Mike - <Hearsay alert> but it may get this discussion rolling and I'm most certainly interested in the outcome.
I don't have specifics on IEC 332 and I can not strictly testify to the accuracy of the following, but from discussions with a coworker in the UK, EEA countries generally dislike plenum rated cables from North America because of potential toxicity of products of combustion of the insulation. This is not to say all NA plenum rated cables are unusable, since it is the flame retardants commonly used in the insulation that were pointed to as problematic. It was related to me that there are probably a number of plenum rated, cross-linked polymer insulated cables usable in NA that are also usable in the EEA. One apparently contradictory statement included a brand of fluorinated polymer insulation as generally acceptable. While certain of these types of insulating materials reportedly resist ignition, once initiated, the toxicity of the products of combustion are supposedly extremely toxic. Can anyone comment on whether or not IEC 332 contains requirements on the relative toxicity of products of combustion or specifically prohibits use of specific polymers or flame retardants? I, perhaps mistakenly, assume that halogenated and brominated flame retardants are no-nos. Regards, Peter L. Tarver Nortel ptar...@nt.com >---------- >From: Rains,Mike[SMTP:mra...@foxboro.com] >Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 1998 4:48 AM > >A potential customer asked if our wire and cables meet IEC 332 >requirements. We don't use IEC 332 to specify wire and cables. We use >VW-1, CL2, CL2P, etc. Does anyone know whether the requirements in IEC >332 exceed those of VW-1, CL2, CL2P, etc. as applicable? > >Thanks. > >Mike Rains >The Foxboro Co. >
