CR1-C1 Fire Resistant Cable

What is CR1-C1 Cable?

The CR1-C1 Cable is a specialized 300/500V fire-resistant and flame-retardant low-smoke halogen-free cable engineered in conformity with French specifications NF C 32-310, NF C 32-070, and IEC/NF EN 60228. It is specifically developed to maintain continuous electrical circuit integrity across critical life-safety networks during structural fire incidents where power and signal failure could impede emergency response or human evacuation.

The dual classification “CR1-C1” designates compliance with the most rigorous French fire performance benchmarks under NF C 32-070: the CR1 rating certifies exceptional fire resistance (maintaining circuit continuity under high-temperature furnace flame), while the C1 category verifies non-flame propagation in densely bunched vertical cable installations. Built with thermal-grade silicone rubber insulation that vitrifies under extreme heat and an LSZH M1 thermoplastic outer sheath, CR1-C1 prevents fire spreading while eliminating the emission of corrosive halogen acid gases and opaque smoke, ensuring complete protection for evacuating personnel and high-value control hardware.

CR1-C1 Cable Construction

• Conductor: High-purity annealed plain copper conductor; Class 1 solid copper for cross-sections up to 6mm², and Class 2 stranded circular copper for cross-sections 10mm² and above per IEC/NF EN 60228.
• Insulation: High-grade fire-resistant silicone rubber compound that ceramifies under direct flame to maintain dielectric insulation.
• Bedding / Inner Layer: Concentric cabled assembly without corrosive fillers, optimized for lightweight installation and flexibility.
• Armour / Shield: Unarmoured, unshielded flexible construction allowing rapid routing through conduits, trunking, and distribution cabinets.
• Outer Sheath: Thermoplastic Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound meeting M1 fire performance rating.
• Core Identification: 2 core: Blue, Brown; 3 core: Green/Yellow, Blue, Brown; 4 core: Green/Yellow, Brown, Black, Grey; 5 core: Green/Yellow, Brown, Black, Grey, Blue.
• Sheath Colour: High-visibility Orange.

Applications

CR1-C1 fire-resistant cables are deployed across mission-critical emergency networks where operational continuity is legally mandated in fire emergencies:

• Emergency Lighting & Exit Guidance: Central power circuits for emergency path lighting, backlit directional indicators, and automatic emergency exit door releases.
• Fire Alarm & Extinguishing Systems: Power and signal connections for automatic smoke detection heads, sounders, voice evacuation systems, and sprinkler booster pumps.
• Smoke Control & Ventilation: Operational feeds for pressurized stairwell fans, smoke clearance louvers, fire damper actuators, and climate control shutdowns.
• Emergency Transport & Security: Power distribution to dedicated fire-fighting elevators, emergency communication intercoms, telephone trunks, and CCTV video surveillance systems.

Specifications & Dimensions

Huadong Cable Group manufactures CR1-C1 cables in single-core configurations from 1.5mm² to 300mm², 2-core configurations from 1.5mm² to 95mm², 3-core configurations from 1.5mm² to 95mm², 4-core configurations from 1.5mm² to 95mm², 5-core configurations from 1.5mm² to 95mm², 6-core configurations at 1.5mm² and 2.5mm², and 7-core configurations at 1.5mm² and 2.5mm². Operating at a voltage rating of 300/500V across a continuous temperature spectrum of -15°C to +90°C (with a short-circuit thermal limit of +350°C), the cable series exhibits nominal overall diameters between 4.2mm (single-core 1.5mm²) and 43.3mm (5-core 95mm²) and nominal unit weights spanning 35 kg/km up to 5,380 kg/km. Conductor DC resistance values at 20°C strictly conform to IEC/NF EN 60228 (12.1 Ω/km for 1.5mm² down to 0.0601 Ω/km for 300mm²), delivering continuous current carrying capacities up to 699A for single cores and up to 298A for multi-core runs under a compact minimum bending radius of 6 times the overall cable diameter.

Standards

Design & Material Standards: NF C 32-310, IEC/NF EN 60228
Fire Resistance Standards: Fire resistance Category CR1 according to NF C 32-070
Flame Retardancy Standards: Flame retardant Category C1 according to NF C 32-070 (Bunched cable non-propagation test)
Halogen-Free & Low Smoke: IEC/NF EN 60754-1/2 (Zero halogen acid gases), IEC/NF EN 61034-2 (Low optical smoke emission)
Operating & Thermal Ratings: Voltage Rating: 300/500V; Operating Temp: -15°C to +90°C; Short-Circuit Temp: +350°C; Min Bending Radius: 6 × OD
Regulatory Directives: Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, RoHS Directive 2015/65/EU, REACH EC 1907/2006, CE Marked

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the technical difference between the CR1 and C1 designations in NF C 32-070?
A: The CR1 classification certifies circuit integrity (fire resistance) under direct electrical load and high-temperature flame exposure, whereas the C1 rating validates that the cable is non-flame propagating under vertical bunched cable fire conditions.

Q: How does silicone rubber insulation maintain circuit integrity during a fire?
A: Under extreme flame temperatures, the specially formulated silicone rubber compound undergoes pyrolysis into a coherent, non-conductive silica (ash) layer that mechanically holds the copper conductors separated, preventing phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground short circuits.

Q: Why is the outer sheath of CR1-C1 cable colored orange?
A: The vibrant orange sheath is the recognized international and European safety color code denoting critical fire-survival and emergency life-safety cabling systems, allowing easy identification by safety inspectors and maintenance crews.

Q: What commercial payment terms does Huadong Cable accept for international orders?
A: We accept standard international commercial payment terms, primarily Telegraphic Transfer (T/T, with 30% advance deposit and 70% against shipping documents) and 100% Irrevocable Letter of Credit (L/C) at sight.

CR1-C1 Cable – Why Choose Huadong Cable?

Huadong Cable Group manufactures CR1-C1 fire-resistant cables in full compliance with French NF C 32-310 and NF C 32-070 standards, with performance verified through rigorous batch testing in accredited testing laboratories. Using 99.99% high-purity electrolytic copper conductors, our extrusion lines apply uniform high-temperature silicone rubber insulation and halogen-free M1 thermoplastic sheaths, guaranteeing accurate concentricity, extreme short-circuit resilience up to +350°C, and zero corrosive acidic emissions under fire exposure.

Backed by more than 20 years of precision cable engineering expertise, Huadong Cable Group operates advanced multi-core cabling machines and certified clean compounding facilities adhering to ISO 9001, CE, RoHS, and REACH protocols. Supplying directly from our manufacturing facility eliminates intermediary agent markups, allowing us to provide competitive factory pricing, 100% routine Mill Test Certificates (MTC) tested in accredited testing facilities, continuous drum lengths on ISPM 15 heat-treated export wooden reels, and dependable door-to-port global logistics for EPC contractors and building automation specialists worldwide.