+A1:2013

BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013

National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of

EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013. It is identical to IEC 61034-2:2005,
incorporating amendment 1:2013. It supersedes
BS EN 61034-2:2005 which will be withdrawn on 25 June 2016.
The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is
indicated in the text by tags. Tags indicating changes to IEC text carry
the number of the IEC amendment. For example, text altered by IEC
amendment 1 is indicated by .
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted by Technical
Committee GEL/20, Electric cables, to Subcommittee GEL/20/18, Fire
testing.
A list of organizations represented on this subcommittee can be
obtained on request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary
provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct
application.
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity
from legal obligations.

This British Standard was Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication

published under the authority
of the Standards Policy and
Strategy Committee Date Comments
on 21 October 2005

31 October 2013 Implementation of IEC amendment 1:2013 with

© The British Standards CENELEC endorsement A1:2013. Annex ZA updated
Institution 2013. Published by
BSI Standards Limited 2013.

ISBN 978 0 580 74858 5

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 61034-2:2005+A1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM August 2013
ICS 13.220.40; 29.020; 29.060.20

English version

Measurement of smoke density of cables

burning under defined conditions
Part 2: Test procedure and requirements
(IEC 61034-2:2005)

Mesure de la densité de fumées Messung der Rauchdichte von Kabeln

dégagées par des câbles brûlant und isolierten Leitungen beim Brennen
dans des conditions définies unter definierten Bedingungen
Partie 2: Procédure d'essai et exigences Teil 2: Prüfverfahren und Anforderungen
(CEI 61034-2:2005) (IEC 61034-2:2005)

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2005-06-01. CENELEC members are bound to
comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and
notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B - 1050 Brussels

© 2005 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.

Ref. No. EN 61034-2:2005 E

BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E) –2–

Foreword

The text of document 20/755/FDIS, future edition 3 of IEC 61034-2, prepared by IEC TC 20, Electric
cables, was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and was approved by CENELEC as
EN 61034-2 on 2005-06-01.

The principal changes with respect to EN 50268-2 are as follows:

a) inclusion of non-circular cables;

b) addition of guidance on testing cables above 80 mm diameter;

c) delineation of elements of the test report;

d) addition of guidance on the calculation for other parameters for fire safety engineering purposes.

The following dates were fixed:

– latest date by which the EN has to be implemented

at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2006-03-01

– latest date by which the national standards conflicting

with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2008-06-01

Annex ZA has been added by CENELEC.

__________

Endorsement notice

The text of the International Standard IEC 61034-2:2005 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.

In the official version, for Bibliography, the following note has to be added for the standard indicated:

IEC 60695-6-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60695-6-1:2005 (not modified).

__________
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
–3– EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E)

Foreword to amendment A1
The text of document 20/1429/FDIS, future edition 3 of IEC 61034-2:2005/A1, prepared by IEC TC 20,
“Electric cables” was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as
EN 61034-2:2005/A1:2013.

The following dates are fixed:

• latest date by which the document has (dop) 2014-03-25

to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national (dow) 2016-06-25
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.

This standard covers the Principle Elements of the Safety Objectives for Electrical Equipment Designed
for Use within Certain Voltage Limits (LVD - 2006/95/EC).

Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 61034-2:2005/A1:2013 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E) –4–

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 5

1 Scope............................................................................................................................... 7
2 Normative references ................................................................................................... . .. 7
3 Terms and definitions ...................................................................................................... 7
4 Test apparatus ................................................................................................................ 7
5 Test assembly ................................................................................................................. 8
5.1 Test sample............................................................................................................ 8
5.2 Cable test piece selection and test sample assembly .............................................. 8
5.3 Positioning of test sample ....................................................................................... 9
6 Test procedure ................................................................................................................ 9
7 Evaluation of test results ................................................................................................. 10
8 Retest procedure ............................................................................................................ 10
9 Test report...................................................................................................................... 10

Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 18

Annex A (informative) Guidance on the principles and use of smoke measurements ............. 14
Annex B (informative) Recommended performance requirement ........................................... 17
Annex ZA (normative) Normative references to international publications with their corresponding
European publications ..........................................................................................................................19

Figure 1 — Method of binding for bundles of test pieces ........................................................ 11

Figure 2 — Method of support of test sample........................................................................ 12
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
–5– EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E)

INTRODUCTION

The measurement of smoke density is an important aspect in the evaluation of the burning
performance of cables as it is related to the evacuation of persons and accessibility for
firefighting.

