RISE Cable Transit Systems – Fireproof, Watertight & Gastight Sealing Of Cable Duct & Pipe Entries

Published 19 Nov 2018

Sealing Cable Ducts (Water Tight & Gas Tight)

• uploaded by Chris Dodds - Thorne & Derrick Sales & Marketing Manager

The effective sealing of cable ducts and pipe entries is critical to reducing risks; fire; flooding; explosion; environmental; confined space and corrosion of equipment.

All cable and pipe entries should be sealed according to the degree of fire resistance (if any) both integrity (E) and insulation (I), and watertight and gastight integrity prescribed for the respective element of the construction before penetration. In additional for bund walls and plinths it should be resistant to transformer oil.

Where the cable transit system also provides fire protection and/or prevents migration of flammable gas into a hazardous area or gas insulated substation it is now a legal obligation for the specifier, owner or main contractor to ensure a contractor can prove competency for the materials used, or the works to be carried out. (See Appendix A – Fire & Your Legal Liability- produced by Association for Specialist Fire Protection).

Any pipe or cable transit sealing system, such as those manufactured by CSD Sealing Systems, must satisfy the regulatory requirements of the following standards;

• BS 7671:2008 IEE Wiring Regulations (17th Edition) – 527.2 Sealing Of Wiring System Penetrations
• The Building Regulation/Standards
• Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) & ATEX Confined Space
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007)

Further relevant details of these can be found within Appendix B.

To reduce the risk (and provide a safety margin) of flooding, explosion, environmental leakage of transformer oil, confined space, high humidity and corrosion of equipment the penetration system should be;

• Certified watertight to 1.5 bar (21psi)
• Certified gastight to 1 bar (14psi)
• Age tested for in service life of 50 years
• Resistant to transformer oil
• Resistant to methane, hydrogen sulphide and chlorine.
• Permit thermal movement of the cable or pipe and still maintain a seal

When a cable or pipe system penetrates an element of the building or substation construction which has a specified fire resistance the penetration should be sealed using a suitable transit or seal product that will reinstate the fire resistance taking account of both the integrity and insulation performance required.

To prove the fire resistance the penetration system must be Third party certified to the new more stringent BS EN 1366-3, fire resistance tests for service installations; penetration seals (this will become mandatory end of 2012) and performance classification of the resistance to fire, the duration of both Insulation (I) and Integrity (E), in accordance with BS EN 13501-2.

RISE Water & Gas & RISE Fire, Water & Gas

BSEN 1366-3 also includes mechanical stability testing to ensure the system withstands the stresses which may arise when the support to the wiring system is damaged during a fire thus satisfying the mechanical stability requirements of IEE Wiring Regulations.

To satisfy all these requirements the following methods are recommended;

• CSD RISE Water & Gas (RISE WG) sealing system is used for non fire rated areas
• CSD RISE Fire, Water & Gas (RISE F) sealing system is used for fire rated areas

The RISE WG cable and pipe transit sealing system will provide; a minimum of 1.5 bar (21psi) watertight seal, 1bar (14psi) gastight ensuring compliance with both DSEAR and ATEX regulations as dangerous gases will be prevented from migration between hazardous area zoned areas RISE is resistant to methane, chlorine and hydrogen sulphide, reducing the risk of dangerous atmospheres in confined spaces.

Resistant to transformer oil, permits thermal movement of the wiring system without reduction of the sealing quality and is age tested to prove an in service life of at least 50 years without any deterioration in performance.

In areas that do not require a full fire rating the system should consist of 60mm RISE (RISWAT) rubber sleeves and FIWA fire rated, water and gastight sealant.

A suitable fitting RISE sleeve should be placed around each cable to ensure cable separation (critical for obtaining watertight and gastight integrity) and then use the remaining sleeves to tightly pack any free space in the penetration using sleeve sizes 27/19 and 18/12.

Push all of the filler sleeves into the opening, leaving 20mm free space at the front for the application for the sealant layer. Before sealing the penetration use an approved cable cleaner or degreaser to ensure that the surfaces of the cables and the penetration sleeve are clean and free from any dirt, oil or dust residue.

The cable sealant is then applied to the face of the penetration ensuring a pressure tight seal is maintained, sealant must be applied to a minimum depth of 20mm.

CSD Rise Rapid

Cable Duct Sealing Installation Video

The following video demonstrates the installation process of the CSD RISE Rapid method of sealing cable ducts and pipe penetrations or entries.

