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Safe-D® Clips

ExplainingBS7671

Amendment 3

Ignoring 17th Edition WiringRegulations can be fatal

Copyright of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

Fatal Fire Investigation

Report of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service investigation into the deaths of Firefighters Alan Bannon and James Shears in Flat 72, Shirley Towers, Church Street, Southampton, SO15 5PE,on Tuesday 6 April 2010

Safe-D Clip 8pp A5 V2_Layout 1 18/12/2015 15:04

Ignoring 17th Edition WiringRegulations can be fatal...

At around 3am on 2nd February 2005 a fire wasreported in a flat on the fourteenth floor of towerblock, Harrow Court in Stevenage. Twounextinguished tea-light candles - which hadbeen burning for more than three hours directlyon top of the plastic casing of a television -caused the TV to ignite, which in turn triggered awardrobe alighting before engulfing the mainbedroom. A reconstruction estimated the heatrose to approximately 900 celsius. Three peopledied; the mother-of-two resident trapped insideand two brave firefighters in the line of duty.

Plastic trunking which typically melts at 160celsius, had disintegrated causing cables to dropacross the doorway of the flat - making a web-like barrier that proved impenetrable amidst thefrantic activity as one of the first crew made hisway out to the lobby. Surviving support crewrecalled the conditions ‘like a jet engine comingout of the flat’, and ‘thick black smoke’; withhorrific testimony describing how they foundtheir entrapped colleague ‘tangled and twisted upwith cables… that were coming down from theceiling… like he was stuck to the ground… withcables across his front, but mainly behind him…

melted onto his breathing apparatus set andtunic’. From his struggle, doubtless trying in vainto untangle himself, melted cable insulation hadadhered to the inside palm of his glove also. Notetoo how the air supply in breathing apparatusdepletes quicker, from a 35 mins maximumvolume, in such desperate conditions.

The subsequent Fire Brigade Union report, whichdevoted a section specifically to ‘Cable SupportFailure’, concluded that the Social Housingprovider may have contributed to death in thatthey may have failed to ensure their contractorcomplied with BS5839-1 2002; clause 26.2(f)…’(the fire detection and alarm system was installedin June 2002). The BSI issue in October 2002 hadclearly precluded the use of plastic trunking asthe sole means of cable support for securing firealarm cabling. Harrow Court investigations makerepeated reference to how the cabling of thealarm had become insecure as a result of it beingsecured by plastic-only and not metal clips, thisbeing a factor attributable to the loss of life.

Soon after the Harrow Court coroners report, on2nd November 2007 four firefighters died in avegetable packing warehouse in Atherstone - on- Stour, Warwickshire. Arson allegedly started theblaze. It was reported that plastic conduitcontaining cables from the lighting system hadmelted, so the cables had fallen.

Estimates gauge that heat in parts of thewarehouse might have reached 600 celsius in sixminutes, with survivor’s testimony recalling ‘myhands starting to scald in wet gloves’, and‘conditions were so poor I couldn’t see where thecables were coming from’.


The helmet torch of one firefighter becameentangled in cable. There are suspicions also thatthe hosereel may have caught on the cables,causing the crew to lose contact with the reel, soimpeding the fire-fighting capability.

As Harrow Court reinforces how lost time can costlife from cable entanglement (with the potentiallyfatal consequence of diverted attentions also),the Wealmore Ltd warehouse deaths highlightthe grave danger if rescue and extinguishingequipment such as water supply might beimpeded by cables.

Tragedy struck again in the early evening of6th April 2010, after a cotton curtain placed inthe bowl of an up-lighting lamp ignited in thelounge of a ninth floor flat of Shirley Towers inSouthampton. The family had evacuated. As thefire spread rapidly through its phases, plastictrunking all around the flat had melted. A varietyof cables had completely collapsed to make adeath-trap barely visible in the prevailing smokeand flames. While one firefighter managed withassistance to escape cable entanglement withburns, two were located inside the flat, lying offthe corridor at the doorways of differentbedrooms. Both were entangled as ‘cables fellbetween their cylinder and breathing apparatusset making it extremely difficult to move withoutassistance’. Despite managing to cut the wiresand drag colleagues out of the flat for emergencytreatment, the fallen cables - which had severelyhampered rescue efforts - proved fatal as bothhad been fatally exposed to the excessive heatof the inferno.

