KBS Mortar is a dry mortar mix with controlled swelling effect to provide a non-shrinking, homogeneous and smoke gas-tight fire seal for cable penetrations. Most mortars shrnk during drying or curing. KBS Mortar expands while it sets (up to 3 %), ensuring a tight and crack-free seal. When mixed to pumping consistency, KBS Mortar will not run or sag, allowing easy buildup of material inside a wall opening, whereby for smaller openings, shuttering is only necessary on one side.
KBS Mortar has been rated for 120 minutes fire resistance at various thicknesses as per all important standards.
KBS Mortar is a blend of inorganic binders, fillers, and lightweight aggregates, interlaced with special additives and agents. KBS Mortar may be used wherever a fire resistance of 120 minutes for cable penetrations is specified.
KBS Mortar is preferably used for floor penetrations but, because of its non-sagging properties, is also easily installed in wall penetrations.
KBS Coating is a water-based, ablative fire protective coating, especially developed for the fire protection of grouped or bundled electrical cables and for penetration seals.
The main function of KBS Coating is to prevent flame propagation along vertical and horizontal cable ways. KBS Coating will also delay short circuit, whereby circuit integrity depends on the distance of the cables from fire and the incurred temperature. KBS Coating is easily applied by conventional methods such as spray and brush, as well as by hand.
KBS Coating has been tested to all recognized international standards and is used worldwide, from the arctic circle to the tropics. Its effectiveness has been proven in several documented cases of actual fires. KBS Coating meets the most requiring quality assurance standard ISO 9001.
KBS Coating is also an integral part of the KBS Panel Seal. Here it is used as coating for the mineral wool panels and the sealing of the penetrating cables and other utilities. For use of KBS Coating in the installation of KBS Panel Seal please see the KBS Panel Seal brochure.
How does an ablative coating work?
KBS Coating protects electrical cables through ablation as opposed to insulation. Energy is consumed or generated to change any material from one condition or state to another.
Processes consuming energy are called "endothermic". Some materials need large amounts of energy to decompose or "break down". A good ablative composition requires a maximum of energy to decompose. KBS Coating when exposed to fire starts to ablate by chemical and physical reactions, for instance evaporation, chemical cracking, melting - all this is consuming energy (heat) while keeping the cable relatively cool (for a certain length of time, as the process is self-sacrificial).
The gases and vapours generated during the ablative process push oxygen away from the surface, dilute flammable gases preventing them from burning and interrupt the "chain reaction" of fire chemically. After decomposition of all organic components, a solid structure of inorganic components remains offering further protection by insulation.
KBS Coating...
KBS Coating prevents flame propagation on cables, thus keeping a cable fire localized to its source, even if some minor damage to the most exposed cables may be sustained.
According to studies by the British CEGB, a fire on vertical cable ways can spread 20 m per minute. Flame spread on KBS coated vertical cables in the 40-minute IEC 3323 test has been restricted to less than 10 cm. KBS Coating has a LOI value of 100 (Limiting Oxygen Index).
The Limiting Oxygen Index value test, in accordance with ASTM D 2863, determines the percentage of oxygen in a nitrogen/oxygen mixture at which a material sustains burning on its own. In this test, which determines the burning characteristics of all plastic materials, the sample is secured in a glass cylinder containing a definite gas flow of O,/ N, mixture - and ignited with a gas flame. Then the gas flame is removed and the sample is observed for continued burning. Soft PVC, as used for cable jackets, continues to burn at a low 25-30 % oxygen content. Teflon, however, sustains burning only at a high 90 - 95 % oxygen content
KBS Coating has a LOI of 100, which means, it does not burn in a 100% oxygen environment.
KBS Coating protects electrical cables through ablation and not through insulation. It is dense and thermally conductive during normal cable operating temperatures. Its thermal conductivity is better than that of PVC. The coating increases the circumference (= surface) of the cable or cable bundle. The surface area is further increased by the comparative roughness of the coating (radiator effect). This enlarged surface allows more heat to dissipate. The cable temperature, therefore, does not increase.
By preventing the fire from spreading and eventually involving all cables, KBS Coating also prevents the development of the dreaded HCI from PVC cables as well as the dense black smoke and poisonous gases developing from all types of cables.
KBS Coating is tough enough to sustain physical abuse such as walking on coated cable trays.
KBS Coating is in no way affecting the human health system, it is non-toxic, solvent-free, phosphate-free and does not contain asbestos or any other substance identified as being cancerogenic. KBS Coating is practically odourless and does not affect the human skin.
KBS Coating is permanent protection under all weather and climate conditions.
A fifteen-year outdoor test, documented by the University of Braunschweig, found KBS Coating still performing the same as freshly produced material. Here cables had been exposed from highest summer heat to snow and ice, part of their length being constantly immersed in water.
KBS Coating has been tested for compatibility with close to 90 chemicals and has been found to be unaffected by those most frequently found in industrial installations such as Diesel fuel, ethylene glycol, fuel oil, lubricating oil, turbine oil and many others.
KBS Coating is highly flexible Endurance/ lifetime KBS Coating lasts for the lifetime of cables.
