AEI Cables’ safety campaign welcomed on Category 3 fire performance cables

The fire safety industry is widely welcoming the campaign by AEI Cables to highlight the importance of using only approved cabling in signal and control equipment.

The company has been advising the industry of the requirements under the revised version of the Code of Practice for Category 3 fire performance cables. The systems powered by these cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety.

Customers, the wider industry and professionals have welcomed the message of safety including the professional fire safety membership body the Institution of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO).

Stuart Dover of AEI Cables, said: ‘The Code references and clarifies the products and levels of performance required very clearly. We have received wide support for this information and the efforts we are making in the interests of safety for all concerned from the supply chain through to those responsible and the public using buildings in which these systems operate.’

Martin Dunne of the IFPO said: ‘We are supporting this effort to raise awareness to the fire safety community to follow the detail of the new Code of Practice under BS8519. This can only help to improve fire safety in our buildings.’

As the only supplier in the UK with independent approval from LPCB for BS8519 Category 3 Control fire performance cables with a fire survival time of up to 120 minutes, AEI Cables is warning of the dangers of using any other type of cable.

The applications of Category 3 Control fire performance cables also applies to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems in relevant buildings including tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, care homes, shopping malls and stadia.

AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control. The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes.