Cablosam® Samica® tapes for fire-resistant cables - Von Roll

Cablosam ®
Samica ® tapes for
fi re-resistant cables

Cablosam ® - Samica ® tapes for fi re-resistant cables
New technologies require a wide range of electrical and/or electronic functions
and this means a drastic increase in the demand for cables of all types – power
transmission, communication, multicore and others.
Safety requirements in the modern world have increased signifi cantly and
electrical appliances and installations need to function reliably even in the most
testing environments, such as fi res. An oil platform is an artifi cial environment that
depends on electrical functions at all times. Electrical integrity has to be assured
whenever a fi re – even only a small one – occurs, otherwise lives, material and the
environment are at risk
By developing and producing of state-of-the-art Cablosam ® tapes for the
manufacture of fi re-resistant cables, Von Roll is making an important contribution
to disaster prevention. Our mica Cablosam ® products are in service worldwide
and have been developed for use with our customers’ cables and to comply with
a variety of standards.
Legislation
The legislation governing safety cables is extensive. Norms follow national, regional
or international standards for different levels of protection and cable design. The
levels of protection can be classifi ed as follows:
FLAME-RETARDANT
These cables make sure that fl ames go out by themselves
FIRE-RETARDANT
These cables ensure that fi res do not propagate, but do not assure circuit
integrity.
FIRE RESISTANCE
These cables must ensure circuit integrity during specifi ed fi re conditions.
Cablosam ® is a major contribution to this type of cable.
SMOKE EMISSION
Regulations concerning smoke levels
EMISSION OF CORROSIVE AND TOXIC GASES
Regulations concerning the agressivity and chemistry of the possible toxic
gases.
The norms governing fi re-resistant cables are numerous and their scope varies
from regional to international. Some of the most important European standards
have worldwide signifi cance.

Standards
IEC 60331 FIRE TEST - INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
This norm provides for different fire tests; they all relate to IEC 60331, which covers tests for electrical cables under fire
conditions (circuit integrity).
The differences are:
IEC 60331 – 11 relates to fire alone and a flame temperature of 750°C
IEC 60331 – 12 relates to fire alone and a flame temperature of 850°C
IEC 60331 – 21
IEC 60331 – 23
IEC 60331 – 25
IEC 60331 – 31
relates to cables up to and including 0.6kV/1.0 kV
relates to data transmission cables
relates to optical fibre cables
relates to fire with shock for cables up to and including 0.6kV/1.0 kV
Please note that norm NEK 606 – Cables for offshore installations, halogen-free and/or mud-resistant – uses the IEC fire
norms 60331 – 11 / 21 / 25.
BS 6387 / BS 8434 / EN 50200 - BRITISH AND EUROPEAN FIRE-RESISTANT STANDARDS
These standards define the performance of electric cables when subjected to fire conditions including fire with water
spray and fire with mechanical shock. The latest standards in this area are the BS 8434 standards, which are identical
to the EN 50200 standards.
BS 6387 Cat. C
BS 6387 Cat. W
BS 6387 Cat. Z
EN 50200 PH 30
EN 50200 PH 120
950°C for 3 hours
650°C for 15 minutes then 650°C with water for a further 15 minutes
950°C for 15 minutes then 950°C with mechanical shock for a further 15 minutes
830 °C for 15 minutes then 830°C with simultaneous water and shock for a further 15 minutes
(Similar to BS 8434).
930°C for 15 minutes then 930°C with simultaneous water and shock for a further 15 minutes
(similar to BS 8434)
DIN 4102 PART 12 FUNCTIONALITY OF ELECTRIC CABLE SYSTEMS – GERMAN STANDARDS
DIN 4102 part 12 tests cables in conjunction with cable trays and clamps used in real-life applications. The specimens
are mounted in the test chamber and supported by the structures provided for this purpose or fastened to the ceiling
or wall in order to simulate real-life applications. The temperatures may be as high as 1050°C; the voltage test is 380 V
for power cables and 110 V for communication cables. The test applies the following classifications, depending on the
measured duration of circuit integrity (no short circuit and no interruption of current)
E 30
E 60
E 90
> 30 minutes
> 60 minutes
> 90 minutes
AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
The above represent some of the standards that are applied to fire-resistant cables. Other countries have even more
stringent requirements, some of the most difficult being the Australian standard. This requires 120 minutes at 1030°C
followed by a mechanical test and a water spray. Circuit integrity is to be maintained at all times.

The Cablosam ® product range
The Cablosam ® product range consists of mica tapes which enable cable
manufacturers to meet the most demanding standards.
Cablosam ® tapes are made of Samica ® mica paper, a support of glass fabric
or polyethylene films and silicone resin.
Cablosam ® tapes are free from halogens and hazardous fumes.
Cablosam ® tapes withstand mechanical pressure at high temperatures.
Cablosam ® tapes provide a reliable flame barrier within the survival cables.
Two types of Samica ® paper, with muscovite or phlogopite mica, are used for
Cablosam ® tapes. This alumino-silicate mineral retains its laminar structure up
to its melting point of 1200 to 1300°C and thus ensuring that the tapes have
outstanding fire-resistant properties. The difference between the two types of
mica is to be found in their chemical composition and calcination characteristics;
muscovite releases small amounts of water above 600°C and phlogopite above
800°C.
When exposed to fire, Cablosam ® tapes fuse to each other and to the copper
conductor, forming a mechanically resistant and electrical insulating layer. This
layer is then responsible for maintaining electrical integrity during a fire.
The following graph shows the breakdown time of two cables with the same
design, one with phlogopite and one with muscovite.
BREAKDOWN TIME FOR TWO IDENTICAL CABLE DESIGNS
Phlogopite HP
with glass
Min
33 minutes
Max
72 minutes
Muscovite HP
with glass
Min
44 minutes
Max
89 minutes
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
minutes
The Cablosam ® product range comprises two families:
Cablosam ® HP
These “high-performance” products are used to meet the most demanding
requirements. They achieve this by virtue of their optimal material composition
and specific advantages.
Our muscovite tape 366.21-10 is particularly soft thanks to the special mica paper
used.
Cablosam ® AP
“All-purpose” products are designed for applications where cost is a major
factor.

