What is BS 6724- Thermosetting insulated cables about?
BS 6724 is a British Standard on low voltage cables that specifies requirements for the construction and performance of thermosetting insulated, armoured cables of rated voltages of 600/1 000 V and 1 900/3 300 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by the fire.
BS 6724 is applicable to cables for use in fixed installations in industrial areas, buildings, or similar applications.
Note 1: Other thermosetting insulated, armoured cables for voltages of 600/1 000 V and 1 900/3 300 V can be found in BS 5467, but these do not have low levels of emission of smoke and corrosive products under exposure to fire.
Note 2: Limitation on the temperature of the cables may be imposed in situations where they might be touched or where they could touch other materials.
Who is BS 6724:2016 - Thermosetting insulated cables for?
BS 6724 on thermosetting insulated cables is relevant to:
- Manufacturers of power cables and electric cable systems
- Manufacturers of electric conductors
- Communication and electric power transmission lines
- Product design engineers
- Electrical engineers
Why should you use BS 6724 - Thermosetting insulated cables?
BS 6724 is applicable to cables that are designed for a maximum sustained conductor temperature of 90 °C and for a maximum short-circuit conductor temperature of 250 °C (for a maximum of 5 s).
BS 6724 specifies requirements for the following types of cables:
- 600/1 000 V cables, wire armoured and overheated having single-core two-, three-, four- and five-core stranded copper conductor
- 600/1 000 V multicore auxiliary cables, wire armoured, and overheated, stranded copper conductor
- 1 900/3 300 V cables, wire armoured and overheated, having single-core or three-core stranded copper conductor
BS 6724 also provides insulation specifications, marking, temperature, end sealing, and covers guidance on tests including, but not limited to:
- Abrasion resistance test
- Insulation resistance constant test on oversheath
- Test for shrinkage of oversheath on cable
BS 6724 addresses a market need to standardize thermosetting insulated, armoured cables as a result of the proliferation of designs and requirements in the market. Performance under fire conditions is assessed on the basis of tests which measure, under defined conditions, fire resistance, flame propagation and emission of smoke and corrosive gases.
BS 6724 provides the maximum permitted voltages against rated voltage of cable, along with guidance on conductors, insulation, and best practices for cable marking and identification.
Thus, BS 6724 demonstrates the performance, reliability and quality of thermosetting insulated electric cables and the extent of their fire-resistant properties.
