Editing Electrical cable (section)

== Fire protection ==

Electrical cable jacket material is usually constructed of flexible plastic which will burn. The fire hazard of grouped cables can be significant.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Krause |first1=Fritz |last2=Schmidt |first2=Willard |title=Burn Mode Analysis of Horizontal Cable Tray Fires |journal=Systems Safety Technology Division, Sandia National Laboratories |date=2 Jan 1982 |volume=NUREG/CR-2431, SAND81-0079 |url=https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/contract/cr2431/index.html}}</ref> Cables jacketing materials can be formulated to prevent fire spread<ref>{{cite book |title=NFPA 72 National Electrical Code |date=2017 |pages=648,800.179(A)}}</ref> {{crossreference|selfref=no|text=(see [[Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable]])}}. Alternately, fire spread amongst combustible cables can be prevented by the application of fire retardant coatings directly on the cable exterior,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vytenis |first1=Babrauskas |title=Fire Performance of Wire and Cable |journal=Building and Fire Research Laboratory, NIST |date=12 Jan 1981 |page=56 |url=http://www.NIST.gov}}</ref> or the fire threat can be isolated by the installation of boxes constructed of noncombustible materials around the bulk cable installation.