Installers of fire alarms for new complex modern buildings have welcomed the security of supply offered by the Total Fire Solutions range for the built environment from AEI Cables.

The technology and science behind the Firetec Total Fire Solutions range offers enhanced fire performance cabling, accessories and technical support from one source.

The new generation AEI Cables’ fire performance cabling ensures critical fire-safety circuits can continue to operate in the event of a fire from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes. This follows a plea from the Approved Cables Initiative for all cable being used in the UK to conform to relevant British, European or international standards amid increasing concerns about the volume of non-approved cables coming onto the market.

Latest discoveries include suspected substandard arctic grade flex found on a central London installation where the cable caught fire. At the same time, the number of fires in high-rise buildings in Europe and the Middle East have brought the issue of quality of products for fire performance circuits into sharp focus.

Stuart Dover, commercial manager for AEI Cables, said: “The fire protection system is ultimately only as good as its cable installation. Every part of a cable system’s critical signal path must resist the effects of fire, therefore the correct fixing method, fixing spacing, bending and jointing of cables is vital.

“The increasing risk of asset owners finding non-approved cable has brought increasing demands for the use of compliant, quality cable. The cables powering these circuits will provide information for fire and rescue services to understand what is happening in a real-life fire scenario and ensure a safe evacuation of people.”

The Firetec Total Fire Solutions package offers Mineral Insulated Cables (MIC), Firetec Standard, Firetec Enhanced, Firetec Power and Firetec Impact Power along with the full range of accessories for all fire performance applications.

Successful installation of Firetec has included the Francis Crick Institute research centre in London, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, the White City complex in London and Meadowhall shopping complex, Sheffield.

Applications for Firetec include residential and commercial buildings, shopping malls, airports and protected buildings with a heritage ensuring that fire alarms, sprinkler systems, building monitoring and security systems can continue to operate in a fire.

 

AEI Cables serves key markets in the UK and worldwide in construction, industrial, fire protection, defence, mining and rail.

For advice about the Total Fire Solutions service email sales@aeicables.co.uk or tel 0191 410 3111. See www.aeicables.co.uk.