In industrial and commercial settings, cable protection is often an overlooked aspect of fire safety. Electrical cables act as the lifelines of power transmission and communication within modern infrastructure. Yet, in a fire emergency, these same cables can become a source of catastrophic failure — igniting, spreading flames, releasing toxic smoke, and compromising entire systems. Fortunately, advanced intumescent coating systems like ALTIC 007 are redefining how facilities combat this threat.
This blog explores the science, technology, and real-world benefits of using ALTIC 007 to safeguard cables from fire damage — from its innovative intumescent chemistry to its practical application and compliance with global safety standards.
Understanding the Challenge: Fire and Electrical Cables
Electrical cables are engineered to transmit power or data efficiently. However, under high heat conditions, their insulation materials — typically PVC, XLPE, or rubber polymers — can ignite, melt, or release corrosive gases. When a cable tray or conduit is exposed to fire, the following sequence often occurs:
- Thermal degradation: Heat causes the insulation to decompose and release flammable gases.
- Propagation of flame: Once ignited, the flame travels along the cable bundle, increasing the fire load.
- Toxic emissions: Burning insulation releases hydrogen chloride and other toxic vapors that damage equipment and pose health risks.
- System failure: Power and communication lines are severed, disabling fire alarms, emergency lighting, and critical control systems.
Fire incidents in plants, data centers, and tunnels have shown how quickly cable-related fires can escalate. This is where fire-protective coatings like ALTIC 007 come in — offering a proactive layer of defense that limits heat transfer and prevents disaster.
What Is ALTIC 007 Intumescent Coating?
ALTIC 007 is a next-generation Intumescent Cable Coating developed for industrial and commercial fire protection. Unlike traditional passive barriers, this coating reacts dynamically to heat exposure. When exposed to temperatures around 200–250°C, the coating expands to many times its original thickness, forming a charred, thermally insulating foam.
This foam barrier physically isolates the cable from heat, delaying the temperature rise of conductors and insulating materials, effectively buying vital time for fire suppression and evacuation.
Key highlights of ALTIC 007:
- Water-based and halogen-free formulation
- Excellent adhesion to various cable sheaths
- Low smoke and zero emission of toxic halides
- UV resistant for both indoor and outdoor use
- Tested for compliance with international standards like IEC 60332-3, BS EN 50200, and UL 94
This combination of safety, sustainability, and performance positions ALTIC 007 as one of the most trusted solutions for modern fire-rated cable systems.
The Science Behind Intumescence
To understand ALTIC 007’s effectiveness, it’s essential to know how intumescent technology works.
When subjected to fire or high radiant heat, intumescent coatings undergo a complex physical-chemical transformation involving three main stages:
- Activation Phase (200–250°C): Thermal decomposition of the binder releases acids and initiates chemical charring.
- Expansion Phase (250–400°C): The coating expands, forming a microcellular structure filled with inert gases.
- Stabilization Phase (>400°C): The foam crust solidifies, creating a rigid, insulating barrier that resists heat and oxygen penetration.
ALTIC 007 leverages advanced phosphorous-nitrogen-carbon chemistry, balancing expansion rate with structural integrity. The result is a resilient char layer that maintains its protective function even under fluctuating fire conditions, preventing direct exposure of the underlying cable materials.
Why Cable Fire Resistance Matters
In critical environments such as data centers, power plants, transport tunnels, and offshore platforms, electrical continuity during fire events can mean the difference between minor disruption and catastrophe. Fire-rated cables and coatings are vital components of a facility’s Passive Fire Protection (PFP) strategy.
Key reasons cable fire resistance matters:
- Life safety – Keeps emergency lighting, alarms, and communication systems operational longer.
- Asset protection – Reduces the cost of damage to expensive equipment and wiring networks.
- Operational continuity – Minimizes downtime in power grids, IT facilities, and automation lines.
- Regulatory compliance – Meets the rising demands of international fire safety codes and insurance audits.
By applying ALTIC 007 to cable trays, conduits, and junctions, facilities can significantly improve their resilience against fire propagation and maintain system integrity under extreme conditions.
ALTIC 007: Features and Performance Benefits
ALTIC 007’s design revolves around three critical performance pillars — Protection, Durability, and Sustainability.
1. Protection
- Provides up to 90 minutes of fire resistance for coated cables.
- Limits surface temperature rise, reducing the ignition risk of neighboring materials.
- Forms a stable char barrier that blocks radiant and convective heat.
- Delays short-circuiting, enabling continuation of essential operations during evacuation.
2. Durability
- High adhesion to PVC, XLPE, rubber, and composite cable surfaces.
- Resistant to moisture, humidity, and UV degradation.
- Flexible film prevents cracking or flaking under vibration or movement.
- Suitable for interior cable rooms as well as outdoor installations.
3. Sustainability
- Water-based and free from asbestos, halogens, and heavy metals.
- Low VOC emissions support greener building certifications (LEED, BREEAM).
- Non-toxic and safe for occupied environments.
- Long service life reduces maintenance and reapplication costs.
