Citation

Dervos CT, Vassiliou P. J. Fire Sci. 1998; 16(3): 206-221.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

During fire accidents, aggressive chemical compounds and free radicals associated with the decomposition of burning materials are absorbed by the diffusion process into the volume of solids. This is likely to initiate a chemical attack leading to degradation and irreversible deterioration of serviceability in electrical systems. This work investigates, as a case study, the degradation of medium and low voltage cable insulation after exposure to the fire environment formed by the burning of packaging material. Fire combustion products were detected in cable insulation by means of quadrupole mass spectrometry. To validate the electrical performance of cable insulants, DC conductivity measurements were also performed.