NEC Article 728 Fire Resistive Cable– NO Concrete for us, We’re Fire Rated!

With its beginnings in the 2014 NEC, Article 728 “Fire Resistive Cable Systems” set
out to establish a baseline in guidance for the acceptability of fire rated cable
systems.
The Scope (Section 728.1) covers the installation and system components
involved in the use of Fire Rated Cables and Conductors to maintain survivability
of critical circuits, to ensure continued electrical operation for a “specified time
period” based on the related code article for its intended use.
The “specified time period” has changed throughout various code cycles,
progressing from 1 Hour protection, to the current 2 Hour protection, reflected in
Article 695 “Fire Pumps”, Article 700 “Emergency Systems”, Article 708 “COPS”,
Article 760 “Fire Alarm Systems” and Article 517 “Health Care Facilities”*.
*note: Design considerations to Article 517 should also be coordinated with NFPA 99

Section 728.3 sets down this article as the definitive guidance on “Fire Resistive
Cable Systems” requiring discrepancies with other article to acquiesce to Article
728.
The most importance part of Article 728, is Section 728.4 “General” which
comments “Fire-resistive cables, fire-resistive conductors, and components shall
be tested and listed as a complete system, shall be designated for use in a specific
fire-rated system, and shall not be interchangeable between systems.”
The importance of this section can not be understated, since it protects the
integrity of the Fire Resistive Cable Systems. For conduit based cable systems,
numerous manufacturers, produce components of similar design and materials to
support standard trade size conduits. Only those components, including the
conduit, that have been 2 Hour Fire tested, and NRTL “listed” as part of the
complete system can be used. This can make it a challenge making sure only the
test and listed manufacturers, and models, are used for a specific project. The
potential is high for errors when similar components are drawn from contractor
warehouses for multiple projects. One incorrect coupling “voids” the NRTL
“listing” of the entire assembly. A time consuming and expensive oversight!
The use of non-conduit NTRL “listed” systems like MI (mineral insulated-Article
332) and MC (metal clad-Article 330) can minimize the risk of component errors,
and AHJ rejection of the installation.
NEC Code making Panel 3, in putting together Article 728, has sought to provide
the reader with two informational notes in connection to section 728.4.
1) “One method of defining the fire rating is by testing the system in
accordance with UL 2196-2012, “Standard for Tests of Fire Resistive Cables”
2) Fire-resistive cable systems are considered part of an electrical circuit
protective system
UL 2196 is the standard for testing of fire resistive cables to 2 Hour electrical
survivability based on standard commercial building materials. It is the evolution
of a “modified” UL 1709 “Standard for Safety Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Protection
Materials for Structural Steel” to include an electrical circuit integrity verification.
Section 728.5 “Installations” follows through on requirements from (A) to (H), as
noted below:
(A) “Mounting. The fire-resistive cable system shall be secured to the building
structure in accordance with the listing and the manufacturer’s installation
instructions. “ – The minimum requirements of support as defined by
“building structure” are clarified in the UL FHIT System Listing for the Fire
Resistive Cable System identified. This is often a concrete or masonry
structure capable of maintaining its resiliency to fire for 2 Hours.
(B) “Supports. The fire-resistive system shall be supported in accordance with
the listing and the manufacturer’s installation instructions.” – The UL FHIT
System Listing defines the supporting requirements, which can vary from
system to system.
(C) “Raceways and Couplings. Where the fire-resistive system is listed to be
installed in a raceway, the raceways enclosing the system, any couplings,
and connectors shall be listed as part of the fire-rated system” – Per the UL
FHIT System Listings both steel and resin based conduits appear, with
varying fill restrictions. Don’t rely on standard trade 40% fill cycle for these
systems, consult the UL FHIT system you intend to utilize.
(D) “Cable Trays. Cable trays used as part of a fire-resistive system shall be
listed as part of the fire-resistive system.” – Consult the UL FHIT System
Listing. (Note: Most systems do NOT allow Resin or Aluminum tray
materials due to maximum temperature integrity threshold)
(E) “Boxes. Boxes or enclosures used as part of a fire-resistive system shall be
listed as part of the fire-resistive system and shall be secured to the
building structure independently of the raceways or cables listed in the
system.” – Consult the UL System Listing for materials, manufacturers and
models.
(F) “Pulling Lubricants. Fire-resistive cable systems installed in a raceway shall
only use pulling lubricants listed as part of the fire-resistive cable system” –
Not all pulling lubricants are created equal, so may have combustion
related components that can affect the cable insulation, consult the UL
FHIT System Listing.
(G) “Vertical Supports. Cables and conductors installed in vertical raceways
shall be supported in accordance with the listing of the fire-resistive cable
system.” – Conduit and Armored Cable Systems (MI, MC) can have different
vertical support considerations as a result of maximum suspended loading,
consult the UL FHIT System Listing for guidance.

(H) “Splices. Only splices that are part of the listing for the fire resistive cable
system shall be used. Splices shall have manufacturer’s installation
instructions.” – Consult the UL FHIT System Listing
Section 728.60 “Grounding” considers the fire survivability of the Equipment
Grounding Conductor. To maintain the integrity of the grounding conductor to
that of the phase conductors, it requires that the Equipment Grounding
Conductor be of the same Fire Resistive Cable as the rest of the conductors, and
be identified in the UL FHIT System Listing.
Armored systems with a copper sheath can use the outside copper sheath as an
acceptable Equipment Grounding Conductor, if identified in for such use in the
applicable NEC Article.
Section 728.120 “Marking” defines that the system and conductors must be
surfaced marked with “FRR” (fire-resistive rating), along with the duration in
hours, and the system identifier. – This provides in distinguishing the type of cable
from standard building products like THHN, XHHW, and standard MC or AC
products.
With the weight control observances in modern architectural designs, and the
recent scrutiny, of the minimum required concrete thickness to maintain 2 hour
fire protection, the widening availability, and reduced manufactured cost of Fire
Resistive Cables on the commercial market, presents a bright future.

Author: Travis Hannah

Contact: travis@fireratedcables.com