— A Practical Guide for Engineers, EPCs, and Plant Operators
In oil and gas facilities, the stakes of cable failure during a fire are not measured in lost production alone—they are measured in lives. A hydrocarbon fire is not a standard building fire. It is a high-temperature, high-heat-flux event that can exceed 1,100°C (2,000°F), with rapid temperature rise and intense thermal radiation-. Under these conditions, ordinary "fire resistant" cables designed for 750–830°C will fail within minutes-9.
Hydrocarbon fire resistant (HCF) cables are engineered specifically for this threat. They are the difference between a controlled emergency shutdown and a catastrophic loss of control.
1. What Is a Hydrocarbon Fire?
A hydrocarbon fire is a fire fueled by liquid hydrocarbons—crude oil, refined products, gas condensates, or petrochemicals—that have spilled and ignited. These fires are characterised by:
| Characteristic | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 1,100°C (2,000°F) |
| Heat flux | Up to 200–300 kW/m² |
| Temperature rise | Rapid (reaches peak within minutes) |
| Duration | Can persist for hours until fuel is consumed |
Hydrocarbon fires occur in pool fire scenarios (e.g., spilled oil igniting on a platform deck) and represent the most common fire threat in refineries, offshore platforms, and petrochemical plants-. Jet fires—pressurised releases of gas or liquid forming a directional flame—are even more severe, with temperatures up to 1,300°C and high-velocity flame impingement-9-.
The difference matters: In a hydrocarbon fire risk zone, all cables must be protected by external passive fire protection systems unless they are specifically designed and tested to survive the hydrocarbon fire curve-.
2. Why Standard Fire Resistant Cables Are Not Enough
General-purpose fire resistant cables—tested to IEC 60331—are designed for standard cellulosic fires (building fires) at 750–830°C-9. These cables may maintain circuit integrity for 90–120 minutes under these conditions-10.
However, a hydrocarbon fire burns significantly hotter. The IEC 60331 standard's top temperature of 830°C is far below the 1,100°C of a hydrocarbon flame and 1,300°C of a jet flame, creating major safety hazards when standard fire resistant cables are used in oil and gas applications-9-.
The gap: A cable that survives 90 minutes at 830°C may fail in under 10 minutes at 1,100°C. In an offshore platform or refinery, that difference can mean the loss of emergency shutdown capability, fire pump power, or critical instrumentation.
3. Key Standards for Hydrocarbon Fire Resistant Cables
3.1 NEK TS 606 – The Offshore Standard
NEK TS 606 (Norwegian Electrotechnical Committee Technical Specification) is the most widely recognised standard for offshore cables, including specific requirements for HydroCarbon Fire resistant (HCF) and Jet Fire (JF) resistant cables-25-. The current edition is NEK TS 606:2025 (7th edition)-25.
Key requirements:
Halogen-free, low smoke, flame-retardant/fire-resistant (HFFR-LS)
Drilling fluid (mud) resistance
Hydrocarbon fire resistance tested to the HC fire curve (based on EN 1363-2)-
Separate test methods for HCF and JF cables-
Common NEK 606 cable designations:
| Designation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BFOU | Fire-resistant instrumentation cable (hydrocarbon fire) |
| RFOU | Non-fire-resistant instrumentation cable (flame retardant only) |
| HCF | HydroCarbon Fire resistant—tested to hydrocarbon fire curve |
| JF | Jet Fire resistant—tested to more severe jet fire conditions |
BFOU-HCF cables are fire resistant, flame retardant, low smoke and halogen free, used for emergency instrumentation, communication, control and alarm systems that need to be operational during a 1,100°C hydrocarbon fire-26.
3.2 IEEE 1810 – Installation Guide for Hydrocarbon Pool Fires
IEEE 1810-2025 provides guidance on the installation of circuit-integrity power, control, and instrumentation cables suitable for hydrocarbon pool fires, as typically used in petroleum and chemical plants, offshore marine platforms, in emergency and safety shutdown systems--1.
Why it matters: Even the best cable will fail if installed incorrectly. IEEE 1810 provides the framework for ensuring that cable routing, support, and termination do not compromise fire resistance.
