The CS380 Bundled Cable Vertical Flame Test Equipment is a full-scale, professional fire resistance test chamber developed strictly in accordance with IEC 60332-3-10 / IEC 60332-3-21~25 (Categories A F/R, A, B, C, D), GB/T 18380.31~36, UL 1685, EN 45545-2, and EN 50399 standards. It is engineered to evaluate the vertical flame spread characteristics and fire resistance of vertically-mounted bunched electrical wires, power cables, and optical fiber cables under standardized fire conditions.
Built with a heavy-duty 1000 mm × 2000 mm × 4000 mm mineral-wool-insulated 304 stainless steel chamber, an intelligent PLC touchscreen operating system, dual ribbon propane burners with Venturi mixing units, an electric specimen lifting crane, and integrated safety shut-off systems, this highly reliable Fire Resistance Testing Equipment delivers authoritative compliance testing data for cable manufacturers, third-party inspection bureaus, railway safety bodies, marine classification societies, and fire testing laboratories worldwide.
Bundled Cable Vertical Flame Test Equipment Compliance & Standards
This cable vertical flame spread test system enables certified fire safety testing laboratories to conduct formal compliance assessments across global wire, cable, railway, and marine standards:
| Standard Code |
Standard Title & Scope |
Primary Testing Application |
| IEC 60332-3-10 / IEC 60332-3-21~25 |
Tests on electric and optical fiber cables under fire conditions — Vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables (Categories A F/R, A, B, C, D) |
International benchmark for bunched cable vertical flame propagation testing across all volume categories |
| BS EN 60332-3-10 / BS EN 60332-3-21~25 |
British & European standard for tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions |
Compliance testing for British and European building, infrastructure, and industrial cable installations |
| GB/T 18380.31~36 |
Test on electric and optical fiber cables under fire conditions — Parts 31 to 36: Vertical flame spread test for bunched cables |
Mandatory Chinese national standard series for cable fire performance certification (Categories A F/R, A, B, C, D) |
| EN 45545-2 / IMO FTP Code Part 9 |
Railway applications fire protection (R15/R16) & International Maritime Organization test for bunched cables |
Fire safety compliance for railway rolling stock wiring, shipboard cables, and offshore platform installations |
| UL 1685 |
Standard for Vertical-Tray Fire-Propagation and Smoke-Release Test for Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables |
Commercial cable tray vertical flame spread and smoke release assessment for North American markets |
| EN 50399 |
Common test methods for cables under fire conditions — Heat release and smoke production measurement |
European CPR (Construction Products Regulation) cable fire classification testing |
Technological Features of CS380 Fire Resistance Testing Equipment
- Insulated 304 Stainless Steel Combustion Chamber: Features a 1000(W) × 2000(D) × 4000(H) mm vertical enclosure lined with high-density mineral wool thermal insulation. Includes an 800 × 400 mm bottom air inlet and a 300 × 1000 mm top exhaust opening to maintain controlled airflow dynamics.
- Intelligent PLC & Touchscreen Control Architecture: Equipped with automated spark ignition, high-precision timing up to 999 minutes (1-second resolution), real-time temperature tracking via K-type thermocouples, auto data logging, and 40-minute/1-hour milestone reminders.
- Electric Specimen Crane & Access Ladder: Includes a heavy-duty motorized electric crane that effortlessly lifts heavy bundled cable assemblies. An integrated external access ladder and safety handrails enable convenient top-side inspection and specimen securement.
- Precision Dual Burner Array & Venturi Gas Mixers: Supplies two standard propane ribbon burners with matching Venturi gas mixers, precision pressure regulators (locking gas and air at 0.1 MPa), and glass rotameters to guarantee stable flame output during test duration.
- Multi-Tiered Emergency Safety Protections: Features automatic gas supply cut-off upon timer expiration, emergency manual ball valves, and a forced fire-extinguishing device to maintain lab safety during intense combustion tests.
Technical Specifications of Bundled Cable Vertical Flame Test Equipment
| Governing Test Standards |
IEC 60332-3-10, IEC 60332-3-21~25, BS EN 60332-3, GB/T 18380.31~36, UL 1685, EN 50399, EN 45545-2, IMO FTP Code Part 9 |
| Chamber Internal Dimensions |
1,000 mm (W) × 2,000 mm (D) × 4,000 mm (H) |
| Chamber Material & Insulation |
304 Stainless Steel with mineral wool thermal insulation lining |
| Cable Test Ladders (Included) |
• Standard Stainless Steel Ladder: 500 mm (W) × 3,500 mm (H)
• Wide Stainless Steel Ladder: 800 mm (W) × 3,500 mm (H) |
| Burner & Gas Mixing System |
2 sets of standard propane ribbon burners; 2 Venturi gas mixers; 0.1 MPa pressure regulators & rotameters |
| Air Inlet & Exhaust Openings |
Bottom Inlet: 800 mm × 400 mm (150 mm from front); Top Exhaust: 300 mm × 1,000 mm |
| Control System & Interface |
PLC with touchscreen display; 0–999 min timer (1s precision); auto data storage |
| Specimen Mounting Mechanism |
Motorized electric crane lifting system; steel ladder & handrail on chamber body |
| Safety Features |
Internal K-type thermocouples; auto gas cut-off; manual ball valve; forced fire extinguishing device |
System Architecture & Testing Workflow of CS380 Bundled Cable Vertical Flame Tester
Flamability tests for electrical cables:
Examination of the vertical flame
acc. to IEC 60332-3-22/23/24/25 Source: sab cable
Standardized Testing Workflow:
- Attach the bunched cable samples onto either the 500mm or 800mm stainless steel cable ladder.
- Use the electric crane system to smoothly lift and position the loaded cable ladder into the 4m tall stainless steel chamber.
- Set the test duration (e.g., 20 or 40 minutes depending on category requirements) on the PLC touchscreen.
- Initiate spark ignition; the Venturi mixers deliver a controlled propane/air flame to the dual ribbon burners.
- Monitor real-time internal temperature; upon timer completion, the system automatically shuts off fuel supply, records test data, and triggers fire suppression if required.
Target Customer Applications:
- Electric power cable, telecommunication line, and optical fiber cable manufacturing plants.
- Third-party fire protection product testing labs and international certification bodies.
- Rail transit, marine, aerospace, and construction cable quality inspection centers.
- University material science engineering laboratories and fire safety research institutes.
Bundled Cable Vertical Flame Test Equipment FAQ
Q1: What is the primary purpose of the IEC 60332-3 vertical flame spread test?
A: The test evaluates whether a vertical bundle of electric or optical cables will inhibit flame propagation during a fire event. It measures the charred length of the cables after exposure to a high-output gas burner for a set time frame.
Q2: How does the electric crane improve laboratory productivity and safety?
A: Full-size 3.5m cable ladders with bundled heavy cables can weigh tens of kilograms. The built-in electric crane allows a single technician to safely lift, position, and swap heavy specimen assemblies into the 4-meter chamber without manual strain.
Q3: Can the CS380 system be upgraded for CPR EN 50399 testing?
A: Yes. The chamber dimensions and mechanical layout meet basic EN 50399 requirements, and can be connected to external heat release rate (HRR) and smoke production rate (SPR) gas analysis instrumentation for European CPR classification.
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