IEC 61034 is published in two parts, which together specify a method of test for measurement
of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions. Users of this test are reminded
that the configurations of cable in the test (i.e. as test pieces or bundles of test pieces) may not
represent actual installation conditions.

Part 1 gives details of the test apparatus and verification procedure to be used for the
measurement of smoke density of the products of combustion of cables burnt under defined
conditions. It includes details of a test enclosure of 27m ³ volume, a photometric system for light
measurement, the fire source, smoke mixing method and a qualification procedure.

This Part 2 gives the test procedure, together with an informative annex giving recommended
requirements for compliance where no specified requirement is given in the particular cable
standard or specification. The measurement of smoke density is expressed in terms of
minimum levels of light transmittance, and Annex A explains possibilities for using these values
for fire safety engineering calculations.
This page deliberately set blank
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
–7– EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E)

This part of IEC 61034 provides details of the test procedure to be employed for the
measurement of the density of smoke emitted from cables burning under defined conditions. It
describes the means of preparing and assembling cables for test, the method of burning the
cables, and gives recommended requirements for evaluating test results.

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of
the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

IEC 60695-4,

IEC 60811-203, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 203: General tests – Measurement of overall dimensions

IEC 61034-1,

IEC Guide 104:1997,

ISO/IEC 13943:2000,

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions in IEC 60695-4 apply, or if a term
is not defined in IEC 60695-4 then the definition in ISO/IEC 13943 applies.

The test procedure defined in this Part 2 of IEC 61034 shall be carried out using the test
apparatus, i.e. test enclosure, photometric system and standard fire source, given in
IEC 61034-1.
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E) –8–

The test sample shall consist of one or more test pieces of cable, each 1,00 m ± 0,05 m long,
which shall be carefully straightened and then conditioned for at least 16 h at 23 °C ± 5 °C.

 5.2.1.0 General

The cable diameter shall be measured using the method given in IEC 60811-203. The
measurement shall be made at each of three places, separated by at least 1 m.

The average of the three values obtained shall be rounded to obtain the overall diameter. If
the calculation gives 5 or more for the second decimal figure, raise the first to the next
number; thus, for example, 5,75 is rounded to 5,8 and 5,74 to 5,7.

The overall diameter obtained shall be used for the selection of the number of test pieces.

5.2.1.1 Cables with an overall diameter greater than 5,0 mm

For cables with an overall diameter greater than 5,0 mm , the number of test pieces required
to make up the test sample shall be in accordance with Table 1.

mm

 D > 40,0 1
20,0 < D ≤ 40,0 2
1 0,0 < D ≤ 20,0 3

5,0 < D ≤ 10,0  1

where

45
1 = test pieces

The value of 1 shall be rounded downwards to the integer

to give the number of test pieces.

5.2.1.2 Cables with an overall diameter of less than or equal to 5,0 mm, but not less than 1,0 mm 

For cables with an overall diameter of less than or equal to 5,0 mm, but note less than 1,0 mm
seven test pieces shall be formed into a bundle. The number of bundles ( 2 ) required to make
up the test sample shall be calculated according to the following formula:
45
2 =
3

The value of 2 shall be rounded downwards to the integer to give the number of bundles.

For each bundle, the seven test pieces shall be twisted together with a lay between 20 and
30 and bound with two turns of approximately 0,5 mm diameter wire in the centre and at
every 100 mm each side from the centre (see Figure 1).
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
–9– EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E)

 The test sample for non-circular cables shall be a flat horizontal unit in which the minor axis of
each test piece is presented to the fire source. The unit shall be bound with two turns of
approximately 0,5 mm wire in the centre and at every 100 mm each side from the centre (see
Figure 3). The number of test pieces required to make up the test sample shall be in
accordance with Table 1, except that in the case of cables in which the overall diameter is
less than or equal to 5,0 mm, the test pieces shall not be bundled and the number of test
pieces in the flat horizontal unit calculated according to the formula N 1 = 45/D.

