FP600s vs FP400: What you need to know
Both FP600s and FP400 are armoured, fire resistant cables, but which one should you specify for life safety and fire-fighting systems?
The short answer is, if you need to comply with BS 8519, then you need FP600s. Let’s take a look at this in more detail.
What is FP600s and why is it needed?
By law, a fire risk assessment of a building must be carried out. During the design phase of large, complex buildings such as hospitals, shopping centres and travel hubs including airports and train stations, the fire risk assessment usually requires life safety and fire-fighting systems to be included.
Developed and manufactured at our UK factories in compliance with BS 7846, Prysmian FP600s achieves the highest fire performance rating. FP600s is a robust, armoured, fire resistant power cable designed specifically for life safety and fire-fighting systems used in large and complex buildings. FP600s is commonly used in applications such as:
Smoke barriers, control dampers and smoke curtains
Smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems (SHEVs)
Fire-fighting and evacuation lift supplies
Extinguishing systems e.g. sprinkler pumps, water mist and powder
Wet riser pumps
Stair pressurisation systems
What standards does FP600s meet?
FP600s meets or exceeds the most stringent current British Standards for fire resistant power cables intended for life-safety and fire-fighting systems.
BS 7846 (F120): FP600s is tested to BS 7846 and achieves the highest fire-resistance classification (F120). That means it is designed to maintain circuit integrity for a minimum of 120 minutes under fire test conditions. BS 7846 specifies the requirements for construction and electrical performance of thermosetting insulated, armoured, fire-resistant cables of rated voltage 600/1 000 V having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire.
BS 8491 Fire Resistant Test – Flame, Shock and Water JET: FP600s meets or exceeds the BS 8491 requirements of a minimum 120 mins fire resistance, plus survival under direct mechanical impact and water jet. BS 8491 is the method for assessment of fire integrity of large diameter power cables for use as components for smoke and heat control systems and certain other active fire safety systems.
BS 8519 (Categories 1, 2 & 3 for life-safety circuits): FP600s meets the requirements for power circuits as defined by BS 8519 for life-safety and fire-fighting applications. BS 8519 is a code of practice for the selection and installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems for life safety, fire-fighting and other critical applications.
Additionally, FP600s features a low smoke, zero halogen (LSOH) sheath, which meets the requirements of BS EN 61034-2 Smoke Emission test and BS EN 60754-1 Corrosive and Acid Gas test.
FP600s is also certified by third-party bodies such as LPCB and BASEC, and approved by London Underground, when the Approved Products Register was in place for subterranean installations.
What is FP400?
FP400 is an armoured LSOH cable with limited fire resistance. In the 1980s, the then all-new, FP400 cable provided a modern, cost-effective alternative to mineral-insulated copper cable (MICC) for emergency power circuits. However, fire tests were significantly upgraded to meet increased fire performance requirements in buildings over time. This meant the regulating authorities required the new standards to be applied, especially in ‘Section 20’ buildings in London, which were being developed at an increasing rate. FP400 cable was developed originally without a specific construction standard or fire test.
While both FP600s and FP400 are armoured, fire-resistant cables, they are designed for different fire tests. FP600s is the ultimate fire-resistant cable that meets the most stringent British standards (BS 7846 - F120, BS 8491 120 mins, and BS 8519 Cat 3 power). FP400 remains a cost-effective SWA cable for ‘standard’ fire resistant applications, such as fire alarm circuits (less than 20 mm diameter). If your project requires compliance with BS 8519 and full life-safety performance, you need FP600s, for Cat 3 POWER or FP500 for Cat 3 CONTROL.
Find out more about our FP cables or contact us today if you need advice on your project.