Cables and Wires Flame Resistance Test UL 1581 UL 2556 UL 1685

In the U.S. market, the flammability of UL1581 is probably the most widely used standard for evaluating the flammability of wires and cables. It is used to evaluate the extinguishing ability of the cable after being ignited, and is generally divided into vertical combustion and horizontal combustion. UL 1581 VW-1 is a flame test used to check how flame propagates on wires and cables. Two clips hold a sample vertically. The burner is mounted at a 20° angle and applied for 15 seconds, then four more times each time the wire stops burning. If the sample is not lit for more than 60 seconds after any of these burning events, or if less than 25% of the indicators are lit, or if the batt is ignited during the test, the wire will pass. “Tray level” cables must also pass this test.

With the wide application of cable materials in various fields, the possibility of fire has greatly increased, and fire has great harm to people and the economy. UL 1581, UL 2556, UL 1685 and other flame resistance tests for wire and cable are helping major wire and cable companies to understand the performance and quality of their products, so that their products can better meet fire safety standards, open market channels, and gain more market opportunities .

Test MethodUL 1581 Part 1080 → VW-1 (Vertical Specimen) Flame Test
UL 2556 Part 9.4 → FV-2/VW-1
DescriptionThe cable is secured vertically. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured at an angle of 20° in respect to the vertical.UL 1581 Part 1080 VW-1 (Vertical Specimen) Flame Test
Duration15 seconds of flame application and 15 seconds of pause for 5 cycles. When flaming of the specimen persists longer than 15 seconds after removal of the burner flame, the burner flame shall not be re-applied until immediately after the flaming ceases.
ComplianceThe paper indicator flag (P) shall not be burned more than 25% and the specimen shall not continue to burn for more than 60 seconds. Dripping material shall not ignite the cotton wool underneath (B).
Test MethodUL 1581 Part 1060 → Vertical Flame
UL 2556 Part 9.5 → FV-1/Vertical Flame
DescriptionThe cable is secured vertically. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured at an angle of 20° in respect to the vertical.UL 1581 Part 1060 Vertical Flame|UL 2556 Part 9.5 FV-1/ Vertical Flame
Duration15 seconds of flame application and 15 seconds of pause for 5 cycles. The burner flame shall be reapplied after 15 seconds, regardless of whether flaming of the specimen persists longer than15 seconds.
ComplianceThe paper indicator flag (P) shall not be burned more than 25% and the specimen shall not continue to burn for more than 60 seconds. Dripping material shall not ignite the cotton wool underneath(B).

Cables and Wires Flame Resistance Test Equipment

Test MethodUL 1581 Part 1060 → FT1
UL 2556 Part 9.3 → FT1
DescriptionThe cable is secured vertically. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured at an angle of 20° in respect to the vertical.UL 1581 Part 1060 FT1 Flame Test
Duration15 seconds of flame application and 15 seconds of pause for 5 cycles. The burner flame shall be reapplied after 15 seconds, regardless of whether flaming of the specimen persists longer than15 seconds.
ComplianceThe paper indicator flag (P) shall not be burned more than 25% and the specimen shall not continue to burn for more than 60 seconds. Dripping material or the ignition of the cotton wool underneath (B) are ignored for the compliance of this test.
Test MethodUL 1581 Part 1061 → Cable Flame Test
DescriptionThe cable is secured vertically. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured at an angle of 20 in respect to the vertical.UL 1581 Part 1061 Cable Flame Test
Duration60 seconds of flame application and 30 seconds of pause for 3 cycles. The burner flame shall be reapplied after 30 seconds, regardless of whether flaming of the specimen persists longer than30 seconds.
ComplianceThe paper indicator flag (P) shall not be burned more than 25% and the specimen shall not continue to burn for more than 60 seconds. Dripping material shall not ignite the cotton wool underneath(B).

Cables and Wires Flame Resistance Test Chamber

Test MethodUL 1581 Part 1090 → Horizontal Specimen Appliance → Wire Flame Test
DescriptionThe cable is secured horizontally. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured vertically.UL 1581 Part 1090 Horizontal Specimen Appliance - Wire Flame Test
Duration30 seconds of flame application.
ComplianceThe flame propagation speed must not exceed 25 mm/min. Dripping material shall not ignite the cotton wool(B) placed next to the burner.
Test MethodUL 1581 Part 1100 → Horizontal Specimen / FT2 Flame Test
UL 2556 Part 9.1 → FT2/FH/Horizontal Flame
DescriptionThe cable is secured horizontally. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured at an angle of 20° in respect to the vertical.UL 1581 Part 1100 Horizontal Specimen FT2 Flame Test
Duration30 seconds of flame application.
ComplianceThe length of the carbonized specimen has to be no greater than 100 mm. Dripping material shall not ignite the cotton wool(B) placed next to the burner.
Test MethodIEC 60332-1-2/ EN 60332-1-2
DescriptionThe cable is secured vertically. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured at an angle of 45° in respect to the vertical.IEC 60332-1-2 / EN 60332-1-2
DurationBased on the cable diameter: 60 seconds (D25 mm), 120 seconds (2575 mm)
ComplianceThe fire damage must end at least 50 mm below the upper fixing clamp.The cable must be self-extinguishing.

