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MARSHALL-TUFFLEX
PRODUCT PERFORMANCE
Presenting the facts and features on product time and cost saving,
EMC capability, fire performance and environmental issues.

FIRE PERFORMANCE INFORMATION (www.beamainstallation.org.uk)

Full information on the Causes and Process of Fire can be found at www.beamainstallation.org.uk
This is an independent report conducted to ascertain the Fire Performance of PVC-U.

VINYL 2010
The European PVC industry has, over recent years, initiated a number of far reaching
policies that have been incorporated into the Voluntary Commitment to the
European Commission, Vinyl 2010, demonstrating that the whole life cycle of PVC is
sustainable. Marshall-Tufflex is fully committed to meeting and, where possible,
exceeding the requirements of Vinyl 2010.

POLYVINYLCHLORIDE (PVC)
PVC is one of the most successful modern synthetic materials. It makes excellent use
of scarce resources, is long-lasting and safe in production, use and disposal. The
effect of PVC on health and the environment, from manufacture to disposal, has
been more thoroughly researched than almost any other synthetic material. The
properties of PVC can be significantly altered by additives. As a result, different
classifications of PVC exist:
PVC-U: Polyvinylchlorideunplasticised - used in the manufacture of rigid PVC for
products such as conduits, trunking, drainage systems and windows. The fire
rating for PVC-U is excellent.
PVC-P: Polyvinylchlorideplasticised - PVC that uses plasticisers for the
manufacture of flexible products such as electric cables and flexible tubing.
PVC-P is not so fire resistant.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PVC-U

100% recyclable material
No increase in dioxin emissions from Municipal Waste Incineration
PVC-U products have a long life cycle
Lowest oil content of a commodity plastic - less energy to produce
No painting or repainting
No chemical treatments required
Highly rated in terms of social and economic sustainability

MARSHALL-TUFFLEX
The Company has been recycling PVC-U products for many years with a well
proven performance history and actively pursues a comprehensive programme to
develop formulations based on environmentally acceptable materials, whilst still
maintaining and, where possible, improving on long-term performance properties.
Jim Fletcher, Managing Director

Fire prevention is the key objective when maximising Fire Escape Time. Product factors required are:
Difficult to ignite

Low burning rate

Low heat release

Low smoke production

Low toxicity

Halogens
In the field of flame retarded products, only fluorine, chlorine and bromine are relevant.
Being halogen-free (0H or ZH) does not necessarily equate with low fire hazard, for example:
Polyethylene is halogen-free and burns freely in air. Providing polyethylene with fire retardancy properties requires the
addition of fire retardant chemicals. These can create toxic fumes in combustion.
PVC is not halogen-free as it contains chlorine. However, chlorine is an effective flame retardant, delaying ignition and
resulting in lower heat release and lower flame spread.
Delayed ignition maximises Fire Escape Time. (See above)

Zero Halogen (OH or ZH)

Indicates that a material does not contain more than a trace of halogen.
Does not necessarily mean that product would have any fire retardancy properties.

Low Smoke and Fume (LSF)

LSF is not a specific material but more of a marketing term, indicating that when a product is involved in fire, there is a low level of
smoke and fume when it burns.
The term LSF does not necessarily equate with a low fire hazard or the lack of toxic fumes.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

The most significant asphyxiant and very dangerous because it has no taste or smell.
May be produced when any carbon-based material is burnt in air.
Approximately 75% of all fire deaths can be attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A major product of almost all fires, its effect, above a volume of about 2%, is to make victims breath faster and increase the dosage
of other fire gases received. In many fire scenarios the 2% threshold is not reached.

Hydrogen Chloride (HCI)

Produced when organochlorine materials are burnt in air.
Classed as a toxic irritant, the irritation caused by HCI has a warning effect at levels far below those that may cause death, unlike
carbon monoxide which can kill people whilst they sleep. Experiments have shown that it is impossible to continue sleeping when
HCI is present, even in harmless concentrations.
Please call +44 (0) 1424 856600 for a copy of this Product Performance Document (EL140) or the Marshall-Tufflex Environmental
Document (EL136) or download from www.marshall-tufflex.com > BROCHURE REQUEST.

MARSHALL-TUFFLEX LTD, Churchfields Industrial Estate, Hastings, East Sussex TN38 9PU Tel: 01424 856600 Fax: 01424 856611
International Tel: +44 (0) 1424 856000 International Fax: +44 (0) 1424 856666 Technical Hotline: +44 (0) 1424 856688 Email: sales@marshall-tufflex.com Web: www.marshall-tufflex.com

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MARSHALL-TUFFLEX PRODUCT PERFORMANCE continued

PVC-U
SYSTEM

Odyssey Trunking
System

Aesthetically designed
trunking with unique
curved profile:
Cat 6 compliant
No need to mitre corners
Easy to cut and install
No sharp edges
No earth bonding
required
Built-in cable tray
INSTALLATION Adjustable or fixed bend
options
Recessed boxes for curved
accessories
ABS moulded fittings
Dado level mounting
Coloured boxes available
to assist with Part M
(Visual Impairment)
Installers quote fast and
easy installation

