Publications Details
The estimation of electrical cable fire-induced damage limits
Sandia National Laboratories has, for several years, been engaged in the performance of both fire safety and electrical equipment qualification research under independent programs sponsored by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Recent comparisons between electrical cable thermal damageability data gathered independently in these two efforts indicate that a direct correlation exists between certain of the recent cable thermal vulnerability information gathered under equipment qualification conditions and thermal damageability in a fire environment. This direct correlation allows for a significant expansion of the data base on estimated cable thermal vulnerability limits in a fire environment because of the wide range of cable types and products that have been evaluated as a part of the equipment qualification research. This paper provides a discussion of the basis for the derived correlation, and presents estimated cable thermal damage limits for a wide range of generic cable types and specific cable products. The supposition that a direct correlation exists is supported through direct comparisons of the test results for certain specific cable products. The proposed supplemental cable fire vulnerability data gained from examination of the equipment qualification results is presented. These results should be of particular interest to those engaged in the evaluation of fire risk for industrial facilities, including nuclear power plants.