Communication cables - Part 2-27: Common design rules and construction - Halogen free polyolefin based sheathing compounds for cables having improved flame and fire properties (HFFR)

This document gives specific requirements for halogen free polyolefin based sheathing compounds used for halogen free communication cables with improved characteristics in the case of fire. Compounds, described by this document, are commonly also named HFFR or HFFR-LS (halogen free, flame/fire retardant, low smoke), see also EN 50290 2 20. It is expected to be read in conjunction with EN 50290 2 20, the product standards EN 50288 series, EN 60794 series and other applicable product standards. Improved characteristics in the case of fire are demonstrated by specific fire tests on cables for flame/fire retardant applications (e.g. single or bunched cable fire test). Additional tests to prove the characteristics in case of fire, e.g. such as smoke emission test, might also be part of the dedicated product standard or specification. This document describes the compound types as given in Table 1. Table 1 — Sheathing compounds Compound grades Max. operating temperature Comment Type 1 70°C thermoplastic standard Type 2 90°C thermoplastic, higher temperature Type 3 90°C crosslinked, higher temperature

Kommunikationskabel - Teil 2-27: Gemeinsame Regeln für Entwicklung und Konstruktion - Halogenfreie Mantelmischungen auf Polyolefinbasis für Kabel mit verbesserten Flamm- und Brandeigenschaften (HFFR)

Câbles de communication - Partie 2-27: Règles de conception communes et construction - Mélanges pour gaines à base de polyoléfine sans halogène utilisés dans les câbles à comportement au feu amélioré (HFFR)

Komunikacijski kabli - 2-27. del: Skupna pravila za načrtovanje in konstrukcijo - Brezhalogenske zmesi za oplaščenje kablov na osnovi poliolefinov z izboljšanimi lastnostmi zadrževanja ognja (HFFR)

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
29-Apr-2021
Current Stage
6060 - Document made available - Publishing
Start Date
30-Apr-2021
Due Date
03-Jun-2021
Completion Date
30-Apr-2021

Relations

Effective Date
26-Jan-2023
Effective Date
04-May-2021

Overview

EN 50290-2-27:2021 is a European standard published by the CLC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) that specifies the common design rules and construction requirements for halogen-free polyolefin-based sheathing compounds used in communication cables. These compounds are recognized for their enhanced flame and fire-retardant properties, commonly referred to as HFFR or HFFR-LS (Halogen Free Flame/Fire Retardant - Low Smoke). This standard updates and supersedes the previous 2002 edition, aligning the latest material, safety, and fire performance requirements to support safer cable applications in fire-prone environments.

Key Topics

  • Halogen-Free Polyolefin Compounds: Defines three main grades of sheathing compounds:

    • Type 1: Standard thermoplastic, max operating temp 70°C
    • Type 2: Thermoplastic with higher temperature resistance, max 90°C
    • Type 3: Crosslinked compound for higher temperature applications, max 90°C
  • Fire and Flame Retardant Performance:
    Specified compounds demonstrate improved fire resistance via rigorous testing such as single or bunched cable fire tests and smoke emission tests. These tests ensure the materials emit low levels of toxic and corrosive gases, reducing hazards during fires.

  • Test Requirements:
    The standard outlines comprehensive test methods to assess:

    • Density, corrosivity, and halogen acid content
    • Oxygen index for burning behavior
    • Smoke emission and water absorption
    • Mechanical properties including tensile strength, elongation, bending at low temperatures, high-temperature pressure resistance, heat shock, and hot set testing (for crosslinked types)
  • Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance:
    Manufacturing materials comply with stringent HSE standards defined in EN 50290-2-20, ensuring safety during production, use, and potential fire incidents.

  • Interlinked Product Standards:
    EN 50290-2-27 is used in conjunction with other key standards such as:

    • EN 50290-2-20 for general design rules
    • EN 50288 series for communication cables product standards
    • EN 60794 series for optical fibre cables

Applications

EN 50290-2-27:2021 is essential for manufacturers, designers, and specifiers of communication cables that require reliable, halogen-free sheathing with superior fire performance. Typical applications include:

  • Indoor and outdoor telecommunication cables where fire safety is critical
  • Data transmission cables used in public spaces, commercial buildings, and transport infrastructure
  • Crosslinked and thermoplastic cable sheaths exposed to elevated temperatures or harsh environments
  • Specialized cables requiring low smoke emission and reduced corrosivity for enhanced occupant protection during fires

This standard fosters safer cable installations by ensuring cables contribute minimally to fire spread and toxic gas emissions, protecting both human safety and property.

Related Standards

  • EN 50290-2-20: General common design rules and construction requirements for halogen-free cables
  • EN 50288 Series: Product-specific standards for communication and data cables
  • EN 60794 Series: Standards covering optical fiber cables
  • EN 60754 Series: Tests on gases evolved during combustion, measuring halogen acid content and acidity
  • EN 60811 Series: Test methods for non-metallic cable materials, including mechanical and thermal testing
  • ISO 4589-2: Plastic burning behavior assessment via oxygen index testing

Adhering to EN 50290-2-27 alongside these complementary standards ensures comprehensive compliance with fire safety, durability, and environmental requirements in communication cable manufacturing and application.