The following criteria for determination of the overall diameter (D) to be used in the
determination of the number of test pieces shall apply for cables in which the minor axis is
2,0 mm or greater:

a) for cables in which the major to minor axis ratio is equal to or less than 3, the nominal
minor axis shall be used as the overall diameter (D);
b) for cables in which the major to minor axis ratio lies between 3 and 16, the overall
diameter (D) shall be taken as half the circumference of the cable divided by 3,14 (π).

For cables in which the minor axis is less than 2,0 mm or the major to minor axis ratio
exceeds 16, the test criteria shall be given in the product standard or, if not, agreed between
manufacturer and purchaser.

The test sample shall remain in situ during the test as follows:

– individual test pieces or bundles of test pieces shall be bound together at the ends, and at
300 mm from each end, at which place they shall be clamped to the support by means of
wire binders.
NOTE Depending upon construction, test samples prepared from small cables or flexible cables may be subject to
movement during the test. In these cases, it is also recommended that the test pieces or bundles are bound with
two turns of approximately 0,5 mm diameter wire in the centre and at every 100 mm each side from the centre.
Alternatively, the test pieces or bundles may be tensioned at one or both ends by means of an appropriate device,
for example a spring or a weight.

The tray containing the alcohol shall be supported above the ground surface to permit air
circulation around and beneath the tray. The individual test pieces or the bundles of test pieces
shall be laid touching in a horizontal position and centred above the tray so that the distance
between the underneath of the test sample and the bottom of the tray is 150 mm ± 5 mm (see
Figure 2).

NOTE Before each test, it may be necessary to clean the windows of the photometric system to regain 100 % light
transmission after stabilization of the voltage (see also Clause A.2 of IEC 61034-1).

Immediately before commencing a test, the temperature within the cube shall be in the
range of 25 °C ± 5 °C when measured at the internal door surface at a height of 1,5 m to 2,0 m
and a minimum of 0,2 m from the walls.

Before a test, carry out one blank test as defined in Clause 8 of IEC 61034-1 to preheat
the test enclosure if necessary.

For the test, the fire source shall be as defined in Clause 6 of IEC 61034-1.
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E) – 10 –

With the test sample supported above the tray, start the air circulation and ignite the
alcohol. Make sure that all persons leave the cube immediately, and that the door is closed.

The test is considered as ended when there is no decrease in light transmittance for
5 min after the fire source has extinguished or when the test duration reaches 40 min.

Record the minimum light transmittance.

 The light transmittance l t shall be calculated as follows:

l t = I t /I 0

where
It is the intensity of transmitted light;
I0 is the intensity of incident light.
lt shall be expressed as a percentage . 

NOTE If it is required to use information on smoke density for wider hazard evaluation or fire safety engineering
purposes, it may be necessary to calculate other parameters. Guidance on such calculations is given in Annex A.

Extract the combustion products at the end of each test.

The requirement shall be given in the relevant cable specification.

For cables up to and including 80 mm overall diameter, the recorded minimum light
transmittance (6.6) shall be taken as the cable light transmittance.

For cables above 80 mm overall diameter, the recorded minimum light transmittance (6.6) shall
be normalized by multiplying by a factor of /80 (where is the actual diameter in millimetres
of the cable under test) and the resulting value shall be taken for determining compliance.
NOTE If no value is given in the relevant cable specification it is recommended that the recommendation in
Annex B be adopted as a minimum.

 In the event of a failure, as judged by the requirements of the relevant standard, two further
test samples, taken from the same cable length shall be tested. If both comply, the test shall
be deemed successful. 

The test report shall include the following information:

a) full description of cable tested;

b) manufacturer of cable tested;
c) the overall diameter of the cable tested;
d) the number and disposition of test pieces in the test sample;
e) details of any binding or tensioning of the test pieces in the test sample;
f) the minimum light transmittance recorded during the test duration.
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
– 11 – EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E)

1 2 3

100 100 100 100

1 wire binder
2 centre
3 number of test pieces = 7
BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E) – 12 –

250
3
4

1
150

250
2

100
5

A 500
60
400

520
60

A Side view 1 support 4 back wall

B Plan view 2 metal tray 5 floor
3 test sample
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
– 13 – EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E)

2 2

1

100 100 100 100

4
1 000 ± 50

IEC 1377/13

Key

1 minor axis of cable 2 wire binder

3 major axis of cable 4 n test pieces

Figure 3 – Method of assembly of flat horizontal unit of non-circular cables 

 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E) – 14 –

(informative)

Smoke consists of an aerosol of particles which can either be measured as a function of its
gravimetric properties, its light obscuring properties, or a mixture of the two. This standard
measures smoke as a function of light obscuring properties which are a function of the number
and size of the particles in the light path. If the particles are considered as opaque, the
capacity of the smoke to obscure light is related to the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the
2
particles in the light path. It is measured in units of area, e.g. in square metres (m ), and is
called the extinction area, see A.1.2.

