HFFR (Halogen Free Flame Retardant) Materials are mainly campaunds containing Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), Aluminum Tri Hydroxide (ATH) and Polyethylene (PE). Although some products use Magnesium Oxide instead of ATH as flame retardant, these products are generally not preferred by Turkish cable manufacturers as they are very expensive. Instead of the abbreviation HFFR, abbreviations such as LSFOH (Low Smoke Fume Zero Halogen), LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) or FRNC (Flame Retardant Non Corrosive) are also used. However, the products generally known as the HFF in Turkey.
Fire neglect, accident, ignorance, failure to take protection measures, even as a result of natural phenomena is a life fact. In the face of this fact, first of all, precautions should be taken and information about what should be done should be taken.
Particularly in large residential areas, a significant portion of fires in residential and business places occur due to the fact that electrical energy components are not made according to the technical conditions, and the misuse of materials in the buildings causes material and moral losses.
Ensuring that the cables that surround our habitats like a network do not pose a threat to our lives in the event of a fire can be ensured by the correct selection of the material to be used in the cable.
In the event of fires, cables that easily ignite and emit poisonous gases are undoubtedly causing great losses. Combustion is a chemical reaction. As a result of this reaction, the halogens in the structure of the burning materials and the carbon-containing halogens are transformed into harmful and toxic gases that will affect human health and cause the fire to grow by transmitting the flame. In the majority of the fires, if the installation uses non-fire resistant cables, it is observed that the fire grows and more importantly, toxic gases emerge with the burning of these cables. For cables to be used in areas where fire is likely, flame retardancy, halogen free property, fire resistance property and low smoke density are required.
The following information is intended to give an idea of the basics of HFFR extrusion.
1- Due to the ATH it contains, HFFR materials have a high sensitivity to moisture. Therefore, the original packaging should be opened just before use and the material should be stored in a dry environment.
2- The thermoplastic HFFR material, which is suspected of dehumidification, can be used in the oven, dryer or dehumidifier by drying 60-70 in the ° C range for up to 4 hours. Thermoset (xlink, crosslinked) materials are not recommended as long-term drying process will evaporate the silane contained.
3- Any masterbatch with EVA or PE carrier can be used to color the material.
There are 2 issues that need to be considered when using Masterbatch. The first is that the color masterbatch is moisture-free, and the second is to use the masterbatch at a maximum rate of 1% to reduce the flame retardant properties of the material. It is therefore recommended to use a masterbatch with a high pigment content, rather than using more masterbatches to achieve the desired color.
4-C is the critical temperature threshold for extrusion of 170-HFFR material. 170 ATH, a flame retardant additive at ° C, decomposes and releases water. It is this feature of ATH that makes the material flame retardant. ATH, which is exposed to high temperatures during fire, releases water and either extinguishes the flame or prevents its progression. When you burn an HFFR-insulated cable, the bubbles observed on the surface are water that is released. If the critical threshold, 170 C, is exceeded during extrusion, the evaporating water forms a pore and foams in the material, thus adversely affecting the mechanical values and flammability of the material.
5 - You can control the pore in the 2 way; Isolate or cut the sheath horizontally with the eye or microscope.
The second method is the specific gravity control via the insulating / sheath. The specific gravity 1,50 in the granule should be measured in the isolated / sheath 1,46-1,48 g / cm3. Lower values indicate microfoaming.
6 - There are several reasons why the temperature may rise above 170 C.
6A - Thermocouple, resistance or improper operation of the fans.
6b- High compression ratio of the screw (we recommend compression in 1: 1.12 to 1: 1.20)
6c- Sleeve-throat-head transitions are too narrow or angled
6d- Torpedo (plastic dispenser-heart) channels shallow and narrow
6e- Using strainer
6f- Pressure rise in the head due to non-use of the appropriate extrusion tool.
6g- Using a very large extruder for small sections.
The basic principle of 7-HFFR extrusion is that the pressure and therefore the temperature do not rise uncontrolled in any part of the extruder. The increased pressure causes the material to return to the barrel by the barrier effect, thereby causing an uncontrolled increase in heat due to friction.
