WHITE PAPER RSCC Wire & Cable LLC 20 Bradley Park Rd, East Granby, CT 06026 Main: 860.653.8300 Champion Fiberglass 6400 Spring Stuebner Rd, Spring, TX 77389 Main: 281.655.8900 Fax: 281.257.2523 championfiberglass.com UL2196: The Next Generation Fire-Resistive Cables and Phenolic Conduit Executive Summary In June 2012 UL learned of compatibility issues when Classified Fire-Resistive Cables were installed in systems where zinc was used as an interior coating in steel conduits, raceways and other system components. At the high temperatures, the zinc coating vaporizes and interacts with the copper conductor creating a brass alloy. Brass melts at a lower temperature which compromises the integrity of the electrical system causing premature failure. As a result, cable manufacturers were no longer authorized to place the UL trademark on the following products: • UL Classified Fire Resistive Cable (FHJR) • ULC Listed Fire Resistive Cable (FHJRC) • UL Listed cable with “CI” suffix (Circuit Integrity) UL2196 Cable Performance Testing Overview The UL2196 test is designed to evaluate the performance of electrical circuit protective systems in severe fire events – specifically, when exposed to fire for two hours followed by the mechanical shock of a fire hose stream. Project Systems Impacted: • Fire Pump – Feeder/Controls • Elevators • Smoke control equipment • Command center critical systems • Pressurized stairway systems • Smoke management systems • Fire alarm systems • Electrical Equipment Rooms – Feeders/Service • Emergency Generators & Standby Power Systems The Fiberglass Advantage Being the demand for fiberglass conduit in the United States alone has been growing significantly over the last two decades – and is forecasted to increase further as project owners and engineers seek to serve long-term interests of their stakeholders, it made sense to consider investigating the use of fiberglass high temperature phenolic conduit as a solution to the zinc compatibility issue that plagued rigid metal conduit. When the UL findings became public, RSCC and Champion Fiberglass partnered together to examine, develop and create a cost-effective solution that would continue to function while being exposed to the severe fire requirements of UL2196. The Fiberglass Advantage Detail Champion’s Phenolic Fiberglass Type XW high temperature conduit doesn’t have the problematic zinc compatibility issues of rigid steel conduit, but it contains the zero smoke and zero halogen, high temperature physical properties that enable it and RSCC VITALink® 300 RHW-2 cable to continue functioning during the UL2196 Cable Performance testing. Testing concluded that the system as described and installed continued to function throughout the entire test. For a copy of the test report, please contact Champion Fiberglass. Why the Electrical Industry is using RSCC VITAlink® 300 Cable and Champion Fiberglass Type XW Phenolic Conduit for Two-hour Fire-rated Installations 092018 WHITE PAPER RSCC Wire & Cable LLC 20 Bradley Park Rd, East Granby, CT 06026 Main: 860.653.8300 Champion Fiberglass 6400 Spring Stuebner Rd, Spring, TX 77389 Main: 281.655.8900 Fax: 281.257.2523 championfiberglass.com Project References The following projects have utilized RSCC VITALink 300® and Champion Fiberglass Flame Shield® Phenolic XW conduit to resolve their two-hour fire-resistive circuit requirements. Elizabeth River Tunnels (East & West) – Portsmouth, VA Contractor: Mass Electric Construction – Waltham, MA Engineer: Parsons Brinkerhoff – Boston, MA Mt. Lebanon Tunnel – Mt. Lebanon, PA Contractor: Vantage Corporation – Carnegie, PA Engineer: Gannett-Fleming – Pittsburgh, PA Overall Impact on Project Economics The RSCC VITALink® 300 Cable and Champion Fiberglass Flame Shield® Phenolic XW conduit impacts project economics in the following ways: • Ensuring the facility or infrastructure will perform as designed long-term • Allowing engineers to draft more flexible, efficient and cost-effective designs • Streamlining the project’s implementation and ability to meet milestones • Protecting project stakeholders from future safety risk and liability exposure These various points illustrate the economic and operational impact that choosing the right cable and conduit combination for your two-hour fire-resistive electrical circuit protective systems will have. UL2196: The Next Generation Fire Resistive Cables and Phenolic Conduit / Page 2 092018