Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

Fire tests were performed for various cable types and layouts under practical conditions. Surveys were carried out in a number of data processing centers to determine a cable layout that meets the requirements of data-processing installations. The following tests were carried out: Flaming of cables outside the raised floor, flaming of cables under the raised floor and flaming of a cable support with cables under the raised floor. One litre of n-hexane, which was electrically ignited, served as ignition source. Thermocouples were used to measure the temperature course at many measuring points and the course of the fire was documented photographic ally. When the cables were flamed outside the space under the raised floor, the fire did not spread. When the cables were flamed under the raised floor, fire damage to the cables were more extensive, the cables spread the fire from the space under the raised floor into the test room. When only coaxial cables with improved fire-resistant characteristics were used, the extent of the damage was restricted to the area of the ignition vessel. The conclusions are briefly discussed with respect to fire protection measures.