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NFPA 262-2023
NFPA 262 Standard Method of Test for Flame Travel and Smoke of Wires and Cables for Use in Air-Handling Spaces, 2019 edition
This standard shall prescribe the methodology to measure flame travel distance and optical density of smoke for insulated, jacketed, or both, electrical wires and cables and optical fiber cables that are to be installed in plenums and other spaces used to transport environmental air without being enclosed in raceways. This test method shall not provide information on the fire performance of insulating materials contained in electrical or optical cables in fire conditions other than the ones specifically used in Section 6.6 of this standard, nor shall it measure the contribution of the cables to a developing fire condition. Although this test uses equipment similar to that used in ASTM E84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, or in UL 723, Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, sufficient changes have been made to the chamber so that a test conducted in the apparatus used for ASTM E84 or UL 723 shall not be considered identical or productive of comparable results. Because this standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use, it shall be the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. The purpose of this test shall be to measure and record the fire and smoke characteristics of insulated, jacketed, or both, electrical wires and cables and optical fiber cables that are to be installed in ducts, plenums, and other spaces used to transport environmental air without being enclosed in raceways. The test shall measure the flame travel distance and optical density of smoke when a specimen is exposed to the test fire. Optional measurements shall be permitted to include heat and smoke release rates. Optical density of smoke and flame travel distance shall be recorded in this test; however, there is not necessarily a relationship between these measurements.
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National Fire Protection Association [nfpa]