The Coroner’s report advised an amendment toBuilding Regulations ‘to ensure that all cables, notjust fire alarm cables, are supported by fire-resistant cable support’… so covering twin & earth,

flexes and co-axial cables, network wires andarmoured cables, etcetera - whether on ceilings,or walls at high level (ensnaring heads andapparatus), or low level above skirting (triphazards).

In a Rule 43 letter - one issued by HM Coronerswith the intention of preventing deaths andlearning lessons from the cause of death - in2013 the Coroner went so far as to recommendall social housing providers consider removing allplastic-only containment in the Common Areas ofall their premises and replace them ‘…with amethod of cable support which as a minimumconforms to BS5839 part 1 : clause 26.2(f:)’

It followed that Regulation 521.11 was firstpublished by the Institution of Engineering andTechnology (IET) in January 2015 in BS7671:2008 Amendment 3. It states in Chapter 52(Selection and Erection of Wiring Systems) that‘Wiring systems in escape routes shall besupported in such a way that they will not beliable to premature collapse in the event of fire.’

In note 1, there is particular reference to failureof non-metallic trunking leading to cableshanging across access/egress routes hinderingevacuation/fire-fighting activities.

In note 2 it specifically precludes the use ofplastic cable clips, ties or trunking, ‘where theseproducts are the sole means of cable support’.

In other words Amendment 3 of BS7671 - thatcovers general wiring regulations – has effectivelywidened legislation to ensure ALL cables inescape routes are secured using non-combustiblefixings.

For several years D-Line have pioneered market-leading fire-rated solutions for holding cables inPVC trunkings or direct to substrates. NowSafe-D® Clips can secure bundles of cable in PVCtrunking profiles up to 50mm wide…


Are Safe-D® Clips fullycertified as fire-rated?Yes! To provide assurance and peace-of-mind, all 3sizes of Safe-D® Clip have been certified by ExovaWarringtonfire confirming compliance to the higheststandards of BS5839-1 section 26 (e). Testsconfirmed that all Safe-D® Clips, when containingEnhanced Fire Performance 1.5mm 2c cables, andsubjected to 930ºC (+40 -0ºC) for 2 hours at avoltage of 500V rms, kept the cables secure andmaintained their circuit integrity. And the Safe-D®Clips withstood required levels of shock, vibrationand water spray. Copy reports on request.

Note the 2 hour test is significant, as it affords themaximum time usually required for the evacuationof buildings classified as ‘BD4: High densityoccupation, difficult conditions of evacuation’.

Maintaining circuit integrity means for example thatsupplies to emergency lighting, mains-wireddetectors and alarms will not be compromised bycable failure. Safe-D® Clip certifications ensurecompliance to all other standards and regulationsrelevant to BS7671 Amendment 3.

Are all metal clips suitable?No! Stainless Steel for example can fail above 538°C,so unsuitable in typical fire conditions. And clips withuntreated edges will corrode if exposed to anycondensation, to compromise functionality andreliability. As a life-safety issue, for peace-of-mindcertified products should always be used… where

actual recorded tests in fire conditions confirm thatthe assured material and the design will always besuitable and fully fit-for-purpose.

How should we fix Safe-D® Clips?

Most plastic wall-plugs will soften and fail later,disintegrating between 100ºC – 200ºC, so provideinadequate support in fire conditions for the timerequired. We recommend fire-rated fixings such asthe DeWalt® Wall-Dog®. Simply drill a 4mm pilot-holein the substrate, through the PVC trunking ifapplicable, insert the Safe-D® Clip and the Wall-Dog.Sharp flutes along the shaft negate the need forplastic wall plugs. Wall-Dogs are EN certified as 2hour fire-rated.

