Research progress on combustion characteristics of wire and cable

To improve fire safety, the combustion mechanism of wire and cable, and their combustion characteristics under different conditions were introduced, focusing on key influencing factors such as materials, laying conditions, intensity of heat radiation, and aging on their burning behavior. Results showed that flame-retardant cables had a lower fire hazard than ordinary cables made from polymers such as PVC and polyethylene. However, there was still a risk in confined environments. The number of cables, spacing, spatial arrangement, and installation methods could affect heat transfer and oxygen supply, thereby affecting the rate of combustion and the generation of toxic gases. Increased heat radiation intensity significantly reduced the ignition time and increased the fire risk. Aging would change the chemical and physical properties of cable materials, thus affecting their combustion performance. Consequently, it is important to systematically and comprehensively consider the interaction between the above factors to effectively prevent and control cable fires, and ensure fire safety in key aspects such as cable selection, installation specification, fire risk assessment, and maintenance and replacement of aging cables.