The fire rating of trough-type fire-resistant cable trays is primarily defined by fire endurance—the duration for which structural integrity and electrical circuit continuity are maintained under standard fire exposure. In China, the authoritative governing standard is GB 29415-2013 Fire-Resistant Cable Trays.
1. National Standard Core Classification (F1–F4, Widely Used in Engineering)
| Grade |
Fire Resistance Duration |
Typical Applications |
| F1 |
≥ 90 minutes |
Super high-rise buildings, hospitals, data centers, subways, fire emergency main lines |
| F2 |
≥ 60 minutes |
Main distribution lines in shopping malls, office buildings, hotels and general public buildings |
| F3 |
≥ 45 minutes |
General industrial plants, multi-story residential buildings, general lighting and control circuits |
| F4 |
≥ 30 minutes |
Small buildings, secondary circuits and auxiliary rooms |
2. Other Common Classification Systems
- JB/T 10216 three-level system (NⅠ–NⅢ)
NⅠ: ≥ 60 min
NⅡ: ≥ 45 min
NⅢ: ≥ 30 min
- FH series (commonly used in engineering)
FH‑A: ≥ 120 min (highest grade)
FH‑B: ≥ 90 min
FH‑C: ≥ 60 min
- Direct time notation: F30, F60, F90, F120 (directly representing fire resistance in minutes)
3. Key Test Criteria (GB 29415)
- Test condition: Continuous heating in accordance with the standard time‑temperature curve (approx. 950℃).
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- Structural integrity: No collapse, no through‑cracks, deflection ≤ L/100.
- Circuit integrity: Internal cable circuit remains uninterrupted (3A fuse does not blow).
- Thermal insulation: Average backside temperature rise ≤ 180℃, single‑point temperature rise ≤ 220℃.Evaluation indicators:
4. Key Points for Selection and Acceptance
- Trough‑type fireproof cable trays shall be fully enclosed with covers and form a complete fireproof system together with fireproof sealing.
- During acceptance, verify the type test report, which shall clearly state the F1/F2/F3/F4 grade and rated fire resistance duration.
- The fire rating shall be matched with the fire performance of the cables (e.g., F1 cable trays used with NH fire‑resistant cables).