Fire-Survival Cable Coating
FIREX EC 43 Survival keeps fire pumps, alarms, ventilation and exit lighting working while the fire burns — 240 minutes to IEC 60331-21, at a 1.6 mm coat that needs no cable derating.
Where to use fire-survival cable coating
Use EC 43 Survival on the circuits that must keep working during a fire — the ones that fight the fire, warn people and get them out. It protects the full length of the route, not just the openings.
- Fire-pump, alarm and trip circuits
- Emergency ventilation and smoke-extract fans
- Exit and emergency lighting
- Critical cable routes in hospitals
- Tier III and Tier IV data centres
- Solar-plant DC cables
Standards and tests
| IEC 60331-21 | 240 minutes + 15 minutes cooling at 750°C — circuit alive. In-house testing: no circuit failure even at 6 hours. |
|---|---|
| IS 17505-1 | 180 minutes at 950°C — the high-intensity fire test, similar to BS 7846. |
| IEC 60332-3 | 240 minutes of flame-propagation protection at 1.6 mm. |
| Test cable | XLPE 4-core 70 sq mm, coated at 1.6 mm dry-film thickness. |
In the same test, uncoated standard XLPE cable failed at 6 minutes and FR-LS XLPE at 7 minutes. The EC 43 Survival coated cable was still carrying its circuit at 240 minutes.
Benefits
Circuits keep working in the fire
Pumps, alarms, ventilation and exit lighting keep running while people are evacuated and the fire is fought.
Longest tested survival
IEC 60331 asks for at most 180 minutes. EC 43 Survival holds 240 minutes + 15 minutes cooling.
No cable derating
All tests are passed at 1.6 mm, so there is no reduction in cable capacity and no cracking or peeling from a 3–5 mm over-thick coat.
Less shutdown after the fire
Protected circuits are less likely to need immediate replacement, reducing shutdown time and post-fire cable replacement.
Only need to stop flame spread along general cable trays? See fire-retardant cable coating (FIREX EC 43 General). On rodent-prone routes, add our anti-rodent cable coating, FIREX EC 7034, as a topcoat.
Installation summary
Survey the routes
Mark general cable runs (EC 43 General), circuits that must survive a fire (EC 43 Survival) and rodent-prone routes (EC 7034 topcoat).
Coat the full exposed length
Apply a continuous coat along the whole exposed length of the cables to the tested 1.6 mm dry-film thickness.
Coat through every opening
Where cables pass a Stanvac firestop, a one-foot EC 43 coat is included at the seal.
Add the anti-rodent topcoat
On rodent-prone routes, add at least two coats / 0.5 mm of FIREX EC 7034 over the EC 43 build.
Follow the data sheet
Surface preparation, application method, number of coats and drying times follow the FIREX EC 43 technical data sheet and Stanvac’s application procedure.
Fire test and application videos
Firex EC 43 Survival grade Fire testing IEC 60331-21
Firex EC 43 1.6mm DFT
Firex EC43 Survival grade Application process
Downloadable technical documents
- The Truth About Cable Fire Protection Coatings — 2026PDF ↓
- Why an Ordinary Cable Coating Is Not EnoughPDF ↓
- PCO — Complete Electrical Fire DefencePDF ↓
- Seal the Opening. Protect the Cable. Defend the Panel.PDF ↓
- The Stanvac Electrical Advantage — 2026 Field GuidePDF ↓
Need the FIREX EC 43 technical data sheet or test certificates? Ask our technical team.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fire-survival cable coating?
It is a coating that keeps a cable carrying power and signals during a fire (circuit integrity), not just one that slows flame spread. FIREX EC 43 Survival is tested to IEC 60331-21 for 240 minutes + 15 minutes cooling at 750°C.
How is fire survival different from fire retardance?
Fire retardance (IEC 60332-3, FM 3971) only limits flame spread. It does not prove that the circuit keeps working. Fire survival (IEC 60331-21, IS 17505-1) proves the circuit stays alive in the fire.
Which standards does FIREX EC 43 Survival meet?
IEC 60331-21 (240 minutes + 15 minutes cooling at 750°C), IS 17505-1 (180 minutes at 950°C) and IEC 60332-3 (240 minutes flame-propagation protection), all at 1.6 mm.
Does the coating reduce cable capacity?
No. The tests are passed at 1.6 mm dry-film thickness, so the cable does not need to be derated.
Can it also protect cables from rodents?
Yes. Retain the specified EC 43 Survival build and add at least two coats / 0.5 mm of FIREX EC 7034 as a topcoat on rodent-prone routes.
Specify FIREX EC 43 for your plant
Tell us your cable routes. We will recommend the right grade and build.