The RISE Fire rated system (RISE F) provides the same level of protection as RISE WG but in addition will maintain the fire protection of any wall, floor or partition when it is penetrated by any cable or pipe transit. It provides up to 240 minutes (4 hours) of fire integrity (E) and 120 minutes of fire insulation (I) as classified in accordance with BS EN13501-2.

The cable duct sealing system also provides mechanical stability to withstand the stresses which may arise through damage to the support of the wiring system due to fire.

For a full fire rated system this should consist of 160mm RISE fire resistant rubber sleeves and a layer of FIWA fire rated, water and gastight sealant at each end of the penetration.

A suitable fitting RISE sleeve should be placed around each cable to ensure cable separation and then use the remaining sleeves to tightly pack any free space in the penetration using sleeve sizes 27/19 and 18/12.

Push all of the filler RISE sleeves into the opening, leaving 20mm free space at the front and back of a 200mm long penetration for application of the sealant layer. Before sealing the cable or pipe penetration ensure that the surfaces of the cables and the penetration sleeve are clean and free from any dirt, oil or dust residue.

The RISE sealant is then applied to each face of the penetration ensuring a pressure tight seal is maintained, sealant must be applied to a minimum depth of 20mm.

In areas where access is only possible from one side of the penetration it may be possible to install a single 40mm layer of FIWA sealant at the accessible side of the penetration.

RISE Duct Seal – Watertight and gastight protection for building entries and cable duct terminations

Appendix A

Fire & Your Legal Liability

Why is this of relevance to me!

If you are involved in provision of a fire protection package, at any level, then you share liability for its usefulness and its operation when it’s needed in fire, and that liability will still be there in the event of a court case.

I place the order; it is not my responsibility to install the works!

If it is your responsibility to specify the cable protection and sealing materials and/or appoint the installation contractor, it is also your responsibility to ensure that they can prove competency for the fire protection materials used, or the works to be carried out.

It’s no longer simply a duty of care or voluntary – it’s a legal obligation.

If you knowingly ignore advice that leads to a failure in the fire performance of any element of installed fire protection within a building, then you are likely to be found to be just as culpable as the deficient installer.

You share liability for the provision of information required under Building Regulation 16B that tells the user of the building about the fire prevention measures provided in the building. Otherwise, the user cannot make an effective risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

What is expected of me?

In the event of fire, and deaths, a court will want to know how every fire protection system was selected; the basis for selection of the installer, whether adequate time was provided for its installation, and whether there was adequate liaison between the different parties to ensure it was installed correctly. No ifs, no buts – it’s all contained in the Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2007.

The CDM 2007 regulations, enforced by Health and Safety Executive concentrate on managing the risk, and the health and safety of all those who build, those that use the building, those who maintain it and those that demolish it – cradle to grave.

Be aware – the time to consider the above is before the event, not after it!

Provided by: The Association of Specialist Fire Protection

Cable Duct Seals – Sealing Cables Against Water, Gas & Fire

The below video shows the cable duct seals providing an effective and simple solution to all fire, gas and water tight duct sealing requirement.

Appendix B

The requirements for Sealing of Cable and Pipe entries are covered in more detail in the following regulations:-

1) BS 7671:2008 IEE Wiring Regulations (17^th Edition) 527.2 Sealing of wiring system penetrations.

527.2.1 Where a wiring system passes through elements of building construction such as floors, walls, roofs, ceilings, partitions or cavity barriers, the openings remaining after passage of wiring system shall be sealed according to the degree of fire-resistance (if any ) prescribed for the respective element of building construction before penetration.

527.2.7 Any cable sealing arrangement intended to satisfy Regulation 527.2.1 or 527.2.2 shall resist external influences to the same degree as the wiring system with which it is used and, in addition, it shall meet all of the following requirements:

• It shall be resistant to the products of combustion to the same extent as the elements of building construction which have been penetrated
• It shall provide the same degree of protection from water penetration as that required for the building construction element in which it has been installed.
• It shall be compatible with the material of the wiring system with which it is in contact
• It shall permit thermal movement of the wiring system without reduction of the sealing quality.
• It shall be of adequate mechanical stability to withstand the stresses which may arise through damage to the support of the wiring system due to fire.

The cable seal and wiring system shall be protected from dripping water which may travel along the wiring system or which may otherwise collect around the seal unless the materials used in the seal are all resistant to moisture when finally assembled for use.