8- Non-contact infrared thermometer allows you to cross-check the temperature measured on the material at the mirror output.
9- The first zone of the pond should not be heated (especially between 30-40 C), especially in winter.
shock, and sudden drop in mechanical values.
10 - Keeping the thermal profile low (under 150oC in the head) also leads to a reduction in mechanical values, in particular the elongation at break.
11 - Wet or damp masterbatch will again lead to pore formation.
12- PVC residues in the extruder, or the use of a masterbatch with PVC bearing inadvertently refutes the HFFR material.
13- The performance expected from HFFR insulation and sheath in cable standards is usually 9-10 N breaking strength and 125% elongation and when they reach these values, cable manufacturers generally do not try to improve. Our recommendation is to continue trials and improvements until the mechanical values (11-12 N breaking strength & 150-200% elongation) given in the technical information form published by the manufacturer of the material used. If you accept the limit values as habitually enough, mechanical values will decrease by 10% as a result of a small malfunction during extrusion
the cable produced does not meet the standard and thus leads to scrap. However, the technical data sheet
If you catch 10-15 performance loss due to such failures, your cable will still meet the required standards in the standards.
One of the biggest problems of 14-HFFR cable manufacturers is to pass the vertical burning tests, also called “ladder test başarıyla. The IEC 332-3-C vertical combustion test is as important as the material itself, as well as the cable construction, extrusion conditions and the compliance of the combustion chamber with standards. Because of incorrect construction (such as inter-insulating or gaps between insulation and sheath as a result of the geometry disturbance caused by not using a filler), the gaps extending along the cable will act as a chimney during the test, causing the internal combustion of the cable. Or degradation of ATH as described above due to unfavorable extrusion conditions reduces the flammability values of the cable. Under normal circumstances, every HFFR ladder test with a LOI of 34 or higher is good.
15-XLPE (Crosslinked Polyethylene) for the use of high compression screw and extrusion tools
XLPE extrusion conditions for thermosetting HFFR, because familiar cable manufacturers are “cross-linked kablo
think it is valid. But this is a mistake. Thermoset (cross-linked, x-link) of HFFR materials
extrusion conditions are exactly the same as thermoplastic ones.
Bundle Cable Vertical Flame test (IEC 60332-3-22 test (CAT A) / IEC 60332-3-23 test (CAT B) / IEC 60332-3-24 test (CAT C)
Although the reaction of the cable against the flame is measured while standing alone, the response of the cables in bunches to the flame changes. In this case, the tests specified in the IEC 60332-3 standard are performed and the cables are divided into certain categories contained in this standard.
The test is carried out as follows:
The sample quantity is determined based on the value in liters / m of the non-metallic (flammable) portion of the cable. Each sample length is 3,5 m and laid in bundles. In a closed room (the speed of the wind should be less than 8 m / s), combustion occurs by providing air flow. The test time is 20 min for categories C and D, and 40 min for category AF / R, A and B. Combustion and damage distance of the sheath max. 2.5 should be m. 1 meters wide, 2 meters deep,
The steel ladder is fixed to the back of the 4 meter-high test chamber. There should be an air flow of 5000 l / min at the bottom of the test chamber. The length of the cable samples must be 3,5 meters and the number of samples and test time should be determined according to the following table (by category type). The test specimens are connected to the ladder so that their width does not exceed 300 mm. There should be a propane gas burner 600 mm above the floor of the chamber. If the flame is not extinguished after 1 hours after the end of the test period, the test is terminated by extinguishing. The largest charred portion measured in the test specimen shall not exceed the 2,5 meter measured from the starting point of the flame.
Halogen Free Cables
Halogen Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) halogen-free, flame retardant cables do not emit dense smoke and toxic gases such as hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide emitted by PVC cables during fire. Since these cables do not contain harmful components such as fluorine, chlorine, iodine, bromine or astatine in their structure, they do not emit any toxic gases in contact with flame. Consequently, they do not cause corrosion or oxidation in electronic devices and metal parts. In the event that flames diminish and extinguish due to their flame retardant properties, these flamed cables automatically extinguish and do not enlarge the fire. Its low smoke density provides convenience to rescue teams and firefighters during evacuation.
