Fire Resistant Mica Tape Screen 3x95mm2 Copper XLPE Insulated Power Cable

Product Overview

When a building fire starts, the circuits that matter are the ones feeding alarms, sprinkler pumps, pressurisation fans and smoke extraction. This three core 95mm2 cable keeps those circuits live by wrapping every copper conductor in overlapping mica tape before the XLPE extrusion. Under flame the mica turns into a ceramic shell that holds the conductor apart, so the circuit keeps delivering current for ninety minutes in the IEC 60331-21 test.

Around the insulated cores sits a double steel tape armour that protects the assembly from mechanical damage during building works and provides a stable earth path. The flame retardant PVC oversheath limits flame spread along vertical risers, which is why the combination of mica tape, XLPE and STA armour is the standard choice for life safety feeders in high rise and industrial projects.

Because the fire barrier sits directly on the conductor, protection does not depend on the sheath surviving. That is the key difference from flame retardant cable, which only slows flame spread and offers no circuit integrity guarantee once the insulation is attacked.

Technical Specifications

Key Advantages

• Mica tape barrier keeps the circuit live for ninety minutes while the fire is still burning.
• Double steel tape armour protects the mica layer from knocks during second fix works.
• 95mm2 copper supports pump and fan starting currents without excessive voltage dip.
• Flame retardant sheath limits vertical flame travel in risers and shafts.
• Fire test reports issued per production batch for the building handover file.

Typical Applications

• Sprinkler pumps, fire pumps and jockey pump feeders
• Fire alarm panel supplies and smoke extraction fans
• Pressurisation fan and lift homing circuits
• Emergency lighting and escape route signage
• Petrochemical and steel plant safety shutdown loops

Quality Assurance and Test Data

Each batch is flame tested and sampled for circuit integrity at a third party laboratory, with conductor resistance and insulation thickness recorded per drum. Our engineers can review your fire strategy drawing and confirm which circuits require ninety minute rating and where a lower cost flame retardant cable is acceptable. A fire resistant mica tape barrier plus STA armour is the combination most fire consultants specify for pumped feeders, and this three core 95mm2 copper cable meets that brief.

Ordering and Delivery Notes

Fire safety feeders are usually ordered against a drawing that lists circuit integrity minutes, so we ask for the fire strategy extract rather than only a cable size. This fire resistant cable is produced in batches with the mica tape width and overlap recorded, and each drum carries a test reference that ties back to the IEC 60331 report. Glands, fire barriers and sealing putty can be supplied in the same delivery, which keeps the installation compliant and the handover file complete.

Selection and Test Summary

• A fire resistant mica tape run is only as strong as its terminations, so we supply the gland kit that matches the 3x95mm2 copper section.
• Where the riser is long, the STA armoured version keeps the XLPE Insulated Power Cable stable against building movement.
• Our fire resistant mica tape line records tape width and overlap per batch, and the XLPE Insulated Power Cable leaves the plant with that reference.
• For a lift lobby or a pump room the STA armoured construction also protects the 3x95mm2 copper during second fix works.
• For a sprinkler pump panel the fire resistant mica tape construction keeps the feeder live even when the pump room is smoke logged.
• We can supply a short sample of the STA armoured cable so your contractor can trial the gland and earth tag before the full order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is fire resistant cable different from flame retardant cable?
A: Flame retardant cable slows flame spread but does not promise a working circuit. This fire resistant cable uses mica tape to keep the conductor insulated during the fire itself.

Q: Does the 3x95mm2 cable need special glands?
A: Use steel tape armour glands with an earth tag so the armour is bonded at both ends; we can quote matching kits with the cable.

Q: Can the mica tape barrier be verified on site?
A: Yes. The mica layer is visible on a cross section and we supply a sample piece plus the IEC 60331 report with every drum.

Q: What ambient temperature is assumed for the ninety minute rating?
A: The IEC 60331-21 test uses a flame at over 750 C for ninety minutes with rated voltage applied, which covers typical building fire conditions.

Q: Can the fire resistant cable be ordered with matching glands and fire barriers?
A: Yes, we supply steel tape armour glands, fire rated sealing putty and barrier plates alongside the mica tape cable so the whole feeder is compliant at handover.

Send your fire strategy extract and feeder list, and we will confirm which circuits need this fire resistant mica tape construction, then quote cable and glands together.