AMP Netconnect SCS Training

Designing Premises Cabling System

Flame Rating of Communication Cables

Cables are protected by an outer jacket. Data cables are classified for use inside buildings on
their ability to reduce or eliminate possible fire hazard. There are a number of national and
international standards that deal with the fire performance of cables. The International
Electrical Commission (IEC) publishes the IEC 332 series. In the USA, the National Electric
Code refers to the CM series.
In the USA, the National Electrical Code (NEC) specifies the cable flame rating while
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) developed procedures for testing cable. Cables are
classified as CMX (lowest grade), CM, CMR (riser) and CMP (plenum). These
classifications detail the flame propagation requirements of cables. Cables used in horizontal
cabling subsystems that are not installed in air-returns are classified as general cables. The
sheath material is normally given a temperature rating above which the properties of the
material will not be guaranteed.
For backbone applications, the sheath material needs to meet stricter fire regulations. The
cables should restrict the spread of fire more than general cables do. The cable construction
also plays a very important part in reducing the spread of fire. Special materials such as low
smoke PVC, halogen free materials (LSZH), high temperature materials (plenum) are used to
control the spread of fire, smoke and toxic emissions. In addition, metallic armoring is
effectively used to reduce the fire hazard of cables.
In the US, four pair cables in Category 5 and higher usually have PVC jackets whether they
are CMR or CMP rated. The PVC composition varies according to the flame and smoke
requirements to be met, but it is still all PVC. Depending somewhat on pair count, most
cables lower than Category 5 also have PVC jackets.
In US cables Category 5 and higher, a four pair cable is usually insulated with FEP if it is
CMP rated, and with a polyolefin (polyethylene, polyproplyene, or either with some flame
retardant modifications) for CMR, CM, or CMX.
CMX, CM, CMG, and CMR flame ratings are based on restricting flame spread, i.e., transfer
of the fire. They are respectively more stringent as you move from CMX to CMR.
CMP rating requires not only the most strict limitations on flame spread, but tests for the
generation of VISIBLE smoke as well.
There is no requirement in the US that checks for either toxicity or corrosivity in the burning
of communication cables. NEC article 800 burn requirements are based on providing time
and visibility in order to safely evacuate a building.
Both CMP and CMR (or CM, CMG, or CMX) products meet the same signal transmission
requirements within a given Category if they are compliant with ANSI/TIA 568-B-2. Flame
ratings and signal transmission performance are independent requirements. They are only
related in that you have to choose a material SYSTEM (insulation and jacket combination)
Supplemetary Notes
Cable Flame Rating
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Designing Premises Cabling System

that allows you to meet signal transmission performance parameters and still meet the
flame/smoke safety requirements.
FEP insulation (marketed by DuPont under the tradename Teflon and by Daikin under the
tradename NeoFlon) has very good transmission properties and also is very resistant to
burning and generates relatively little visible smoke. It is also very expensive and is only
available from the two manufacturers. This pretty much relegates its use to Category 5 and
higher CMP rated cables and some specialty types.
Polyolefins also have very good signal transmission properties. Polypropylene approaches
FEP in this regard and polyethylene is not far removed. The problem with polyolefins in a
premises environment is that they burn very readily (like a candle) and generate smoke. By
using a PVC jacket highly loaded with flame retardants, a manufacturer can choose to use
polyolefins for Category 5 and higher cables in all but CMP rated products. For Category 3
and lower, the manufacturer may choose to use PVC as an insulating compound as well as a
jacketing compound.
Manufacturers account for the differences in signal transmission performance of the
insulation raw material with the cable design, so that for a given Category, the installed cable
looks basically the same to system electronics regardless of the NEC flame rating.
In the USA, cables are permitted to be installed in air return applications. This specifies the
use of special cable material. PTFE/FEP (or Teflon, a Dupont trademark) is used in the USA
in plenum applications -- the air handling space between the walls, under floors, and above
ceiling drops. This is a high temperature, low smoke material that releases fluorine on
burning. Plenum cables can be installed in plenums without the use of conduit.
Generally, there are 4 types of cable jacket used in data communication cable.
1. Poly-vinyl chloride (PVC). This is pretty toxic and flammable.
2. Fire-retardant PVC. This is also toxic and flammable but requires a higher
temperature to ignite than PVC.
3. Plenum grade. Releases halogen, but requires a higher temperature to ignite than
LSZH or FR-PVC.
4. Low smoke, zero halogen (LSZH or LS0H). Far less toxic and slower to ignite.
Article 800 of the National Electrical Code covers requirements for low-voltage
communications cables. Five levels of burn resistance are specified (plus one for
undercarpet cable.) These are shown below from most stringent and restrictive to least.
The NEC ratings are hierarchical, in other words, from the top down, a cable may be
substituted for any cable lower in the table. For example, a CMP rated cable may
substitute for a CMR (or any lower rated cable), but a CMR cable may not substitute for a
CMP cable.

