Fire Alarm & Fire Detection Cables For Building - Why Manage Service Cables In Escape Routes

Before fire After fire

Presented by

Martin Bainbridge EngTech GIFireE, MIFPO, MIFSM, SIIRSM RSP

2007 - Coroner determined plastic trunking and fire alarm cables contributed to the deaths of two Firefighters at a fire in Hertfordshire during 2005

February 2013 – Coroners Court concluded dropped service cables trapped Firefighters contributing to their deaths at a fire in Southampton during 2010

March 2013 - London Firefighter trapped by fallen cables necessitating rescue at Lakenal House fire during 2009.

Firefighter Wornham was found on the floor of the lobby immediately outside the flat, entangled in the electrical cabling that had fallen as a result of the plastic cable-trunking having melted.

Specific attention should be drawn to the evidence that Ff Wornham was found entangled in the electrical cabling, with melted plastic fire alarm cable-insulation adhered to the

inside palm of his glove.

“Stevenage Borough Council may have

contributed to Ff Wornham’s death in that they

may have failed to ensure their contractor

complied with BS 5839-1: 2002; clause 26.2(f)

in respect of precluding the use of plastic

trunking for securing the electrical cabling of

their common area fire alarm system”.

Quoted Coroner for Hertfordshire:- SBC should remove all the surface mounted plastic trunking/conduit

used to protect and support the Fire Alarm and Automatic Fire Detection System in the Common Areas of all their premises, and replace them with a method of cable support which as a minimum conforms to BS 5839- Part 1 : 2002; clause 26.2 (f:);

Methods of cable support should be such that circuit integrity will not

be reduced below that afforded by the cable used, and should withstand a similar temperature and duration to that of the cable, while maintaining adequate support. Note 7. In effect, this recommendation precludes the use of plastic cable clips, cable ties or trunking, where these products are the sole means of cable support.”

It is recommended that Building Regulations are amended to

ensure that all cables, not just fire alarm cables, are supported by fire-resistant cable supports.

Martyn Allen CEng MIET | Head of Technical Development | Electrical Safety Council

Preventative action:

ESC is pushing for changes to several regulations in BS 7671 (formerly IEE Wiring Regulations) to require wiring systems in escape routes to be supported such that

they will resist the effects of fire and not be liable to collapse and become a hazard to firefighters or other persons. The requirements in BS 7671 apply to all wiring systems of a building, including those of distribution circuits and final circuits, safety services, and data and communication services. We are optimistically confident that our proposed changes will be incorporated in the next Amendment to BS 7671, which is due to be published and come into force on 01 January 2015.

Methods of cable support and fixings should be non-combustible and such that circuit integrity will not be reduced below that afforded by the cable used, and should withstand a similar temperature, duration and water application to that of the cable, while maintaining adequate support.

NOTE In effect, this recommendation precludes the use of plastic cable clips, cable ties or trunking where these products are the sole means of cable support. Steel and copper are examples of materials that are likely to be suitable.

Fixings and clipping distances should be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

We fully support the recommendations made by the coroner in this recent letter that action should be taken to prevent the recurrence of similar fatalities.

The coroner highlighted the risks associated with falling

cables. CFOA has been working alongside the Electrical Safety Council to review a variety of options to improve the methods used to support electric cables; both pre and post build in types of building. We welcome the coroner’s recommendations to amend Building Regulations to ensure that all cables are supported by fire-resistant cable supports.

7 February 2013

4(f) Methods of cable support should be non-combustible and such

that circuit integrity will not be reduced below that afforded by the

cable used, and should withstand a similar temperature and

duration to that of the cable, while maintaining adequate support.

NOTE 8 In effect, this recommendation precludes the use of plastic

cable clips, cable ties or trunking, where these products are the

means of cable support.

NOTE 9 Experience has shown that collapse of cables, supported

only by plastic cable trunking, can create a serious hazard for

Firefighters, who could become entangled in the cables.

Consider types of cable accessories contractor aims to use for example:-

http://www.fpcables.co.uk/fp-accessories.html

14.21 Cable trunking is suitable for use in voids, above suspended ceilings, in surface applications and in service risers

14.28 All conduits and trunking systems should be solidly fixed. Such fixings should exclude the use of demountable building elements (for example ceiling tiles, wall partitions) or other engineering services

All fixing systems should be suitable for the mass of the containment and wiring systems.

Consider service cables and fixings during fire risk assessments. Do they

generally comply with appropriate guidance including:-

BS 5839 – part 1 2013: Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings - Code of practice

for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic

premises

BS 5266 part 1 2011: Emergency lighting – Code of practice for the emergency escape

lighting of Premises

HTM 06-01 Part A: Electrical services supply and distribution – design considerations

Focus inspection of cables in fire escape routes; corridors and staircases

Consider recommending achievable action plan over 3-years

Use photographic evidence of poorly supported cables in FRA report.

“It’s essential where detailed or a current asbestos risk register is not available that you take extra care to protect yourself”.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/managing/intro.htm

Best wishes Martin Bainbridge EngTech GIFireE, MIFPO, MIFSM, SIIRSM RSP

MB Fire Risk Consultant Fire Safety Adviser

07832 935412

[email protected]

http://www.mbfirerisk.co.uk/

www.linkedin.com/in/martinbainbridge1