EMC
PROPERTIES

STEEL

ALUMINIUM

SPECIALIST SYSTEMS

Sterling Trunking
Systems

SnakeWay Cable
Support System

Steel Trunking
Systems

Aluminium
Containment Systems

Multi-compartment group
of systems designed for
commercial, educational
and healthcare applications:
Many different profile
configurations
Some systems Cat 6
compliant
Large range of sizes, cable
capacities, colours and
finishes
Easy to cut and install
No sharp edges
Suitable for skirting or
dado level mounting and
busbar option
Coloured boxes available
to assist with Part M
(Visual Impairment)

Amazing cable support

systems for wall, floor and
ceiling applications:
Can be hand-formed onsite
Up to 85% savings on
installation times
Big project cost savings
No on-site clamping or
assembling
No threading of rods on
ceiling systems
Slow bends for good data
performance
No clamping or
assembling

Very simple installation for a

variety of applications:
Common cover
throughout the range
Cover snaps into body
automatically, establishing
earth continuity
Not so easy to cut as
PVC-U
Requires earth bonding
Can be used in high
ambient temperatures

Ideal for commercial,

industrial, workshop and
laboratory use:
Sterling multicompartment systems
Moulded fittings
Polycarbonate clip-on
fittings
Some systems Cat 6
compliant
Extruded section enables
striking shapes with high
tolerances
Lighter material than steel

Compact 32Amp
connectors providing
pre-wired, pre tested plug
and play system supplying
cabling runs from power
source to accessory box:
Up to 80% faster fitting
times
Big project cost savings
Suitable for underfloor,
trunking, dry-lined and
surface mount
applications

Simple 3-layer construction

with an aluminium tube
sandwiched between
internal and external layers
of polyethylene:
Easy to store, fast to fit
(up to 100 metre lengths
available)
No special tools
necessary
Simple to use on site
lower project costs
Can be installed in screed
Easy to feed through
floor joists and in cavity
walls
Resistant to extremes of
temperature

Some EMC/EMI screening

Steel trunking is an
excellent EMC/EMI
screening material

First class EMC/EMI

screening performance
especially at higher
frequencies

N/A

Aluminium layer provides

excellent EMC/EMI
screening performance
especially at higher
frequencies

Aluminium systems
specified with polycarbonate fittings meet
accepted requirements for
LSOH
Withstands high
temperatures

The MT32 wiring system is

LSOH.

POLYCARBONATE
An LSOH material that
performs well in a fire
situation (MT Supertube
fittings are manufactured in
steel and polycarbonate).
POLYETHYLENE
Halogen free.
MT Supertube FR Plus:
Meets the requirements of
LUL Engineering Standard
2-01001-002:Issue A1.
Material classification EQ/I
(equipment/limited and
dispersed).

MT32 is a completely reusable system. All major

components can be disassembled for re-use.

No special disposal
restrictions.

A unique conductive spray coating can be specified to

offer protection from electromagnetic interference to data
and communications cabling.
Steel screening
Aluminium screening
insert option
insert option
Steel inserts available

Fire rating for PVC-U is excellent (see independent survey at

www.beamainstallation.org.uk). PVC-U has all the
characteristics required for Fire Escape Time (see page 1).
Is highly resistant to ignition
Does little to contribute to the spread of fire and is
classified to Building Regs. Class 0
Has a low rate of smoke production during the early
FIRE
stages of a fire
PERFORMANCE Acts as an effective barrier to flame spread from
malfunctioning electrical components contained within
them
Chars and is self-extinguishing
Does not produce flaming droplets or burning debris

Basic Steel Trunking and SnakeWay systems meet the

accepted requirements for LSOH
Withstands high temperatures
Type and thickness of any coating needs to be
considered as this can affect Fire Performance
Accessory boxes and dividing fillets may be PVC-U (see
PVC-U Fire Performance)

MT32 Power
Connection

POLYCARBONATE
FITTINGS
Fire rated to UL94V0
ABS FITTINGS
Fire rated to UL94V0

ABS FITTINGS
Fire rated to UL94V0
100% recyclable
100% recyclable
Can be recycled many times without loss of quality
Can be recycled many times without loss of quality
No phthalates used in manufacture of PVC-U or FR-ABS Well established recycling facilities
RECYCLING &
Does not increase dioxin emissions in waste
ENVIRONMENTAL incineration
Proven sustainability
Collection schemes established for recovery of PVC-U
Marshall-Tufflex Environmental Document available (EL136)

100% recyclable
Can be recycled many
times without loss of
quality
Well established recycling
facilities

MT Supertube &
MT Supertube FR Plus

MARSHALL-TUFFLEX LTD, Churchfields Industrial Estate, Hastings, East Sussex TN38 9PU Tel: 01424 856600 Fax: 01424 856611
International Tel: +44 (0) 1424 856000 International Fax: +44 (0) 1424 856666 Technical Hotline: +44 (0) 1424 856688 Email: sales@marshall-tufflex.com Web: www.marshall-tufflex.com

EL140/09030