3.3 IEEE 1717 – Test Protocol for Hydrocarbon Pool Fires
IEEE 1717-2024 is the standard for testing fire-resistive circuit integrity cables and cable systems using a hydrocarbon pool fire test protocol-. It provides a consistent test method for evaluating cable performance under hydrocarbon fire conditions.
3.4 BS 6387 CWZ – The Highest Grade
BS 6387 is the British Standard for cables required to maintain circuit integrity under fire conditions-. CWZ is the highest grade, requiring the cable to pass three separate tests-:
| Test | Condition |
|---|---|
| C (Fire) | 950°C flame for 3 hours- |
| W (Fire + Water) | 650°C flame for 15 minutes plus 15 minutes with water spray-10 |
| Z (Fire + Shock) | 950°C flame for 15 minutes with mechanical shock-10 |
BS 6387 CWZ is stricter than IEC 60331-21 in terms of flame temperature (950°C vs 830°C) and burning duration (up to 3 hours vs 90 minutes)-. However, note that 950°C is still below the 1,100°C hydrocarbon fire temperature—HCF cables are tested to the hydrocarbon fire curve, which better represents actual offshore and refinery fire conditions.
3.5 API RP 14F – Offshore Electrical Systems
API RP 14F provides minimum requirements and guidelines for the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems on fixed and floating offshore petroleum facilities-. When electric cables are required to be fire-resistant, they must comply with IEC 60331-. For hydrocarbon fire risk zones, cables must be protected by external passive fire protection systems unless they are hydrocarbon fire rated-.
4. Construction of Hydrocarbon Fire Resistant Cables
HCF cables are engineered with multiple layers of protection to survive extreme fire conditions. A typical construction includes:
| Layer | Material | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor | Tinned annealed stranded copper (IEC 60228 Class 2)-26 | Signal/power transmission with corrosion resistance |
| Fire resistant insulation | Mica tape + halogen-free EPR/XLPE-26 | Mica provides circuit integrity during fire; EPR provides electrical insulation |
| Bedding | Halogen-free compound-26 | Binds and protects the core |
| Armour | Tinned copper wire braid-26 | Mechanical protection and additional shielding |
| HC-fire protection | Extruded thermoplastic fire protection compound-26 | Critical layer—provides hydrocarbon fire resistance |
| Taping | Lapped glass fibre tape-26 | Thermal insulation and fire barrier |
| Outer sheath | SHF1 or SHF2 halogen-free thermosetting compound-26 | Environmental protection, mud resistance, low smoke |
The "double-layer composite sheath" —a combination of fire protection compound and glass fibre tape—is what enables these cables to withstand 1,100°C hydrocarbon fires for extended periods-9.
5. HCF vs Standard Fire Resistant: Key Differences
| Aspect | Standard Fire Resistant (IEC 60331) | Hydrocarbon Fire Resistant (HCF) |
|---|---|---|
| Test temperature | 830°C | 1,100°C (hydrocarbon fire curve) |
| Test duration | 90–120 minutes-10 | 30–120 minutes (varies by specification) |
| Fire type | Cellulosic (building) fire | Hydrocarbon pool fire |
| Heat flux | Moderate | High (200–300 kW/m²) |
| Typical applications | Buildings, general industry | Offshore platforms, refineries, petrochemical plants |
| Additional requirements | Circuit integrity only | Circuit integrity + mud resistance + low smoke + halogen-free |
The key takeaway: A standard fire resistant cable is tested to survive 830°C. An HCF cable is tested to survive 1,100°C. In a real hydrocarbon fire, that 270°C difference determines whether the cable survives or fails.
6. Application Scenarios in Oil & Gas
HCF cables are specified for safety-critical circuits that must remain operational during a fire:
| Application | Why HCF Is Required |
|---|---|
| Emergency Shutdown (ESD) systems | Must execute emergency isolation during fire- |
| Fire pump control and power | Must remain operational to fight the fire |
| Fire and gas detection systems | Must continue to monitor and alarm during fire |
| Emergency lighting | Must provide illumination for evacuation |
| Critical instrumentation loops | Must maintain process visibility during fire |
| Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) | Must maintain safety functions- |
| Offshore platform safety systems | International convention requirements-25 |
| Refinery critical control circuits | Must prevent escalation of fire |
Industry practice: In a Hydrocarbon Fire (HCF) risk zone, all cables must be protected by external passive fire protection systems unless the cables are themselves hydrocarbon fire rated-.