For the very hardest surfaces Masonry Screws areideal, and similarly there is no need for wall-plugs.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 new enhanced FP cables after 2 hour burn test


Shot-fired gas-nailing fixings are also popularly usedfor installing quantities of Safe-D® Clips.

What distances shouldSafe-D® Clips be spaced at?Generally users are asked to consult cablemanufacturer guidelines. Most suggest 300mmspacings for horizontal installations and 400mm forvertical cable runs. We appreciate how around doorframes for example 300mm should be a maximumspacing.

Do Regs apply to domesticproperties?Yes! BS 7671:2008 incorporating Amendment 3 isthe general standard for wiring in UK – and applicableto domestic properties. In common access/egressroutes such as hallways, stairs and over front andrear doors, new installations of cables in PVCtrunking - whether fixed to walls or the underside ofceilings - must be secured by non-combustiblemeans to eliminate risk of entanglement.

Are there any equivalentfire-rated solutions?Patent-pending Safe-D® Clips have No equivalent.

From start-to-finish Safe-D® Clips provide anexceptional consistency of performance andinstaller-experience. Compared to some alternativeshere are three key points of difference -

1. Safe-D® Clips are manufactured in the UK usingspecific high-temperature pliable steel producedto BS EN standards with full traceability - andwe’ve supplied millions without a single reportedfailure.

Note we are not producing batches from randommixes that occur in non-specific steel alloycompositions... that would need a test for eachand every batch! We are happy to provide full testreports and certification on request

2 Unlike punch-cut zintec versions with raw edges,Safe-D® Clips have a passivated finish to protectagainst corrosive elements, and minimise the riskof rust-failure.

3 Compared to narrower push-over tabs, Safe-D®Clips all feature 20mm tab-widths; while thespecific pliable-gauge and smooth/roundedcorners (as required by design-code BS7671522.8.11) protect both cables and installers;unique features which make Safe-D® Clips thequickest and easiest to install.

300mm

400m

m

Safe-D 30

Safe-D 40Safe-D 50

Clip &Comply!


They are extremely versatile, and ideal in ceilingvoids also (no trunking). It should be noted howeverthat while Safe-D30 Clips are widely used intraditional 25x16mm PVC mini-trunking, someprofiles do have inverted base-tops… which reducethe aperture width so restricting space and makingfitment difficult.

For best results use Safe-D30 Clips in D-Line30x15mm ½-circle self-extinguishing mini-trunking,

where Safe-D30 Clips snugly-fit in the base (& canaccommodate 2 x 2.5mm T&E cables; not practicalwith narrower alternative clips).

Then there is the added benefit that the trunking isquick-to-install, with an appearance that blends withdecor - often saving the need to channel walls andmuch preferred by clients!… ideal for surface socketinstallations, switch drops, aerial cables, and runs tosmoke alarms and ceiling roses for example.

SAFE-D30Base Measurement = 23mm



Suitable for usewith thesetrunkings

Size 2 25mm x 16mm* (w x h)

D-Line 30x15mm

Size 3 40mm x 16mm (w x h)






Do Safe-D Clips fit all PVC trunkings?

Safe-D30 inSize 2 Trunking

Safe-D30in D-Line 30x15mm Mini Trunking

Safe-D50in D-Line 60x30mm TrunkingSafe-D40 in Dado Trunking



* see above text

What is an escape route?An escape route is a route designated for escape to a place of safety in the event of emergency. These mayinclude not only defined routes such as corridors, stairways and hallways, but also open areas through whichescaping persons might reasonably be expected to need to pass on their way to a place of safety.

2x1.5 2c FP cables, Safe-D30 Clips, D-Line 30x15mm Mini Trunking


No sharp edges; D-Line’s subtleappearance blends with decor

Cable management where time,safety & appearance matter

All D-Line profiles have a patentedhinge & click-lock lid

2x2.5 T&E cables, Safe-D30Clips, D-Line 30x15mm MiniTrunking above skirting

Decorative mini trunking thatis ‘quick to fit & looks great!’


www.d-line.co.uk

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