Pirelli Cables says its FP200 Gold cables rang all the right bells when tested for use on an addressable fire alarm system on a major project.

The result of the test proved that the cables lived up to the specification rating, it adds.

"Pirelli Cables has been aware of a marketing campaign by certain manufacturers of MICC (mineral insulated copper conductors) cable which questions the ability of some non-MICC fire-resistant cables to operate correctly under BS6387 test conditions, when used to carry data in a modern addressable fire alarm system," says a Dubai-based spokesman for Pirelli, which has been supplying cables to Sensaire Services' projects for a number of years, the most recent having been the Shangri-La and the Dubai World Trade Centre expansion project.

He continues: "We did not wish to become involved in such 'scaremongering' marketing activity. However, as a responsible manufacturer of the market-leading non-MICC fire-resistant cable, we took serious note of the allegations made and sought to carry out system tests with major suppliers of addressable systems using Pirelli's FP 200 cable.

"Recently, a full test was carried out to support the specification of FP 200 in a market-leading addressable fire alarm system of a major project. The test was conducted in association with the system manufacturer and witnessed by representatives of the client, consultant and fire alarm contractor.

"The objective was to demonstrate that under the test requirements of BS 6387 Categories C, W and Z applied to Pirelli FP 200 Gold cable, there was no change in the operation of the fire alarm panel, which constantly monitored a fire alarm loop under test.

"The test loop contained a control panel and a number of different devices, including manual call point, sounder, Tee-breaker, ionisation, and heat and optical sensors, wired with two core 1.5 sq mm FP 200 Gold cable. Before each test, a manual call point was operated to check the loop and, afterwards, a device was deliberately activated to ensure correct system operation.

"Throughout each of the BS 6387 Category C, W and Z tests, there were no problems in activation of the system or any cable fault reported. At all times, the control panel was able to display all details of the fire conditions correctly. As cable performance under water conditions had been specifically questioned, during the Category W test, the loop was re-allocated on three separate occasions and each time all devices were found and the loop fully recovered."

"The results of these tests fully demonstrated that FP 200 Gold maintained its integrity," the spokesman says. " The control panel was able to operate correctly, with the system successfully activated and all information correctly displayed at the end of each test."