By preventing electrical failures in these critical systems, MICC fire survival cables - often referred to as the ‘building’s heart’ - support a coordinated and effective response to fire incidents, reducing the risk of partial or total, data centre shutdown. Ultimately, this can help to protect both assets and lives.What are the Fire-Survival Properties of MICC Cables?
Traditional ‘soft skin’ (plastic-insulated) cabling systems are fire-resistant rather than true fire survival cables, which can lead to system failures putting data centres’ critical systems at risk.
In contrast, MICC cables, also known as pyro cables, are specifically designed to withstand extreme temperatures and maintain circuit integrity during fires. Their construction, consisting of a copper sheath and a mineral insulation core, eliminates the need for organic materials that can burn or release toxic gases.
The key fire-survival properties, and additional benefits, of MICC cables include:
High-temperature endurance: MICC cables are a non-ageing product that do not rely on plastics, polymers, resins, or tapes for fire protection. The copper sheath has a melting point of 1,085°C, while the magnesium oxide insulation withstands temperatures up to 2,852°C.
Non-combustible materials: Unlike polymeric fire-resistant cables, MICC cables contain zero plastics components.
Zero toxic smoke or gas emission: In the event of a fire, MICC cables do not release harmful toxic smoke or gases, helping to maintain air quality and visibility in evacuation scenarios. Toxic smoke and gases can often ignite aiding the spread of a fire.
Waterproof and rodent-proof: The copper sheath makes MICC cables impervious to water and resistant to rodent damage.
Article by fire resistant cables specialist WMC