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

Wide ladder (800 mmwide):• number of layers• maximum width of test sampIe

--

--

--

1front 600mm

--

--

--

Positioning oftest pieces

Spaced0.
5×Diameter cable (Max.20mm)

Touching

Spaced0.5×Diameter

cable (Max.20mm)

Touching

Spaced0.5×

Diameter cable (Max.20mm)

Touching

Spaced0.5×

Diameter cable (Max.20mm)

Touching

number of burners

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

ladder mounting

Front and rear

Front, Wider ladder for larger cables

Front

Front

Front

flame applicationtime(min)

40

40

40

40

40

40

Test conditions

Wind speed: <8 m/s; Ternperature: 5°C - +40°C

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.