Home / Knowledge / Fire and safety behaviour of PVC trunking
Fire and safety behaviour of PVC trunking
What self extinguishing means, what the IEC 61084-2-1 reference on our specification covers, and what to ask a supplier for.
Self extinguishing means the material stops burning once the flame source is removed, rather than continuing to propagate along the run. It is a property of the compound, set by the additives in the formulation, and it is not visible in the finished profile.
That invisibility is the problem for a buyer. Two profiles that look identical on a shelf can behave completely differently in a fire, and the only way to tell them apart is the specification sheet and the compound behind it.
IEC 61084-2-1 is the standard our flame retardant sections are specified against. It covers cable trunking and ducting systems mounted on walls and ceilings, and it is the reference a specifier can cite in a submittal for a hotel, a hospital or a school.
What to ask a supplier for is the sheet, not the adjective. A claim of flame retardance with no standard named and no document behind it tells you nothing, and it is the claim that fails when a project consultant asks the question formally.
Specifications
| Self extinguishing | Stops burning when the flame is removed |
|---|---|
| Set by | The compound, not the profile shape |
| Our reference | IEC 61084-2-1 |
| Ask for | The specification sheet, not the adjective |
Related Products
How to choose the right PVC conduit size
What each diameter in the 10 to 40 mm ladder is actually used for, and why over-sizing costs more than it saves.
How to cold bend PVC conduit with a spring
The four step method our customers use to turn corners in pipe, and the mistakes that flatten a bore.
Trunking or conduit: which to specify
A practical comparison for buyers deciding how much of each to put in a container.
Send us your size list
Tell us the sizes, colours and quantities you sell and we will come back with a loading plan for the container, not just a unit price.