Use of Low Smoke and Halogen Free Cables for Marine Fire Safety Design

Abstract

Safety of shipping is a growing concern. The causes of shipping casualties are various. A fire on a ship is one of the most hazardous incidents which can happen on board and a common cause of damages and accidents in ships. However, this knowledge decreases where electrical installations, whose effects are not well-understood, are involved. Because of these effects and risks, the regulations related to cables for a vessel’s electrical installations anticipate the use of special low fire propagation and fire-resistant cables made with low smoke emission and halogen-free materials. Despite these criteria, the regulations permit the use of materials such as PVC. The main purpose of this research is to identify the risks associated of the use of PVC versus Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSOH) cables that could be present for equipment safety and people in case of fire. As a result of the implementation of the regulatory framework, test results carried out at UPC (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) Material testing lab from PVC and LSOH cables used in ships have been obtained. Finally, the use of LSOH cables is implemented to assess the effect of fire risk reduction measure for the enhancement of safety of shipping in coastal waters, efficiency and protection of the environment.

Keywords

• fire retardant and resistant cables safety
• LSOH material
• marine environment