Tata Steel BSL

“Do not take Risk Take a Lead”

1
Instructions
 Facilities:
 Conference room & exits
 Toilets
 Coffee / Tea
 Some ground rules:
 Mobile phone (vibrate /silent) and Do not use Laptop
during sessions
 During breaks:
Use for your calls

 Be back on time
 Emergency:
 Fire - evacuate to assembly points
Tata Steel BSL Limited
 TATA Steel BSL Limited
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM IN CABLE RUNS
OF
POWER SYSTEM
 Standard for Fire Safety in cable runs

Purpose: Purpose of this safety standard is to achieve adequate

Fire safety in cables runs.
Scope: Procedure covers the requirements of fire safety in respect
of cables runs in trenches, vaults ,tunnels, trays, riser etc in
industrial complex.
Definition
Cable runs: A stretch of cables for carrying the electrical current
from one point to other.
Cable tray: A horizontal or vertical support for cable run.
Cable rack: Two or more cable arrange one over other
Standard for Fire Safety in cable runs

Cable rack.

Cable tray
The concept of fire protection of-
cable trenches / tunnels/vaults :

 Preventing / delaying fire damage to the cables to

preserve their functioning and increasing their resistance
to fire.
 Preventing/retarding flame propagation through cable
runs.
 Providing effective fire detection and alarm system.
FIRE RESISTANT CABLE COATING COMPOUND

is a asbestos free, non-toxic, inorganic compound which

prevent the propagation of fire along electrical cables.

Compound when exposed to Fire, starts in tumescent

immediately thereby forming a char on the cables and
acts as on barrier against flame and heat, hence not
allowing propagation of fire along electrical cables.
Application:
Pre-application surface shall be free of dust, grease & Oil.
Cable Coating should be thoroughly stirred before
application. The Coating shall be applied by normal
brushing application on the cable first a thin layer allow it
to touch dry then second coat shall be applied, if required
third coat can be applied to achieve a wet film thickness
of 2.5 mm which shall give a dry film thickness of 1.6 mm.
Fire Prone Area:

 The area which has history of fire in the cables.

 The area which is full of combustible material in the surrounding

like non ventilated oil cellars etc.
 The area where the ambient temperature may go high in
normal operating conditions more than 70 deg C for one hour
continuously
• Oven top in the Coke ovens.
• Passing through hot metal handling zones in SMS and Blast
Furnaces, near Reheating Furnace in Mills, Boilers in power
plant etc.
Any other area identified by the Engineer in-charge.
Cable vault /cellar
THE STANDERD PRACTICE for Fire Resistant of Cable
Coating are: -
 In bunched cables running horizontally at an
intermittent distance.
 The vertical runs (Fire travels faster in verticals with
the draft effect).
 Cables at all entry / exit points.
 Cables in High Heat zones.
 Cables at crises-crossings all sides.
 Cables in area of Oil / Lubricant spillage, coal dust
etc.
 Cable above 230 Volts Cable
above 230 Volts in cable tunnels
/cable trays should be painted up
to a length of one meter at an
interval of every 30 meter.

Cable entry into the vault should

be protected with fire barrier / fire
stop. in cable tunnels /cable trays
should be painted up to a length of
one meter.
.
Fire Stop: Fire Stop system is a specific construction
consisting of the material like Mortars, mineral wool sheet or
other fire resistance materials which is provided around the
penetrating items such as cables, cable trays, conduits, pipes
etc. through the wall.
The Fire Stop system is primarily designed to prevent the
spread of fire from one compartment to other compartment
by filling the opening around penetrating items. Fire stop
coating should be applied on the surface of cable such that
dry film thickness of 1.6 mm is achieved
Technical Specifications:
1) Fire Stop Coating should be compatible for FRLS, PVC,
Neoprene, silicone rubber etc.
sheathing of cables.
2) It should not impair the current carrying capacity of the
cables.
3) It should not impair the dielectric strength of the cables.
4) It should retard the fire spread due to internal short
circuit of cables or external source and arrest its
propagation along vertical as well as horizontal direction of
cables.
5) It should be water, oil and weather resistant and
suitable for indoor as well as outdoor applications. Its
property should not deteriorate after prolonged exposure
to indoor/outdoor/damp environment.

6) Coating materials must adhere to the cables and

maintain their fire protection properties through a
temperature range of -40 degree C to 71 degree C
FR COATING ON POWER CABLES FIRE STOP
Sum up –
Fire resistant should be applied-
• Just below the end termination up to a length of one
meter inside the panel (if space available),
•Just below the panel entry up to a length of one meter
• Joints up to a length of one meter in both directions.
•Transformer terminal box .

For cable of voltage 33 kV and above, cable entry to the

panel should also be protected with Fire Stop along with
fire resistant coating.