Flammability tests and determination of combustion products are vital to cable technology. They provide information on how fire spreads along the cables as well as on the potential threats to people and materials in the event of a cable fire. ln order to make sure that a particular cable meets the necessary flammability requirements, a wide range of different testing procedures are often used. These procedures are typically performed in either the vertical or horizontal orientation, on single cables or on group cables.

related page logoIEC 60332-1-2 Tests On Electric and Optical Fibre Cables Under Fire Conditions – Part 1-2: Test for Vertical Flame Propagation for A Single Insulated Wire or Cable – Procedure for 1 Kw Pre-Mixed Flame
related page logoUL 1581 Underwriters Laboratories Inc Standard for Safety Reference Standard for Electrical Wires, Cables, and Flexible Cords
related page logoIEC 60332-2-2 Tests on Electric and Optical Fibre Cables Under Fire Conditions – Part 2-2: Test for Vertical Flame Propagation for A Single Small Insulated Wire or Cable – Procedure for Diffusion Flame
related page logoUL 1685 Underwriters Laboratories Inc Standard for Safety Vertical-Tray Fire-Propagation and Smoke-Release Test for Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables
related page logoIEC 60332-3-24 Test Standard of Tests On Electric and Optical Fibre Cables Under Fire Conditions – Part 3-24: Test for Vertical Flame Spread of Vertically-Mounted Bunched Wires or Cables – Category C
related page logoUL 2556 International Standard For Safety Wire and Cable Test Methods|Certified Wire and Cables and the Related Test Methods

Test MethodIEC 60332-2-2 / EN 60332-2-2
DescriptionThe cable is secured vertically. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured at an angle of 45° in respect to the vertical.IEC 60332-2-2 / EN 60332-2-2
Duration20 seconds.
ComplianceThe fire damage must end at least 50 mm below the upper fixing clamp.The cable must be self-extinguishing.
Test MethodUL 2556 Part 9.6 → Vertical Tray (Method 1)
UL 1581 Part 1160 → Vertical Tray Flame Test
UL 1685
DescriptionThe cables are secured vertically to a ladder in a single layer. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured horizontally.UL 2556 Part 9.6 Vertical Tray (Method 1)
Duration20 min of flame application for 2 tests.
ComplianceThe damage height of all specimens shall be less than 2440 mm when measured from the bottom of the tray.
Test MethodUL 2556 Part 9.6 FT4(Method 2)
DescriptionThe cables are secured vertically to a ladder in a single layer. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured at an angle of 20° in respect to the vertical.UL 2556 Part 9.6 FT4 (Method 2)
Duration20 min of flame application for 2 tests.
ComplianceThe damage height of all specimens shall be less than 1500 mm when measured from the bottom edge of the burner.
Test MethodIEC 60332-3-24 / EN 60332-3-24
DescriptionThe cables are secured vertically to a ladder also in several layers. A burner is used to apply the flame and it is secured horizontally.IEC 60332-3-24 / EN 60332-3-24
Duration20 min
ComplianceThe damage height of all specimens shall be less than 2500 mm when measured from the bottom of the tray.

UI is short for Underwriters Laboratories Inc. The UL Safety Laboratory is the most authoritative in the United States and the largest private institution engaged in safety testing and identification in the world. It is an independent, for-profit professional organization that conducts experiments for public safety. It uses scientific testing methods to study and determine whether various materials, devices, products, equipment, buildings, etc. are harmful and harmful to life and property; determine, write, and issue corresponding standards and help reduce and prevent life-threatening injuries. Information on property damage, and conduct fact-finding business. UL certification is a non-mandatory certification in the United States, mainly testing and certification of product safety performance, and its certification scope does not include the EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) characteristics of products.

VW-1 FV-2 Flame Test UL 1581

FT2 Flame Test UL 1581

VW-1 FV-2 Flame Test UL 2556

FT2 Flame Test UL 2556

 

UL1685 is a vertical tray fire test used to determine the cable damage height and smoke release values for cables and fiber optic cables when they encounter a burning ignition source.Scope of Use of UL 1685
If the cable is acceptable under the UL test procedure, the following shall be tested:
a) Cable carbonization shall be less than 8 feet 0 inches (244 cm) when measured at the bottom of the cable iron frame.
b) The total amount of smoke released is 95 square meters or less.
c) The maximum smoke release rate shall be 0.25 m2/s or less.
The purpose of the UL 1685 test is to determine the flame spread and smoke characteristics of these cables to qualify cables with limited smoke marking.
The UL 1685 test does not study the toxicity of combustion or decomposition products.
UL 1685 testing does not include structural requirements for cables or any electrical, optical or other performance requirements for cables.

related page logoBurner and Mechanical Control System for Cables and Wires Flame Resistance Test Equipment → VW1 FV2 and FT2 Flame Test → Vertical and Horizontal Flame Test 1
related page logoBurner and Mechanical Control System for Cables and Wires Flame Resistance Test Equipment → VW1 FV2 and FT2 Flame Test → Vertical and Horizontal Flame Test 2
related page logoBurner and Mechanical Control System for Cables and Wires Flame Resistance Test Equipment → VW1 FV2 and FT2 Flame Test → Vertical and Horizontal Flame Test 3
related page logoBurner and Mechanical Control System for Cables and Wires Flame Resistance Test Equipment → VW1 FV2 and FT2 Flame Test → Vertical and Horizontal Flame Test 4
related page logoBurner and Mechanical Control System for Cables and Wires Flame Resistance Test Equipment → VW1 FV2 and FT2 Flame Test → Vertical and Horizontal Flame Test 5

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