Considering the areas of cable usage, the durability they provide against possible risks is highly important. For this reason, tests conducted on cables give the most accurate durability results. Since cables are used in buildings, hospitals, cinemas, theaters, schools, shopping centers, airports, factories, tunnels, etc.—places that are central to life—they must have properties such as non-flame propagation, non-spreading, low smoke density, non-breaking, and absence of toxic and corrosive gases. These properties can only be confirmed through tests performed on them.

In this content, we will examine the chemical tests carried out in 2M Cable laboratories:

• Determination of Toxicity Amount – NES 713
• pH and Conductivity Test – IEC 60754-2
• Halogen Acid Amount – IEC 60754-1
• Flame Oxygen Index (LOI and TOI) – EN ISO 4589-1

Determination of Toxicity Amount – NES 713 For this test, a special furnace reaching 1150 °C is used, and the amount of harmful gas released by the cable during fire is measured. The test duration is 5 minutes. The sample used is completely burned. The gases formed as a result of combustion are collected with special tubes. The measurement values must remain below certain limits specified in the standard.

pH and Conductivity Test – IEC 60754-2 This test determines to what extent plastic materials produce acidic gases during fire. A special heating chamber reaching 935 °C is used. Test samples are placed inside the chamber and burned for 30 minutes. The gases formed during combustion are transferred into washing bottles filled with distilled water. These gases change the pH value and conductivity of the water. The pH value and conductivity are measured with two electrodes.

Halogen Acid Amount – IEC 60754-1 The sample is placed inside the furnace. When the furnace reaches 800 °C, it is kept for 20 minutes. Chemicals are added into the liquid formed together with the released gases. With these chemicals, titration is performed to determine the amount of halogen gas. This test is carried out both with and without a sample.

Flame Oxygen Index (LOI and TOI) – EN ISO 4589-1 These tests aim to determine the extent and temperature at which the cable can burn with oxygen. In the LOI test, the sample is placed into the chimney of the device. It is exposed to an oxygen-containing gas mixture for 5 seconds, three times. If the sample does not burn, the oxygen ratio is increased each time to determine the level at which the cable burns with oxygen. In the TOI test, the temperature at which the sample will burn is determined.