Fire Cables: J-H(St)H Halogen-Free Cable vs FE180 / PH120 Fire-Resistant Cable
How J-H(St)H fire alarm cable differs from FE180, PH120 and E30–E90 fire-resistant cables, what the IEC 60331 and EN 50200 tests prove, and which circuit needs which.
Two different properties are often confused in fire cables: not feeding the fire (halogen-free, flame retardant, low smoke) and continuing to work during the fire (circuit integrity). `J-H(St)H` offers the first; cables marked `FE180` / `PH120` add the second. The difference is defined by the IEC 60331 and EN 50200 tests.
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1. Reaction to fire vs resistance to fire
| Property | Meaning | Test | Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halogen-free | No corrosive acid gas when burning | IEC 60754 | H, HFFR, LSZH |
| Low smoke | Escape routes stay visible | IEC 61034 | LS, s1 |
| Flame retardant | Flame does not travel along the cable | IEC 60332-1-2, 60332-3 | — |
| Insulation integrity | Conductors carry current under flame without shorting | IEC 60331 | FE180 |
| Circuit integrity with shock | Circuit works under flame plus mechanical shock | EN 50200 | PH30 / PH60 / PH90 / PH120 |
| System functional integrity | Cable works together with its tray and clips | DIN 4102-12 | E30 / E60 / E90 |
The first three rows are reaction properties: the cable does not feed the fire but soon stops working. The last three are resistance properties, achieved with mica tape over the conductor or ceramifying silicone insulation.
2. What is J-H(St)H cable?
Code letters: `J` installation cable, `H` halogen-free insulation, `(St)` aluminium foil static screen with drain wire, `H` halogen-free sheath.
- Built from twisted pairs; the size reads pairs × 2 × conductor diameter (mm): `1×2×0.8`, `2×2×0.8`. The 0.8 is a diameter, not an area; 0.8 mm diameter ≈ 0.5 mm².
- Fire detection versions have a red sheath.
- Plain `J-H(St)H` is only halogen-free and flame retardant; it has no circuit integrity.
- For lines that must work in a fire choose mica-taped JE-H(St)H FE180 / E30–E90; it looks the same and is told apart by the `FE180` and `E30` print.
3. What do FE180, PH120 and E90 mean?
| Marking | Standard | Test condition | Duration | What it proves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FE180 | IEC 60331 | Flame of at least 750 °C, no shock, cable alone | 180 min | Insulation integrity |
| PH120 | EN 50200 | 842 °C flame plus regular mechanical shock, cables ≤ 20 mm diameter | 120 min (PH30, PH60, PH90 also exist) | Circuit integrity with shock |
| E30 / E90 | DIN 4102-12 | Furnace on the standard fire curve, cable + tray + clips together | 30 / 90 min | The installation working as a whole |
- FE180 does not mean the cable will work for 180 minutes in a fire. The test has no shock and no support system; PH and E classes show real functional time.
- An E30/E90 class is valid only with the tested support system (tray, clips, anchor spacing); plastic clips and plugs melt and the cable falls.
- The same logic applies on the power side to N2XH FE180 cables: plain N2XH is halogen-free but not fire resistant.
4. Which cable for which circuit?
| Circuit | Required property | Typical cable |
|---|---|---|
| Addressable detection loop (detectors, call points) | Halogen-free, screened; circuit integrity if specified | J-H(St)H or JE-H(St)H FE180, 1×2×0.8 |
| Sounders, beacons, voice evacuation | Fire resistant | JE-H(St)H FE180 PH120, screened 2×1 mm² and larger |
| Emergency lighting, fire pump, smoke extract fan, firefighter lift supply | Fire-resistant power cable | N2XH FE180 / E90 |
| General lighting and sockets in public buildings | Halogen-free, low smoke | N2XH, halogen-free wiring cables |
National fire codes require fire resistance for cables of systems that must operate during a fire; the project specification sets the duration and class. Conductor size on alarm loops is verified by voltage drop from loop length and device current; long sounder lines need larger sizes such as 1×2×1.5 mm².
5. Installation notes
- Keep the screen (drain wire) continuous along the loop and earth it at the panel end only.
- Fix fire-resistant cable with metal clips and steel anchors at the spacing given by the manufacturer.
- Joints need a fire-rated junction box with ceramic terminals; a standard plastic box breaks circuit integrity.
- Keep the bending radius at least 8–10 times the cable diameter; mica tape cracks on sharp bends.
- Do not run fire alarm cables in the same tray as power cables without a divider.
Frequently asked questions
Is J-H(St)H cable fire resistant?
No. Plain J-H(St)H is halogen-free and flame retardant but shorts quickly under flame. Fire resistance needs the JE-H(St)H type printed with FE180 and a PH or E class.
What is the difference between FE180 and PH120?
FE180 shows 180 minutes of insulation integrity in the IEC 60331 flame test without shock. PH120 shows 120 minutes of circuit integrity under 842 °C flame with mechanical shock per EN 50200 and is closer to real fire conditions.
Is halogen-free cable the same as fire-resistant cable?
No. Halogen-free cable emits no toxic, corrosive gas; fire-resistant cable keeps carrying current during a fire. All fire-resistant cables are halogen-free, but not the reverse.
What is the cross-section of 2×0.8 fire cable?
0.8 mm is the conductor diameter, about 0.5 mm². 2×2×0.8 means two pairs, that is four cores.
Why is fire alarm cable red?
The red sheath separates detection and alarm lines from other low-current cables. Fire-resistant types are usually orange or red; the print on the sheath, not the colour, is what counts.