fire protection

Functional integrity in case of fire and escape route installation

A central component of building planning is fire protection. High-quality cable management systems have been produced under the PUK brand for over 50 years. Our comprehensive wealth of experience also covers the important areas of fire protection.

The Model Building Code (MBO) Section 14 also states: "Structural installations must be arranged, erected, altered and maintained in such a way that the development of fire and the spread of fire and smoke (fire spread) is prevented and the rescue of people and animals and effective extinguishing work are possible in the event of a fire".

According to the Model Guideline on Electrical Wiring Installations (MLAR), electrical wiring installations for safety installations and equipment required by building regulations must be designed or separated by components in such a way that the safety installations and equipment remain functional for a sufficient period of time in the event of a fire.

Fire protection is defined in building law by the Administrative Regulation on Technical Building Regulations (VV TB). We offer the following solutions in our portfolio:

Types of construction for the manufacture of electrical cable systems which are subject to requirements with regard to functional integrity under the effect of fire. Tested according to DIN 4102-12:

• normed supporting constructions
• specified support systems

Solutions in accordance with the Model Guideline on Fire Protection Requirements for Piping Systems (MLAR - Muster-Leitungsanlagenrichtlinie).

• escape route installations

Our individual fire protection product areas in the PUK range are presented in more detail below.

A snormed supporting construction is defined by the narrow parameters of DIN 4102-12. Cable manufacturers have the corresponding usability certificates. This has the advantage that you can act independently when selecting cables and cable manufacturers. However, standard support constructions are more installation and cost-intensive than system-specific support constructions.

DIN 4102-12 specifies three different installation variants for standard support constructions:

1. Cable routing on cable ladders (Gutachterliche Stellungnahme MPA 3335/772/11-1)

• Support distance: UA ≤ 1,20 m
• Cable load: 20 kg/m
• Width max.: 400 mm
• Side height (spar): 60 mm
• Material thickness channel: 1,5 mm
• Bracket top: intercepted

2. Cable routing on cable trays (Gutachterliche Stellungnahme MPA 3335/772/11-2)

• Support distance: UA ≤ 1,20 m
• Cable load: 10 kg/m
• Width max.: 300 mm
• Side height (spar): 60 mm    
• Material thickness channel: 1,5 mm
• Bracket top: intercepted

3. Individual routing of the cables under the ceiling (Gutachterliche Stellungnahme MPA 3335/772/1-3)

• Single clamp without long trough

• Profile rail and bracket clamp without long trough

  • Vertical cable ladder and bracket clamp without long trough
    Gutachterliche Stellungnahme MPA 3335/772/11-4,
    Gutachterliche Stellungnahme MFPA GS 3.2/18-350-1-r2

  • Profile rail and bracket clamp with long trough

⇒ Mounting distance without long trough ≤ 300 m

⇒ Mounting distance with long trough ≤ 400 m

The proof of usability for the building inspection procedure is provided by a general building inspection test certificate (abP) and one of the expert opinions from PUK listed above.

Further information on our cable ladders, cable trays and solutions for individual installation can be found in the PUK fire protection catalogue (from page 7).

System-specific support structures in functional integrity are cable systems that deviate from the standard support structure, e.g. with regard to the cable load, the support distances or the support system widths that can be used. These deviations are approved in the respective general building inspection test certificates (abP). Testing is carried out in accordance with DIN 4102-12.

Compared to standard support structures, system-specific support structures are easier to install. The costs are also lower. However, with system-specific support structures there is a direct dependency between the cable management system and the cable manufacturer. Cable and support structure cannot be freely combined with each other. 

The proof of usability for the building inspection procedure is exclusively provided by a general building inspection test certificate (abP). Detailed information on the support distances, widths and weights of our PUK support structures can be found in the document „Funktionserhalt – Rote Mappe: Sonderkonstruktionen AbP-Liste DIN 4102-12“, which you can download from our download centre.

According to the building regulations, every building must be equipped with escape and rescue routes to ensure the possibility of rescue in case of fire. Depending on the type of building, at least one escape and rescue route is required. Other escape and rescue routes are necessary stairwells and corridors, the connecting rooms between stairwells and corridors, and exits to the outside. These routes must also be safe to use in case of fire. Therefore, the electrical cables must be installed:

• in installation shafts and ducts
• above suspended ceilings
• in underfloor ducts or system floors

Section 3.5.3 of the MLAR states that in necessary corridors wiring systems may be laid above suspended ceilings (i.e. in the area between the raw ceiling and the suspended ceiling) if the suspended ceiling can be classified in fire resistance class F30 when exposed to fire from above as well as from below. Fire-proof fastening is required for the fastening of the piping systems.

In our PUK range you will find tested systems for cable installation in intermediate ceilings. Our product solutions meet the guidelines for the protection of F30 suspended ceilings specified in the MLAR. When using our cable management systems, escape and rescue routes can be used safely for at least 30 minutes in the event of a fire. The expert opinion MLAR 2101/407/18-CM is available in our download centre. Detailed information on our escape route installation solutions can be found in our fire protection catalogue (from page 92).