Usage Areas of Halogen Free Cables
they ►Hastan
►Okul on
►Shopping centers
►Movie theaters and theaters
►Metro and road tunnels
►Air space terminal buildings
►Otel on
►High buildings
►Public housing
►Uçak on
the ►Demiryol
Leading the sector in the field of low voltage cables, 2M Cable has Firekab branded products for cables to be used in areas where there is a risk of fire and the most important material used in these products is halogen-free outer sheath and insulation plastics.
Firekab products manufactured by 2M Kablo, fire alarm systems in smart or semi-smart buildings, hospitals, cinemas, theaters, schools, shopping malls, airports, factories where there are dense or valuable goods, control / supply of devices that should work during fire, emergency lighting, monitoring and evacuation of devices and equipment required for operation and warning systems, such as the function is required to maintain a certain period of time.
Testing of Flame Retardant Halogen Free Cables
International standards fire tests are available to check the trouble-free operation of cables. These tests are applied to the cable after the production of the fire resistant cables and the behavior of the cables is observed in case of a possible fire. The first test is basically the flame retardancy test applied internationally with IEC 60332-1 standard.
1. Vertical Flame test in one cable (IEC / EN 60332-1)
The materials used in HFFR cables are difficult to ignite, the spread of the fire is very slow and extinguishes automatically when the flame stops. This test checks the characteristics of single-core and bundled cables.
The test is carried out as follows:
The 600 mm test specimen has two ends perpendicular to a metal cell with an open front.
Fixed. Gas burner 170 mm at the bottom of the sample with flame length 190-75 mm
placed at an 45 degree angle. The test time depends on the cable diameter. The entire flame
After extinction, the test is successful if the charred section is at least 50 mm away from the lower edge of the upper clamp.
Smoke density test (IEC 61034-1 / 2 / VDE 0472 PART 816)
The smoke density should be below a certain level and the light transmittance above a certain level in order to prevent people from drowning in the smoke. The smoke density of the HFFR cables is checked with this test.
2m cable-ts-en-60332-3Test is performed as follows:
The test chamber has a volume of 27 m3. It consists of a halogen lamp 2,15 W (light source) of approximately 100 mm height and a selenium photocell cell opposite the light source of the same height. A fan is used to distribute the smoke. To burn the cable, put a mixture of alcohol in a tray. The test specimens are 1 meters long. The number of samples is determined by the cable diameter. The samples are fixed to the alcohol tray horizontally, the fan is started and the alcohol is ignited and the test is started. The smoke intensity is determined by the photoelectric cell which measures the intensity of the incident light. The test is terminated if there is no reduction in the light transmission for 5 minutes after the fire source has gone out, or if the test time exceeds 40 minutes. Light transmission should not be less than 60%.
Determination of the amount of halogen gas from combustion (IEC 60754-1, IEC 60754-2)
Measures the amount of halogen gas emitted by polymer materials used in fire cables during combustion. Halogenated acid gases include elements such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.
HFFR cables do not produce toxic and corrosive gases. This feature does not cause death events in indoor environments, corrosion and deterioration of metallic surfaces.
xnumxmkablo-it was halojen_asit_tes
There is an 3 value which is dangerous as a result of fire. These;
Heat: The temperature in the fire area rises rapidly from the beginning of the fire. The cable must have the necessary strength at high temperatures to maintain its function.
Flame: The distribution of the flames causes the fire to be carried to large areas and threatens human biology. Therefore, it is very important that the flames are not carried and splashed.
Smoke: It is the cloud mass formed by the gases produced in an incomplete combustion event that could not find enough oxygen. In addition to reducing smoke vision, it is an event that must be prevented during fire due to the difficulty of breathing and the suffocating effect of harmful substances it contains. The use of halogen-free materials reduces the number of health-hazardous substances contained in this smoke.
