Cable tests that are not equivalent, and why
CPR B2ca / Cca (EN 50399) ≠ NFPA 262 (CMP, CL2P, FPLP, OFNP, FT6)
Not equivalent, because Different apparatus (a horizontal tunnel with forced air against a vertical ladder) and different measures (flame travel and optical density against heat release, flame spread and smoke production).
CPR B2ca / Cca (EN 50399)
- Cables on a vertical ladder. B2ca: flame spread at most 1.5 m, total heat 15 MJ, peak heat release 30 kW, FIGRA 150 W/s. Sources: EN 13501-6 draft (BSI FSH/21_11_0073, undated, before the published EN 13501-6:2014), Table 1 (read in a draft)
- Cca: flame spread at most 2 m, total heat 30 MJ, peak heat release 60 kW, FIGRA 300 W/s. Sources: EN 13501-6 draft (BSI FSH/21_11_0073, undated, before the published EN 13501-6:2014), Table 1 (read in a draft)
- Smoke class s1: total smoke at most 50 m², peak rate at most 0.25 m²/s. Sources: EN 13501-6 draft (BSI FSH/21_11_0073, undated, before the published EN 13501-6:2014), Table 1 notes (2) to (7), p. 21 (read in a draft)
NFPA 262 (CMP, CL2P, FPLP, OFNP, FT6)
- One layer of cable on a 7.32 m horizontal tray in a tunnel, air at 1.22 m/s, 20 min of flame. Sources: NFPA 262:2023 (NFPA free access), 4.4.5, 5.1, 6.3.5.4.2, 8.1.11 (read in the standard)
- Pass: flame travel at most 1.52 m (5 ft), peak optical density at most 0.5, average at most 0.15. Sources: NFPA 262:2023 (NFPA free access), Annex A, A.1.1.1 (read in the standard)
Values as the sources print them, every one with its source and how it was seen; where a value is not held, it says so. The cable's own standard and the specification decide which test applies.
Questions and answers
Is NFPA 262 (CMP, CL2P, FPLP, OFNP, FT6) equivalent to CPR B2ca / Cca (EN 50399)?
No. Different apparatus (a horizontal tunnel with forced air against a vertical ladder) and different measures (flame travel and optical density against heat release, flame spread and smoke production).