Methodology

The methodology used to assess the various cable Categories and types remained consistent. Thermocouples were positioned within the cable bundles to measure:

• The ambient temperature around the test fixture.
• The temperature rise across the bundle.
• The temperature rise of the surface of the bundle above ambient

During our experimentation the test configurations included:

• Cables in free space
• Cables installed in open cable tray
• Cables installed in conduit
• Cables installed in sealed conduit
• Cables transiting “Simulated Fire Stops”

This development work has concluded that the key considerations to minimize power loss through the cable component of the infrastructure are:

1. Optimising conductor diameter

2. Increasing the available cable surface area (Diameter)

3. Incorporating where appropriate cable screeing

4. Installation methodology:

• Bundling Limitations
• Sub-Grouping of Bundles and;
• Spacing of Bundles wherever possible