Optical smoke measurements are derived from Bouguer's Law which describes the attenuation
of monochromatic light by smoke.

 t  e

= (1/ ) ln ( t )
where
 t is the intensity of transmitted light;
is the intensity of incident light;
is the light path length through the smoke ;
is the linear Napierian absorption coefficient (or extinction coefficient).

NOTE 1 The units of are of reciprocal length and are expressed, e.g., in m -1 .

In some cases, including this standard, base 10 logarithms are used to calculate the optical
density, ', where

 = log 10 ( t )
and also to calculate the optical density per unit light path length, ( ), which is also known as
the linear decadic absorption coefficient or the decadic extinction coefficient.
NOTE 2 has units of reciprocal length, e.g. m –1 .
–
 t = 10

= (1/ ) log 10 ( t)

= ln 10 or = 2,303 
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
– 15 – EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E)

A useful measurement of the amount of smoke, particularly for fire safety engineering
purposes, is the total effective cross sectional area of all the smoke particles. This is known as
the extinction area of the smoke, .

The extinction area is related both to the extinction coefficient of the smoke and to the volume
that the smoke is contained within, by the equation:

where is the volume of the chamber in which the smoke is contained.

The extinction area of smoke can also be calculated from using the equation

= 2,303

NOTE has units of area, e.g. m 2 .

Correlations have been established between visibility levels in smoke and measurements of
smoke extinction coefficient for targets with specified contrast and illumination.

It has been found that visibility is inversely proportional to (or ), i.e. ω × is a constant.

If the relationship between visibility ( ω) and (or ) is known, then visibility can be readily
calculated if the amount of smoke (extinction area) is known and the volume occupied by the
smoke is also known.

ω = γ
where γ ω = 2,303 ω

The output from the evaluation of the test results is a transmittance, (  t ), which is
usually expressed as a percentage. This enables the determination of the dimensionless optical
density, ,

 = log 10 ( t )

and the linear decadic absorption coefficient,

= (1/ ) ×

where is the light path length through the test cube (nominally 3 m).

The extinction area of the smoke is calculated from

= 2,303

3
where is the volume of the test cube (nominally 27m ).
BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E) – 16 –

The extinction area per length of cable, , is calculated from

where is the number of test pieces.

Data from the test can then be used to predict visibility for a defined fire scenario.
NOTE General guidance is given in IEC 60695-6-1, Fire hazard testing – Part 6-1: Smoke opacity – General
guidance.
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
– 17 – EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E)

(informative)

The performance requirements for a particular type or class of insulated conductor or cable
should preferably be given in the individual cable standard.

In the absence of any given requirement, it is recommended that a value of 60 % cable light
transmittance is adopted as a minimum for any cable tested against this standard.
BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E) – 18 –

IEC 60695-6-1,
 BS EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013
– 19 – EN 61034-2:2005+A1:2013 (E)

Annex ZA
(normative)

Normative references to international publications

with their corresponding European publications

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.

NOTE Where an international publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant
EN/HD applies.

Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

IEC 60695-4 2005 Fire hazard testing - Part 4: Terminology - -
concerning fire tests for electrotechnical
products

IEC 60811-203 - Electric and optical fibre cables - Test EN 60811-203 -

methods for non-metallic materials -
Part 203: General tests - Measurement of
overall dimensions

IEC 61034-1 2005 Measurement of smoke density of cables EN 61034-1 2005

burning under defined conditions
Part 1: Test apparatus

IEC Guide 104 1997 The preparation of safety publications - -

and the use of basic safety publications
and group safety publications

ISO 13943 2000 Fire safety - Vocabulary EN ISO 13943 2000

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