7. Selecting Hydrocarbon Fire Resistant Cables
When specifying HCF cables for oil and gas projects, consider:
7.1 Fire Severity
| Fire Type | Temperature | Recommended Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrocarbon pool fire | 1,100°C | HCF-rated cable |
| Jet fire | 1,300°C-9 | JF-rated cable (more severe than HCF) |
| Standard building fire | 750–830°C | Standard IEC 60331 cable |
7.2 Required Duration
| Duration | Application | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | Minimum for emergency circuits | NEK 606 HCF |
| 60–90 minutes | Critical safety systems | IEEE 1717 / IEC 60331 |
| 120 minutes | Highest reliability | BS 6387 Category C (3 hours at 950°C)- |
7.3 Additional Requirements
LSZH: Low smoke zero halogen for enclosed spaces (control rooms, offshore modules)
Mud resistance: SHF2 sheath for drilling platforms-25
Armour: Steel wire or tinned copper wire braid for mechanical protection-26
Ex certification: Intrinsically safe or flameproof for hazardous areas
Marine certification: DNV, ABS, CCS, or other classification society approval
7.4 NEK 606 Cable Types
| Type | Fire Resistance | Shielding | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| BFOU-HCF | Fire resistant + Hydrocarbon fire | Overall screen-26 | Critical instrumentation, ESD |
| RFOU | Flame retardant only | Overall screen | Non-critical circuits |
| BFOU-HCF-i | Fire resistant + HCF | Individual screen-26 | Intrinsically safe circuits |
8. Why Choose Anhui Tiankang for Hydrocarbon Fire Resistant Cables?
Anhui Tiankang (Group) Co., Ltd. has been manufacturing industrial cables for nearly five decades. Our hydrocarbon fire resistant instrumentation cables are designed for the most demanding offshore and refinery applications.
Product capabilities:
BFOU-HCF instrumentation cables – Fire resistant, halogen-free, low smoke, tested to 1,100°C hydrocarbon fire curve
IS/OS shielding configurations – Individual and overall screening for critical analogue signals
LSZH sheaths – SHF1 and SHF2 (mud-resistant) options-26
Tinned copper conductors – Corrosion resistance for marine environments-26
Armour – Tinned copper wire braid for mechanical protection-26
Comprehensive certifications:
CCC Ex, ATEX, IECEx
China Classification Society (CCS) – marine approved
IEC 60331, IEC 60332, IEC 60754, IEC 61034 compliant-26
NEK 606 compliant (where specified)
Core advantages:
CNAS-accredited laboratory – Full fire performance testing including hydrocarbon fire curve
Complete package – From instrumentation to cables to Ex cable glands—one-stop supply
Proven track record – Long-term supplier to CNPC, Sinopec, CNOOC, and international EPC projects
9. Conclusion
Hydrocarbon fire resistant cables are not a luxury—they are a safety necessity for oil and gas facilities. Standard fire resistant cables are designed for building fires, not the 1,100°C inferno of a hydrocarbon pool fire. The difference is measured in minutes of circuit integrity—and those minutes can mean the difference between controlled shutdown and catastrophic loss.
Key takeaways:
| Requirement | Standard | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| General fire resistance | IEC 60331 | 830°C |
| Highest BS grade | BS 6387 CWZ | 950°C (3 hours) |
| Hydrocarbon fire | NEK 606 HCF / IEEE 1717 | 1,100°C |
| Jet fire | NEK 606 JF | 1,300°C |
Remember: In a hydrocarbon fire risk zone, all cables must be hydrocarbon fire rated or protected by external passive fire protection. The cost of specifying the right cable is insignificant compared to the cost of failure.
Contact Us
For hydrocarbon fire resistant cable selection advice, technical documentation, or project quotations, please contact:
Yin Shuangjie
International Sales Manager
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp / Zalo: +86 17856068126
🌐 Website: http://www.tiankang-global.com/
Anhui Tiankang – Your partner for reliable hydrocarbon fire resistant cable solutions.
