IEC 60332-1-2:2004 pdf Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions
1 Scope
This part of IEC 60332 specifies the procedure for testing the resistance to vertical flame
propagation for a single vertical electrical insulated conductor or cable, or optical fibre cable,
under fire conditions. The apparatus is given in IEC 60332-1 -1 .
NOTE 1 Testing to IEC 60332-1 -2 may be performed simultaneously with that to IEC 60332-1 -3 if required.
Recommended requirements for performance are given in Annex A.
IEC 60332-1-2 specifies the use of a 1 kW pre-mixed flame and is for general use, except that
the procedure specified may not be suitable for the testing of small single insulated
conductors or cables of less than 0,5 mm² total cross-section because the conductor melts
before the test is completed, or for the testing of small optical fibre cables because the cable
is broken before the test is completed. In these cases, the procedure given in IEC 60332-2-2
is recommended.
NOTE 2 Since the use of insulated conductor or cable which retards flame propagation and complies with the recommended requirements of this standard is not sufficient by itself to prevent propagation of fire under all conditions of installation, it is recommended that wherever the risk of propagation is high, for example in long vertical runs of bunches of cables, special installation precautions should also be taken. It cannot be assumed that because the sample of cable complies with the performance requirements recommended in this standard, that a bunch of cables will behave in a similar manner. (See IEC 60332-3 series.)
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60332-1 -1 , Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions – Part 1-1: Test
for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable – Apparatus
IEC 60695-4, Fire hazard testing – Part 4: Terminology concerning fire tests
IEC Guide 1 04, The preparation of safety publications and the use of basic safety publications
and group safety publications
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply. The definitions
are taken from IEC 60695-4.
3.1 ignition source
source of energy that initiates combustion
[IEC 60695-4:1 993, definition 2.76]
3.2 char
carbonaceous residue resulting from pyrolysis or incomplete combustion
[IEC 60695-4:1 993, definition 2.1 2]
4 Test apparatus
The apparatus specified in IEC 60332-1 -1 shall be used.
5 Procedure
5.1 Sample
The test sample shall be a piece of single insulated conductor or cable (600 ± 25) mm long.
5.2 Conditioning
Before testing, all test pieces shall be conditioned at (23 ± 5) °C for not less than 1 6 h at a
relative humidity of (50 ± 20) %.
In the case of a single insulated conductor or cable with a finish of paint or lacquer, this
conditioning shall follow an initial period where the test piece shall be kept at a temperature of
(60 ± 2) °C for 4 h.
5.3 Positioning of test piece
The test piece shall straightened and be secured to two horizontal supports by means of a
suitable size of copper wire, in a vertical position in the centre of the metal screen, as
described in 4.2 of IEC 60332-1 -1 , so that the distance between the bottom of the upper
support and the top of the lower support is (550 ± 5) mm. In addition, the test piece shall be
positioned so that the bottom of the specimen is approximately 50 mm from the base of the
screen (see Figure 1 ).
The vertical axis of the test piece shall be arranged centrally within the screen (i.e. 1 50 mm
from each side and 225 mm from the rear).
IEC 60332-1-2:2004 pdf Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions
