News stories pointing out the problems in electrical wiring have been hitting the internet a lot recently. For example, a few fires in California caused by poorly managed Electrical equipment come to mind in the U.S. It could be because the cables did not meet the regulations or standards of quality for flame retardant power cables, or it could be that someone did not pay enough attention when conducting a necessary evaluation of the current substation.

Either way, fire accidents are unfortunately a significant concern when working with power cables. Sure, environmental factors like temperatures, dryness, or sudden storms can make a big difference in the overall infrastructure of how you lay or organize power cables, but ensuring the production process and quality of the line is equally crucial to fire safety.

What Are the Flame Retardant Power Cables?

A high quality, high standard of flame retardant power cables is essential. So what is a flame retardant power cable? It is the special cable that may burn and become inoperable in the event of a fire but can stop the spread of the fire. The standard for flame retardant power cables is that the flame spread is within limits after removing the test-fire source. The residual flame or residual burn can extinguish itself within a limited time.

What Are the Testing Standards of Flame Retardant Power Cables?

Horizontal and vertical testing are standards for identifying high-quality flame retardant power cables. You had better make sure you understand what will happen in those rare cases when a fire is detected and begins to burn. This way, you can effectively prevent the growing spread of the fire by using materials that have already been tested and allow predictive planning. Some of these tests include:  

VW-1 

This test is awarded a “fire-resistant” designation after assessing the cable insulation material and its resilience to fire. It is a vertical test that is typically viewed through the lens of the worst-case scenario.

FT1

A vertical flame test subjects the cable to a 15-second test of 3,000 BUT/hour flames at least five times. These incredibly high temperatures should show no active burning of the flame beyond the application.

FT2 

It is the bare minimum horizontal burn test where a flame is applied to a sample five times for 15 seconds. To pass, wire and cable suppliers need to show no burning particles of the cables.

What Are the Benefits of Using High Quality Flame Retardant Power Cables?

Most power cables are out of mind and view from the general public, but that does not mean they are not critical to daily life. As they are widely used around our societies, consumers need to verify their quality and choose high-quality flame resistant cables. Some of the advantages of working with professional manufacturers of flame-resistant cables include:

Safer Materials - modern manufacturers of flame retardant power cables focus on materials that equally protect us from the dangers within and support environmentally safer goals. It could include using non-heavy metals such as lead and cadmium that do not end up in the groundwater around where the cables are laid.

Control the Spread - by using advanced fire retardant cables, you effectively stop fires from being able to render a substation or grouping from losing power completely. It requires vast quantities of heat to get through these cables, and that protection keeps the general public safer.

Easier Installation - keeping the workers installing the flame retardant power cables safe is just as necessary as the greater community. These cables need to be free from acids or gases and come in a form factor that is easy to install to the focus remains on maintaining quality power lines.

Where to Purchase Flame Retardant Power Cables?

To avoid potential harm or fire risks, you need to source your flame retardant power cables from experienced and fully qualified manufacturers. That is why using our team at Taifulong is an excellent solution to your cable needs.

We go through the process of ensuring all of our flame resistant cable meet the many regulations and standard testing requirements, so you have the peace of mind needed to install and operate your stations safely. We work with military, municipalities, and private businesses and have built a strong reputation for quality and reliability with every client along the way.

For over 30 years, our wire and cable products have helped companies build entire empires in their industries based on our dedication to quality and safety. If you would like to browse our available products or set up a custom order, please feel free to contact the Taifulong expert support team. We are looking forward to supplying you with the power cables you need.