UL 1690

Description / Abstract: These requirements cover electrical cables consisting of one or more current-carrying copper, aluminum, or copper-clad aluminum conductors with or without either or both grounding conductor(s), and one or more optical-fiber members, all under an overall jacket. These electrical and composite electrical/optical-fiber cables are intended for use (optical and electrical functions associated in the case of a hybrid cable) in accordance with Article 645 and other applicable parts of the National Electrical Code (NEC) under the raised floor of a computer room.

Cables complying with these requirements are:

Type DP-1 – Voltage Rating 600 volts, Flame Test: 1.2 (b)

Type DP-1P – Same as Type DP-1 except Flame Test: 1.2 (a)

Type DP-2 – Voltage Rating: 300 volts, Flame Test: 1.2 (b)

Type DP-2P – Same as Type DP-2 except Flame Test: 1.2 (a)

Type DP-3 – Voltage Rating none – for use in signaling circuits meeting the following requirements for maximum available voltage, current and power.

Type DP-3P – Same as Type DP-3 except Flame Test: 1.2 (a)

Smoke and fire considerations are as follows for the cables covered in the requirements:

a) TYPE DP-1P, DP-2P and DP-3P CABLES – These cables are to be tested for smoke and flame characteristics in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association Standard Method of Test for Flame Travel and Smoke of Wires and Cables for Use in Air-Handling Spaces, ANSI/NFPA 262. A cable that complies exhibits a maximum flame-propagation distance that is not greater than 5 ft, 0 in, or 1.52 m, a peak optical density of smoke produced of 0.5 or less (32 percent light transmission), and an average optical density of smoke produced of 0.15 or less.

b) TYPE DP-1, DP-2, and DP-3 CABLES – Cables comply with a 70,000 Btu/h (20.5 kW) vertical-tray flame test. The cable manufacturer chooses one of the following tests:

1) THE UL TEST REFERENCED IN 30.2.1 – This paragraph applies the test method described as the UL Flame Exposure (smoke measurements are not applicable) in the Standard for Vertical-Tray Fire-Propagation and Smoke-Release Test for Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables, UL 1685. For compliance, this test damages less than 8 feet (244 cm) of cable.

2) THE FT4/IEEE 1202 TEST REFERENCED IN 30.3.1 – This paragraph applies the test method described as the FT4/IEEE 1202 Type of Flame Exposure (smoke measurements are not applicable) in the Standard for Vertical-Tray Fire-Propagation and Smoke-Release Test for Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables, UL 1685. For compliance, this test damages less than 150 cm (59 inches) of cable.

A cable that contains one or more electromagnetic shields may be surface marked or have a marker tape to indicate that it is "shielded". A cable that contains one or more optical-fiber members has "-OF" supplementing the type letters and is limited (see 14.2) to carrying optical energy that has been ruled not hazardous to the human body. A cable may consist of or contain one or more coaxial members.

These cables may contain one or more metal shields but do not have a metal sheath or armor. Electrical cables with a metal sheath or armor are covered as Type MC in the Standard for Metal-Clad Cables, UL 1569, or Type AC in the Standard for Armored Cable, UL 4.

These requirements do not cover the optical or other performance of any optical-fiber member or group of such members.