Fireproof Cladding for Wires and Cables: Safeguarding the Safety of Power Systems

Chapter 1: The Inescapable Risk of Fire Spread

In 2017, the catastrophic fire at London’s Grenfell Tower became a heart-wrenching tragedy. Due to the lack of fire separation in the cable shafts, the fire spread rapidly throughout the entire building, causing power outages and blocking escape routes. Ultimately, 72 lives were lost in this disaster. This tragic event serves as a stark warning: while cables are indispensable “energy lifelines” in modern buildings, they can also act as “invisible accelerators” for fire spread.

Core Issue: The Severe Challenge of Cable Fires

According to data from emergency management authorities, wires and cables are a major cause of fires in China, accounting for over 30% of all fire incidents. The insulation layer of cables is highly flammable under high temperatures, often carbonizing within just 3 seconds.

Toxic gases such as hydrogen chloride (HCl) released during cable combustion are extremely harmful to the human body. As specified in the standards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70), when the concentration of hydrogen chloride reaches 500 ppm, a person can suffocate within 5 minutes.

Furthermore, traditional fire-retardant coatings often fail to withstand the extreme high temperatures of up to 1200°C in cable shaft fires. They tend to peel off and lose effectiveness, with a fire resistance time typically less than 30 minutes.

In electrical fires, wires and cables, due to the flammability of their insulation layers and sheaths, become the main pathway for fire spread. The toxic gases produced by combustion not only directly threaten human life but also may damage the power supply lines of fire-fighting equipment, causing the failure of fire-extinguishing systems and further expanding fire losses. Therefore, cable fireproof cladding systems are crucial measures to stop fire spread and protect human safety.

Chapter 2: Technical Advantages of JOINBLING^® Passive Fire Protection System

The panels used in our company’s fire protection system are 100% asbestos-free. They are made from a variety of organic and inorganic materials, including high-quality Portland cement, high-purity quartz sand, and plant fibers, and are completely free of harmful substances such as asbestos and formaldehyde. Produced using advanced automated manufacturing equipment and mature processes, these panels undergo high-temperature autoclave curing and special technical treatments to form a dense and robust structure. They are an environmentally friendly, safe, and multi-functional high-grade building material.

The specifications of the silicate panels are 2440×1220×9/12/15mm, with a thermal conductivity of ≤0.25 W/mK. They are low-density panels specifically designed for fire protection. These panels have passed the rigorous testing of the international standard EN 14306 and obtained the CE certification mark.

Three Major Physical Protections:

• Aging Protection: The crystalline structure of high-purity quartz sand can resist environmental erosion from ultraviolet rays, ozone, and more, slowing down the aging rate of cable insulation layers by more than 3 times.
• Overload Protection: When the cable temperature rises abnormally to 80°C, the microporous structure within the panel releases crystalline water to absorb heat (heat absorption capacity of 1200 J/g), preventing the insulation layer from melting and short-circuiting.
• Resistance to Mechanical Damage: With a flexural strength of 10 MPa, the panels can withstand long-term vibrations and external impacts on cable trays, reducing the risk of physical damage.

Excellent performance of wire and cable fireproof cladding systems：

• Cable-Level Protection: This fireproof cladding system has passed certification for a fire resistance time of 120 minutes , ensuring that the power supply lines of fire-fighting equipment remain intact in case of fire. Compared with traditional Class C flame-retardant cables (with a fire resistance time of only 0.5 hours), the protection time has been increased by 400%.

• Fireproof Cladding for Pipe Shafts: For shaft structures such as pipe shafts and air shafts, lightweight fireproof materials are used. While ensuring easy installation, they achieve a fire resistance time of 240 minutes , far exceeding the 2-hour fire resistance requirement for firewalls specified in national standards.

Fire Resistance Time	Core Application Scenarios
30 minutes	Cable trays in ordinary buildings
60 minutes	Branch lines in high-rise buildings
120 minutes	Main cables for fire-fighting power supplies
180 minutes	Core shafts in super high-rise buildings
240 minutes	Pipe shafts in lifeline projects

Chapter 3: The Significance of Exceeding Standards

Fireproof cladding for wires and cables has evolved from an “auxiliary measure” to a key safeguard for “lifeline projects”. In important locations such as super high-rise buildings, underground substations, and data centers, through its three-fold role of active flame retardancy, smoke suppression, and structural stability, buys precious time for personnel evacuation and fire rescue.

In a fire, ensuring the continuity of power supply is equivalent to extending lives. Based on international standards and with longer fire resistance times, we have reshaped the safety protection capabilities of power systems in extreme environments. This is not just an upgrade of fireproof cladding materials but also a shift in safety concepts from passive response to active control.