Keywords: EN 50290-2-27, halogen free communication cables, HFFR sheathing compounds, polyolefin cable sheaths, flame retardant cables, fire resistant cable materials, low smoke halogen free (LSHF), cable fire performance, cable safety standards, CLC cable standards, communication cable design rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

EN 50290-2-27:2021 is a standard published by CLC. Its full title is "Communication cables - Part 2-27: Common design rules and construction - Halogen free polyolefin based sheathing compounds for cables having improved flame and fire properties (HFFR)". This standard covers: This document gives specific requirements for halogen free polyolefin based sheathing compounds used for halogen free communication cables with improved characteristics in the case of fire. Compounds, described by this document, are commonly also named HFFR or HFFR-LS (halogen free, flame/fire retardant, low smoke), see also EN 50290 2 20. It is expected to be read in conjunction with EN 50290 2 20, the product standards EN 50288 series, EN 60794 series and other applicable product standards. Improved characteristics in the case of fire are demonstrated by specific fire tests on cables for flame/fire retardant applications (e.g. single or bunched cable fire test). Additional tests to prove the characteristics in case of fire, e.g. such as smoke emission test, might also be part of the dedicated product standard or specification. This document describes the compound types as given in Table 1. Table 1 — Sheathing compounds Compound grades Max. operating temperature Comment Type 1 70°C thermoplastic standard Type 2 90°C thermoplastic, higher temperature Type 3 90°C crosslinked, higher temperature

This document gives specific requirements for halogen free polyolefin based sheathing compounds used for halogen free communication cables with improved characteristics in the case of fire. Compounds, described by this document, are commonly also named HFFR or HFFR-LS (halogen free, flame/fire retardant, low smoke), see also EN 50290 2 20. It is expected to be read in conjunction with EN 50290 2 20, the product standards EN 50288 series, EN 60794 series and other applicable product standards. Improved characteristics in the case of fire are demonstrated by specific fire tests on cables for flame/fire retardant applications (e.g. single or bunched cable fire test). Additional tests to prove the characteristics in case of fire, e.g. such as smoke emission test, might also be part of the dedicated product standard or specification. This document describes the compound types as given in Table 1. Table 1 — Sheathing compounds Compound grades Max. operating temperature Comment Type 1 70°C thermoplastic standard Type 2 90°C thermoplastic, higher temperature Type 3 90°C crosslinked, higher temperature

EN 50290-2-27:2021 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 29.035.20 - Plastics and rubber insulating materials; 33.120.10 - Coaxial cables. Waveguides. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

EN 50290-2-27:2021 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 50290-2-27:2002/A1:2007, EN 50290-2-27:2002. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.

EN 50290-2-27:2021 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 50290-2-27:2002
SIST EN 50290-2-27:2002/A1:2007
Komunikacijski kabli - 2-27. del: Skupna pravila za načrtovanje in konstrukcijo -
Brezhalogenske zmesi za oplaščenje kablov na osnovi poliolefinov z izboljšanimi
lastnostmi zadrževanja ognja (HFFR)
Communication cables - Part 2-27: Common design rules and construction - Halogen
free polyolefin based sheathing compounds for cables having improved flame and fire
properties (HFFR)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50290-2-27:2021
ICS:
29.035.20 Plastični in gumeni izolacijski Plastics and rubber insulating
materiali materials
33.120.10 Koaksialni kabli. Valovodi Coaxial cables. Waveguides
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50290-2-27

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2021
ICS 29.035.20; 33.120.10 Supersedes EN 50290-2-27:2002 and all of its
amendments and corrigenda (if any)
English Version
Communication cables - Part 2-27: Common design rules and
construction - Halogen free polyolefin based sheathing
compounds for cables having improved flame and fire properties
(HFFR)
Câbles de communication Partie 2-27: Règles de
conception communes et construction -
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2021-01-19. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 50290-2-27:2021 E
Contents
European foreword . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Compound test requirements . 7
5 Cable test requirements . 7
6 Health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements . 8
Bibliography . 11

European foreword
This document (EN 50290-2-27:2021) has been prepared by CLC/TC 46X “Communication cables”.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which this document has to be (dop) 2022–01–19
implemented at national level by publication of
an identical national standard or by
endorsement
latest date by which the national standards (dow) 2021–01–19

conflicting with this document have to be
withdrawn
This document will supersede EN 50290-2-27:2002 and all of its amendments and corrigenda (if any).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
1 Scope
This document gives specific requirements for halogen free polyolefin based sheathing compounds used for
halogen free communication cables with improved characteristics in the case of fire.
Compounds, described by this document, are commonly also named HFFR or HFFR-LS (halogen free,
flame/fire retardant, low smoke), see also EN 50290-2-20.
It is expected to be read in conjunction with EN 50290-2-20, the product standards EN 50288 series, EN 60794
series and other applicable product standards.
Improved characteristics in the case of fire are demonstrated by specific fire tests on cables for flame/fire
retardant applications (e.g. single or bunched cable fire test). Additional tests to prove the characteristics in case
of fire, e.g. such as smoke emission test, might also be part of the dedicated product standard or specification.
This document describes the compound types as given in Table 1.
Table 1 — Sheathing compounds
Compound grades Max. operating temperature Comment
°C
Type 1 +70 thermoplastic standard
Type 2 +90 thermoplastic, higher
temperature
Type 3 +90 crosslinked, higher
temperature
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the
latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 50290-2-20, Communication cables - Part 2-20: Common design rules and construction - General
EN 60754-1, Test on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Part 1: Determination of the
halogen acid gas content (IEC 60754-1)
EN 60754-2, Test on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Part 2: Determination of
acidity (by pH measurement) and conductivity (IEC 60754-2)
EN 60684-2:2011, Flexible insulating sleeving - Part 2: Methods of test (IEC 60684-2:2011)
EN 60811-402, Electric and optical fibre cables - Test methods for non-metallic materials - Part 402:
Miscellaneous tests - Water absorption tests (IEC 60811-402)
EN 60811-606, Electric and optical fibre cables - Test methods for non-metallic materials - Part 606: Physical
tests - Methods for determining the density (IEC 60811-606)
EN ISO 4589-2, P
...

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