Comtran Cable recently expanded its VITALink 2-Hour Fire Resistive CIC (cable in conduit) Cables product line with the addition of a 16-AWG 2-conductor shielded cable. “This cable features low-smoke zero-halogen [LSZH] construction and a Power Limited Tray Cable [PLTC] rating,” the company said when introducing the cable. “After extensive testing at UL in Northbrook, IL, Comtran’s VITALink 16 AWG 2 conductor shielded cable has achieved UL 2196 certification for installation and use in accordance with FHIT system 40A.”
UL 2196 is the Standard for Tests for Fire Resistive Cables.
Comtran has offered a 14-AWG 2-conductor shielded cable—pictured on this page—for some time.
Comtran further explained that when UL “pulled all 2196 listings in November 2012 due to concerns about the effect of zinc in conduit coatings on the cables’ reliability at fire-rated temperatures, Comtran’s engineers worked diligently to meet UL’s new requirements. They designed a patented primary insulation that ceramifies at extreme temperatures, thereby protecting the integrity of the circuit.”
The company said VITALink cables are designed to survive for two hours in a burning infrastructure, which “allows critical communications and evacuation systems to operate until occupants are evacuated to designated areas away from the fire. They are used to support critical systems such as firefighters’ communications, evacuation public address systems signage, emergency telephones, and pressurization controls. Common applications include high-rise commercial and residential buildings, healthcare facilities, industrial infrastructure, schools and universities, airports, stadiums, and underground rail and road transit infrastructure.”
