PH120
What is PH120
It is easy to see why a PH120 cable
would be used where a 120 min
cable is actually required. After
all what is the dierence between
PH120 and 120 minutes?
The terminology is very similar
but the meaning is very dierent.
PH120 refers to the selectable
time duration in re test method
BSEN50200 PH30/60/90/120
and is referenced in IS3218 which
selects the test duration time in
minutes. This re test has ame
and shock only in the test method
and most notably no water spray.
For sure the test duration is 120
minutes but there is no water
spray. If water spray was added to
this test then the cable could be
classied dierently, probably as
a 30 minute survival time as the
water spray makes that much dif-
ference to the re survivability of
the cable under test.
The re test would be BSEN50200
+ Annex E (Flame/Shock/Water
Spray) a 30 minute duration test
dened by Annex E.
120 minutes, for the purposes of
IS3218, refers to a re test method
BS8434-2:2008. This re test has
ame, shock and water spray and
it is this all important inclusion of
water spray that is the dierence
between PH120 and 120 minutes.
Wherever PH prexes the time
then the re test has no water
spray.
Martyn Corbishley is Business Development Manager, Prysmian Cables
?
So, Fire Performance cables
should meet:
1. BSEN50200 PH120 and
BSEN50200 + Annex A (known in
the UK market as Standard cable)
2. BSEN50200 PH120 and
BS8434-2:2008 (Known in the UK
market as Enhanced cable)
There is also a dierence in the
price. A PH120 only cable will be
cheaper than a 120 minute cable
or a cable that meets and is certi-
ed by BASEC & LPCB to BS8434-
2:2008. We only get what we pay
for and anything that is too good
to be true has to have a catch
somewhere.
Price should not be the driver for
the selection Fire Performance
Cables (FP), the Codes of Practice
have been written to correctly
select the cable taking the emo-
tion of price out of the selection
process.
I do not know where the term
PH comes from; I do know it has
created confusion over the correct
selection of life safety cables for
re alarm and emergency lighting
systems in the Irish market.
ELECTRIC.IE The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry
An alternative would be for install-
ers (and Speciers) to ask for Stan-
dard 30min or Enhanced 120min
grade cable.
The UK market does just this and
categorises between STANDARD
Grade (30) and ENHANCED
Grade (120) as stated in BS5839-1.
Whilst writing I would urge all
installers to carefully check their
specications, refrain from using
the terminology PH when buying
FP Cables.
Having to remove wrongly se-
lected cables, and it does happen,
quite often by genuine mistake,
can be costly both nancially and
for reputation.
Should you
have any
questions
Prysmian
technical help
line can be
contacted for
guidance.
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