1. Phenomenology of cable fires

1.1 Principle

Electrical and communication cables play a critical role in the spread of fire in buildings. Because of their ubiquity and often complex configuration, they are an effective vector for fire. They create vertical and horizontal pathways through which flames and heat can spread rapidly, compromising the safety of the building and its occupants. Cables are often bundled together and installed in ducts or cable trays that run through different parts of a building. These routes can be vertical, such as service ducts or risers, or horizontal, such as cable trays in false ceilings or raised access floors. These paths offer a path of low resistance to fire propagation, facilitating its rapid spread from one floor to another or from one room to another. When cables pass through...