Supplemetary Notes
Cable Flame Rating
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AMP Netconnect SCS Training

Designing Premises Cabling System

NEC
Common Term
Designation

CMP

Communications
Plenum

CMR

Communications
Riser

CMG

Communications
General Purpose

CM

Communications
General Purpose

CMX

Communications
Limited Use

Test

Comments

Cable must have both resistance to flame spread

and reduced smoke generating properties. These
cables are approved for placement in air
handling ducts and chambers (plenums) without
UL 910
the use of fire-proof conduit. The purpose of the
rating is to lessen the transmission of fire and
visible smoke to unaffected parts of the building.
Toxicity is not measured.
Cable must not transmit flame from one floor to
UL 1666 another when placed vertically in a building
shaft (called a riser shaft).
Cable may not transmit flame for more than 4 ft,
CSA C22.2 11 in. It shall not penetrate floors or ceilings,
No. 0.3-M i.e., may only be used within a single floor. This
(Vertical designation was added as a part of the
Tray) harmonization efforts between U.S. and
Canadian standards.
UL 1581 Cable may not transmit flame for more than 4 ft,
(Vertical 11 in. It shall not penetrate floors or ceilings, i.e,
Tray) may only be used within a single floor.
Cable must meet the least stringent flame spread
UL 1581
requirements of all ratings. Can only be installed
VW-1
in one and two family (duplex) housing units.
(Vertical
Often rated with optional UL requirements for
Wire)
Outdoor use.

Until recently most cables for LAN installations were PVC sheathed, and halogen free cables
were only applied in a few special cases. However, a significant change of attitude and
regulation is now developing in the market, for instance in CENELEC standards EN50167,
EN 50168 and EN 50169 by direct specification that screened cables must be halogen free.
These new requirements to halogen free cables have impact on the safety and especially the
fire rating of the cables.
PVC is in most respects an ideal sheath material. Superior mechanical characteristics are
combined with high reliability. However, two main drawbacks have forced the development
of alternative, halogen free sheath materials.
First issue concerns environmental considerations in connection with use of PVC. Key words
like "acid rain", "dioxine formation", "pollution with heavy metals", "fertility of man and
male animal" and "cancer risk" are popular environmental arguments connected with PVC.
The second disadvantage forcing substitution of PVC concerns the fire behavior. In a fire
situation burning or extensive heat causes:
1. Development of a heavy black smoke.
2. Development of hydrochloric acid and some poisonous gasses.
Together these two factors affect human safety in case of fire. The smoke causes panic as
escape routes cannot be seen. The poisonous gasses causes asphyxiation if people cannot
escape the smoke in a short time.
Supplemetary Notes
Cable Flame Rating
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AMP Netconnect SCS Training

Designing Premises Cabling System

Development of the hydrochloric acid may destroy both electronic equipment, machinery and
buildings. The chlorine will contaminate all surfaces exposed to the smoke and may cause
severe corrosion in a very short time.
From the above reasons the search for an alternative to PVC has been intensive and proved to
be successful. A number of compounds are available today, mainly based on the plastic
material "EVA" filled with aluminium or magnesium hydroxyde. Fire retardancy comes from
generation of water during fire.
The halogen free materials are normally more expensive than PVC to buy and to process.
Consequently the halogen free cables will normally be more expensive than the
corresponding PVC sheathed cables. Furthermore, some cables, especially with early
compounds, may be more stiff than the corresponding PVC cables.
LSZH materials do not contain any halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine) which
are very toxic elements and emit low smoke on burning. These cable materials are specified
in European data cabling standards. In this case, the cables need to meet the flame
propagation as well as the toxicity requirements specified in IEC 332.1, IEC 332.3 A/B/C,
IEC 1034 (smoke), IEC 754.1 (halogen content) and IEC 754.2 (acid gas).
Flame retardancy according to IEC 332-1 (Corresponds to HD 405.1) is verified by burning
one cable with a single flame. IEC 332-1 is and will be the fundamental flammability rating
for all cable types, including also PVC sheathed cables. All international communication
cables must pass this requirement.
Fire Retardancy according to IEC 332-3, Cat. C (corresponding to HD 405.3) is verified by
burning a bunch of cables with a large burner.
The most frequent designations for halogen free cables are found below, but abbreviations
can be found pair wise in any combination or order:
LS0H Means "Low Smoke, Zero Halogen"
LSZH Means "Low Smoke, Zero Halogen"
HFFR Means "Halogen Free, Fire Retardant"
FRZH Means "Fire Retardant, Zero Halogen"
LSFRZH Means "Low Smoke, Fire Retardant, Zero Halogen"
All cable designations are describing the same cable type, except for "FR" since halogen free
cables may be either fire or flame retardant.

Supplemetary Notes
Cable Flame Rating
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