Critical Heat Flux Determination of Electric Cable Insulation

Electric cables can contribute to the spread of fire through the insulating layer. This paper focuses on their properties characterizing the initiation of fire. Samples of ethylene-based cable insulation were tested using a cone calorimeter by exposing them to external heat flows of six different values (25 kW m⁻² – 50 kW m⁻²). Time to initiate flame burning was observed. The critical heat flux (depending on the method of calculation was in the range 2.94 kW m⁻² – 4.59 kW m⁻²) and the thermal response parameter (342 kW s^−0.5 m⁻²) was calculated from the time of initiation and external heat flow dependence.