2) Building Regulations in England & Wales

Approved Document B 2006 – Building Regulations 2000

Section 10.2 of approved document B3

“If a fire separating element is to be effective, then every joint, or imperfection of fit, or opening to allow services to pass through the element, should be adequately protected by sealing or fire stopping so that the fire resistance of the element is not impaired”

Regulation 16B as referenced in Appendix G -Approved document B – Fire safety Appendix G of the Approved Document B, 2006 Edition, introduced comments on a new Regulation 16B of the building Regulations 2000, which requires that where work involves the erection or extension of a relevant building, or a relevant change of use of a building, then fire safety information shall be given to the responsible person at the completion of the project, or when the building or extension is first occupied.

Fire safety information’ means information relating to the design and construction of the building or extension, and the services, fitting and equipment provided in or in connection with the building or extension, which will assist the responsible person to operate and maintain the building with reasonable safety.

3) Building Standards Scotland

Regulation 12.1 of the Building standard states that every building shall be so constructed, that for a reasonable period in the event of fire-

1. its stability is maintained
2. the spread of fire and smoke within the building is inhibited; and
3. the spread of fire to and from other buildings is inhibited.

Regulation 9 stipulates that the requirements can be satisfied only by compliance with the relevant standards which are set out in a series of Technical standards; section 3 of the introduction to Technical Standard D states:-

“ To restrict the internal spread of fire, a building may have to be divided into compartments separated from each other by compartment walls or compartment floors intended to provide a complete barrier to fire between the compartments. In practice, the continuity of such walls and floors will have to be breached by openings for circulation or services and where this occurs special precautions are necessary to maintain the effectiveness of the barrier. The acceptable size of a compartment for this purpose is determined by its likely fire load which is, in turn, influenced by the purpose group of the building, or part of the building, in which it is situated and the provision, or otherwise, of active fire protection measures.”

4) The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Came into effect on 1^st October 2006 and applies in England & Wales.

Similar legislation applies in Scotland and in Northern Ireland. The new system of regulation is risk-assessment based and includes the provision that the person responsible for the premises should carry duties for fire safety therein. Risk assessment by the ‘responsible person’ is a vital part of the planning process.

5) Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007)

CDM Regulations 2007 came into effect 6 April 2007 and is enforceable under criminal law.

In brief, government intends that health and safety is integrated into the management of a project and encourages everyone to work together to achieve that objective as a normal part of a project, to reduce risks and manage the residual risks, by use of the right people for the right job at the right time. This shall enable hazards early on such that they be removed, reduced or managed properly.

CDM co-coordinator industry guidelines – produced by Construction Skills

www.cskills.org/healthsafety/cdmregulations

www.cskills.org/uploads/CDMCo-ordinatorstcm17-4642.pdf

6) Fire Test Standards

Hitherto ad hoc fire testing of penetration product has been performed to BS476 Part 20 & 22:1987, however BS476 series of tests is being withdrawn for use, it is now recommended that to ensure full compliance only those products that are 3^rd party certified are used and preferably those that have been tested to the new more stringent BS EN 1366-3, fire resistance tests for service installations; penetration seals ( this will become mandatory end of 2012) and performance classification of the resistance to fire (both insulation and integrity) in accordance with BS EN 13501- 2 .

BSEN 1366-3 also includes mechanical stability testing to ensure the system withstands the stresses which may arise when the support to the wiring system is damaged during a fire.

7) Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) & ATEX Explosive Atmospheres – Preventing the formation of a dangerous atmosphere through the migration of gases through cable and pipe transits in walls, floors and partitions.

T&D distribute proven cable duct sealing products from leading manufacturers CSD Sealing Systems with widespread utility approvals and industry acceptance as trusted alternatives to traditional “sticky and tricky” to install mastic seals or regulation violating expanding foam – these duct seal products are technically advanced cable sealing solutions designed to provide guaranteed protection of clients assets without the risk of failure.

Duct Seals – Sealing Cable Ducts

Pfisterer CONNEX | 3M Cold Shrink | Nexans Euromold | Nexans Slip-on | Heat Shrink Cable Terminations – stocked and distributed by Thorne & Derrick

Further Reading

• An Overview of Risks in Buildings in Relation to Passive Fire Protection – Association For Specialist Fire Protection Size: 1.47 MB