Single Core Fire Resistant Cable BS 6387

What is Single Core Fire Resistant Cable BS 6387?

The Single Core Fire Resistant Cable BS 6387 is a low-voltage (450/750V) LSZH building wire engineered to maintain uninterrupted electrical circuit integrity when subjected to direct fire, mechanical shock, and fire service water sprays. Designed strictly for fixed installations where the wire is protected within metallic or non-metallic conduit and enclosed trunking runs, it powers critical emergency devices across high-occupancy buildings.

The cable achieves full compliance with the rigorous BS 6387 Category CWZ protocol: Category C for continuous fire resistance (3 hours at 950°C), Category W for fire coupled with water spray, and Category Z for fire accompanied by severe mechanical vibrations. Combining a primary glass-backed mica fire barrier with thermosetting EI5-grade LSZH insulation, it suppresses flame spread per BS EN 60332-1-2 while restricting toxic gas and acidic smoke emissions per BS EN 60754-1/2 and BS EN 61034-2, preserving human visibility and preventing secondary damage to electronic systems during building evacuations.

Single Core Fire Resistant Cable BS 6387 Cable Construction

• Conductor: Class 2 circular or compacted circular stranded annealed copper conductor conforming to BS EN 60228.
• Primary Insulation (Fire Barrier): High-temperature fire-resistant mica tape backed with woven glass cloth helically applied over the conductor.
• Insulation: Special thermosetting Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound meeting EI5 type requirements per BS EN 50363-5.
• Bedding / Filler: Not applicable (single-core non-bedded building wire design).
• Screen / Armour: Unscreened, unarmoured construction engineered for installation in conduit and trunking systems.
• Outer Sheath: Single-layer protective design where EI5-grade thermosetting LSZH insulation serves as the final covering.
• Core Identification: Color-coded insulation available in Green/Yellow, Blue, Black, Brown, Grey, Red, and Yellow.

Applications

BS 6387 single core fire-resistant cables are deployed across emergency circuits where sustained power and control signals are required during building fires:

• Conduit & Trunking Wiring: Protected fixed installation routed through surface-mounted or embedded conduits, raceways, and trunking systems.
• Emergency Lighting & Signage: Power distribution to central emergency lighting luminaires, exit markers, and escape pathway guidance systems.
• Fire Detection & Suppression Controls: Electrical connections feeding smoke extraction louvers, fire damper actuators, and alarm signaling circuits.
• Public Transit & High-Density Facilities: Hospitals, underground subway stations, rail terminals, airport terminals, and commercial high-rises adhering to strict life safety standards.

Specifications & Dimensions

Huadong Cable Group manufactures BS 6387 single core fire resistant cables across nominal cross-sectional areas from 1.5mm² to 6mm² (with dimensional extensions supporting large cross-sections beyond 95mm² and 120mm²). Operating at a voltage rating of 450/750V across an operating temperature range of -5°C to +90°C (maximum short-circuit conductor temperature of +250°C), the cable series features nominal insulation thicknesses from 0.7mm to 0.8mm, overall outer diameter from 3.76mm (1.5mm²) up to 5.27mm (6mm²), and unit weights spanning 27.1 kg/km to 74.2 kg/km. Conductor DC resistance values at 20°C strictly conform to BS EN 60228 (12.1 Ω/km for 1.5mm², 7.41 Ω/km for 2.5mm², 4.61 Ω/km for 4mm², and 3.08 Ω/km for 6mm²), delivering single-phase AC conduit current ratings up to 54A and three-phase ratings up to 48A under an installation bending radius of 6 times the overall cable diameter in full alignment with BS 7671 and BS 6387 standards.

Standards

Design & Material Standards: BS EN 60228, BS EN 50363-5[br]
Fire Resistance & Circuit Integrity: BS 6387 Category C (3h at 950°C), Category W (15 min fire at 650°C + 15 min water spray), Category Z (15 min fire with shock at 950°C), IEC 60331-21 (90 min at 950°C), BS EN 60331-3 (120 min at 830°C)
Flame Retardancy & Emission: Flame propagation to BS EN 60332-1-2; Smoke density to BS EN 61034-2; Acid gas emissions to BS EN 60754-1 (HCl < 0.5%) and BS EN 60754-2 (pH ≥ 4.3, conductivity ≤ 10 μS/mm)
Third-Party Approvals: BASEC Approved (British Approvals Service for Cables), LPCB Certified (Loss Prevention Certification Board, Red Book Live listed)
Operating Rating: Voltage Rating: 450/750V; Operating Temp: -5°C to +90°C; Short-circuit: +250°C; Minimum 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 do the Categories C, W, and Z represent under the BS 6387 testing protocol?
A: Category C certifies circuit integrity under fire alone for 3 hours at 950°C; Category W verifies resistance to fire at 650°C with concurrent water spray; Category Z tests fire survival at 950°C with mechanical shock, verifying full multi-hazard performance during a building fire.

Q: Can BS 6387 single core fire-resistant wire be installed without conduit or trunking?
A: No, standard application guidelines specify that this single core cable must be installed in fixed installations where it is mechanically protected by conduit or trunking.

Q: What is the primary operational advantage of EI5 thermosetting LSZH compound?
A: EI5-grade cross-linked LSZH compound maintains dimensional stability at conductor temperatures up to +90°C (+250°C under short circuit) without melting or dripping, while producing negligible smoke and zero corrosive halogen gas emissions.

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, 30% advance deposit and 70% against shipping documents) and 100% Irrevocable Letter of Credit (L/C) at sight.

BS 6387 Fire Resistant Cable – Why Choose Huadong Cable?

Huadong Cable Group manufactures BS 6387 single core fire resistant cables in strict compliance with BS EN 50363-5 and BS 6387 CWZ requirements, verified through continuous type testing in ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory facilities. Utilizing 99.99% high-purity plain annealed copper, our production lines apply dual-layer mica tape with glass cloth backing under calibrated tension, followed by precision extrusion of thermosetting EI5-type LSZH compounds to maintain concentricity, dielectric performance, and fire survival integrity.

With more than 20 years of precision cable engineering expertise, Huadong Cable Group operates manufacturing facilities certified 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 project drum lengths on ISPM 15 heat-treated export wooden reels, and dependable door-to-port global logistics for international EPC contractors and MEP engineering specialists worldwide.