Halogen-free cables are used in the following areas to limit the major factor 3 above:
►Fire warning and alarm systems
►Emergency lighting systems
►Emergency announcement systems
►Fire water systems
►Fire escape route lighting
►Positive pressurization fans
►Smoke and heat exhaust fans
►Fire lifts
►The elevators for evacuation.
Flame spreading: IEC / TS / BS / EN 60332-3
The sample quantity is determined based on the value in liters / m of the non-metallic (flammable) portion of the cable. Each sample length is 3,5 m and laid in bundles. In a closed room (the speed of the wind should be less than 8 m / s), combustion occurs by providing air flow. The test time is 20 min for categories C and D, and 40 min for category AF / R, A and B. Combustion and damage distance of the sheath max. 2.5 should be m.
Smoke density: TS / BS / IEC / EN 61034-1 + 2
Depending on the cable diameter in the test chamber, the amount of sample given in the standard is burned. The light transmission, which is 100 percent before burning, is monitored by the computer until the end of the 40 minute. Light transmission should be at least 60 percent at the end of the test.
This is standard and not only for halogen-free cables tested. Normally a halogen-free cable is around 90.
Halogen test (Corrosive Gas): IEC 60754-2, TS / BS / EN 50267-2
PH and conductivity determination method is used for confirmation of halogen free materials. pH≥4.3 and conductivity should be ≤ 10 µS / mm.
Determination of combustion class: EN 50399
In 2011, the 305 / 2011 CPR European Construction Materials Regulation is based on the transition to combustion performance and class on all construction materials. Here, all cables are included and EN 50399, IEC / TS / BS / EN 60332-3 published in this scope is included, but the measurement of heat and smoke emission is also included in the work. In the classification, smoke density, pH / conductivity and combustion distance are graded. Thanks to this staging, combustion classes are given. (for cable B2, C, D, E, F)
In Europe, 1 will enter into force on July 2013 and will require CE marking in accordance with combustion classes. Existing notified bodies will be re-audited. It is envisaged that products that do not have CE marking conforming to the combustion class cannot be exported to Europe. Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Turkey envisages the beginning of the application as August 2014.
Insulation continuity test: TS / IEC 60331, VDE 0472-814, BS 6387 C
This test, which is applied under nominal voltage for 3 hours (expressed as min. 60331 min in IEC 90), is the first of the fire resistance tests. BS differs in terms of heat and drawn current. There are also slight differences in the arrangement. (Based on IEC, 750 ° C; BS, 950 ° C).
Mechanical impact test under flame: BS 6387 Z, TS / BS / EN 50200 (EN 20 for cables with a diameter greater than 50362 mm)
Under the nominal voltage, the U-laid cable according to TS / BS / EN 50200 standard is subjected to a pulse at 5 minutes during the test period. The number after PH represents the time in minutes and is grouped into PH15, PH30, PH60, PH90, PH120. There is an optional water test with flame and impact to the same standard. (Annex E).
BS 8434-2 requires water.
In the BS 6387 Z, the cable is laid in a Z-shape and a pulse is generated in 15 seconds during the 30 minute test. There is no classification.
Water testing under flame: BS 6387 W
In the BS 6387 CWZ trilogy, the 3 clock flame test, followed by the impact test and the last test is applied. 15 minutes dry burning 15 minutes are also burning under water. System test under fire: DIN 4102 part 12 After the 3-0472 (FE814), where the DIN VDE horizontal cable 180 clock burn test is applied, this test is required in order to take the system as a whole. Here, alarm, control and power cables are laid in a room, the brands of ducts etc. used and the plant shape are fixed and recorded. The marks and application methods of the other installation materials used in the certification are written.
At the end of the test, E30: 30 minutes means the function time, E60: 60 minutes and E90: 90 minutes.
3-4 certificate can be obtained by using different brand channels while testing to be an alternative to users and applicators.
For the HFFR Halogen Free Flame Reterdant Tests and Inspection, you can contact our brand TÜRCERT and get information about test and test details from our customer representative.