All of our Cablosam ® tapes are literally “joint-free”, i.e. the joints are so strong and
so thin that they are almost invisible and do not affect the characteristics of the
tape.
Product
Cablosam ® HP
Total weight
(gr/m 2 )
Thickness
(mm)
Samica
(gr/m 2 )
Support Samica ®
Cablosam ® HP 366.21-10 130 ± 11 0.12 ± 0.02 75 Glass fabric Special muscovite
Cablosam ® AP
Cablosam ® AP MPE80 120 ± 10 0.08 ± 0.02 80 Polyethylene film Muscovite
Cablosam ® AP PPE80 120 ± 10 0.08 ± 0.02 80 Polyethylene film Phlogopite
Cablosam ® AP PPE110 162 ± 10 0.11 ± 0.02 120 Polyethylene film Phlogopite
Cablosam ® AP PPE130 206 ± 18 0.13 ± 0.02 160 Polyethylene film Phlogopite
Cablosam ® AP MG90 120 ± 10 0.09 ± 0.02 80 Glass fabric Muscovite
Cablosam ® AP PG90 120 ± 10 0.09 ± 0.02 80 Glass fabric Phlogopite
Cablosam ® AP PG110 161 ± 12 0.11 ± 0.02 120 Glass fabric Phlogopite
Cablosam ® AP PG130 170 ± 13 0.13 ± 0.02 120 Glass fabric Phlogopite
Processing
Cablosam ® tapes are applied to stranded wires, conductors and cables by stripwinding
machines in one or more tangentially or radially overlapping layers. The
tapes have to be applied with the glass fabric facings outwards and the mica paper
inwards, against the conductor. To join the ends of pads or cross wound spools
during production, we recommend our Isotape ® 51594 or Isotape ® 51587.
Conductors, stranded wire or cables insulated in this manner can then be covered
with thermoplastic material to form the final product. The dust-repellent properties
of the tapes prevent the extrusion nozzle from clogging.
Perfect de-rolling of the spools. No deflection of wire during taping. Taping cross wound spools with state of the art
machines.

Delivery form
Von Roll offers customers:
Cablosam ® tapes from widths of 4 mm upwards as pads or cross-wound
spools. The length of the pads depends on the width of the material required to
ensure correct stability and may be in excess of 1200 m.
Cross-wound spools may be up to 20 km in length depending on the width and
dimensions of the spool. Used in conjunction with a suitable taping machine,
spools can be extremely cost-effective, since they allow a very high level of
autonomy.
Cablosam ® taped conductors on bare or tinned single or stranded wires can
be produced to customer specifications.
Examples of such specifications include:
Product
Tape used
Overlap
(%)
Increase in insulation
(mm)
Cablosam ® SK 735 366.21-10 25 to 35 0.36
Cablosam ® SK 135 366.21-10 25 to 35 0.38
Cablosam ® SK 150 366.21-10 40 to 50 0.4
Cablosam ® 2 SK 735 366.21-10 25 to 35 0.7
REGULAR PADS
CROSS-WOUND SPOOLS

Cablosam ® applications
Fires can occur anywhere, but their effects can be particularly hazardous wherever
large numbers of people are gathered together, where safety-related equipment
is in use or in environments where there is a particularly high fi re risk. In such fi re
conditions, vital information and functions need to be maintained, and power and
signal cables have to be adequately protected for a predefi ned period of time.
Fire-resistant cables are used in a variety of installations such as:
• Offshore oil rigs
• Multi-storey buildings
• Power stations
• Industrial plants
• Subways
• Computer centres
• Aerospace units
• Telecommunication centres
• Ships
• Military facilities
The types of cables used vary widely and are manufactured to customers’
specifi cations. They can be described by application:
• Power cables
• Multicore cables
• Data cables
• High-frequency cables
• Communication cables
Examples
The fi gure below shows two types of cables: one for maximum requirements,
in which every single wire is individually insulated, and a second featuring core
insulation to protect against cable breakdown.
1 3 5
FOR MAXIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1 2 4 5
AS CORE INSULATION AGAINST BREAKDOWN
1 Copper conductor / 2 Insulation / 3 Cablosam ® as fl ame barrier / 4 Cablosam ® as fl ame and heat barrier / 5 Sheath

Von Roll Switzerland Ltd • CH-4226 BREITENBACH
www.vonroll.com
All information in this document is subject to the product liability clause as published in the Website www.vonroll.com under legal information.
Creation : www.zygmund.fr • Photos of products : Marc Barral-Baron • 04/2006