Application and Installation Guidelines
Proper application of ALTIC 007 ensures optimal performance and compliance with test ratings. Below are best practices for installation:
- Surface Preparation
Clean the cable surface to remove dust, oil, and grease. Ensure it is dry and free from loose particles. - Primer (if required)
For certain metals or cable trays, a compatible water-based primer may be applied to enhance adhesion. - Application Method
ALTIC 007 can be applied by brush, roller, or airless spray. Multiple thin coats yield better results than a single thick coat. - Drying Time
Allow each coat to dry thoroughly before the next layer. Average drying time is 1–2 hours at 25°C, depending on humidity. - Coating Thickness
Depending on the required fire rating, apply multiple layers to achieve a dry film thickness (DFT) of 0.8–2.0 mm. - Curing and Inspection
After full curing, inspect coated surfaces for uniformity and coverage. Touch up areas with missed or thin spots.
Properly applied, ALTIC 007 can offer decades of reliable service, ensuring safe cable management throughout the system’s lifecycle.
Comparative Edge: ALTIC 007 vs. Conventional Systems
| Feature | ALTIC 007 Intumescent Coating | Conventional Coating / Tape |
| Fire Resistance | Expands under heat to form char barrier | Provides limited thermal resistance |
| Environmental Safety | Halogen-free, non-toxic, low VOC | Often solvent-based or halogenated |
| Application | Easy spray or brush coating | Labor-intensive wrapping |
| Maintenance | Minimal, easy recoating | Frequent replacement needed |
| Appearance | Smooth, aesthetic finish | Bulky, uneven finish |
| Lifespan | 10–15 years | Typically 3–5 years |
This clear advantage matrix explains why industrial operators increasingly specify ALTIC 007 as part of their fire mitigation strategy.
Real-World Applications
ALTIC 007 has demonstrated proven performance across multiple sectors:
Data Centers and Server Facilities
Intensely packed cable trays can act as combustible corridors. ALTIC 007 coatings mitigate these risks by preventing lateral flame spread while maintaining low smoke emissions — critical in air-conditioned IT environments.
Power Generation Plants
Fire in power cables can cause severe blackouts or turbine damage. By protecting control and utility cables, ALTIC 007 ensures continuous operation and staff safety during emergencies.
Tunnels and Metro Systems
In confined transit tunnels, toxic fumes and heat from burning cables present life-threatening hazards. ALTIC 007’s low-smoke, halogen-free profile makes it compliant with stringent transportation safety norms.
Oil & Gas Installations
Explosive atmospheres demand high-performance fire protection. ALTIC 007 provides a non-flammable, corrosion-resistant barrier ideal for offshore platforms and refineries.
Manufacturing Facilities
Factory automation systems depend on shielded power and communication lines. Applying ALTIC 007 ensures that even under local fire exposure, equipment shutdowns are minimized.
Meeting Global Fire Standards
ALTIC 007 has undergone rigorous testing to meet a variety of internationally recognized fire performance standards. These certifications affirm its reliability under severe fire exposure conditions:
- IEC 60332-3: Tests vertical flame propagation along a cable bundle. ALTIC 007 passes with minimal burn length.
- BS EN 50200: Evaluates circuit integrity under fire and mechanical shock.
- UL 94 (V-0 class): Rates materials for flammability; V-0 classification indicates self-extinguishing behavior.
- ISO 5659-2: Ensures low smoke density, critical for safety in enclosed spaces.
- ASTM E84: Surface burning characteristics test determining flame spread index.
By surpassing these benchmarks, ALTIC 007 enables architects, safety engineers, and facility managers to design infrastructure that complies with stringent safety regulations.
Integration into Fire Protection Strategy
Intumescent coatings like ALTIC 007 fit within the broader Passive Fire Protection (PFP) ecosystem, complementing active suppression systems such as sprinklers and alarms. Together they form a defense-in-depth approach to fire risk:
- Prevention: Use of flame-retardant materials and coatings to halt ignition.
- Containment: Sealing fire compartments and cable penetrations to stop spread.
- Control: Ensuring continuous function of safety-critical systems during fire.
- Recovery: Minimizing downtime and repair costs after the event.
Organizations adopting this layered approach experience fewer fire-related losses and often achieve lower insurance premiums due to reduced risk profiles.
Environmental and Economic Value
Sustainability has become a powerful driver in the construction and energy sectors. ALTIC 007 aligns perfectly with these goals by delivering measurable environmental and economic benefits:
- Lower Carbon Footprint: Waterborne composition cuts emissions during manufacturing and application.
- Resource Efficiency: Long service life reduces waste and need for recoating.
- Worker Safety: Non-toxic, odor-free formulation supports better indoor air quality.
- Cost Savings: Reduced maintenance, lower insurance costs, and extended equipment longevity make it highly cost-effective.
These characteristics make ALTIC 007 not just a fire safety tool but a strategic investment in sustainable infrastructure.
Case Insight: Data Center Fire Protection Upgrade
A major telecommunications company recently retrofitted its regional data center with ALTIC 007 to comply with new fire safety directives. After coating over 12,000 meters of cable trays:
- The facility achieved a 60-minute fire integrity certification.
- Smoke emissions during mock fire tests were reduced by over 70%.
- Maintenance intervals extended by five years.
Such results highlight how real-world deployment of ALTIC 007 can transform vulnerable systems into resilient, code-compliant assets.
Future of Cable Fire Protection
As energy grids, smart cities, and AI-driven industries expand, the density and complexity of cable networks will only increase. Fire protection must evolve in parallel — prioritizing safety, sustainability, and performance.
ALTIC 007 exemplifies this new era of adaptive fire protection. With continuous R&D focused on nanomaterial additives, improved adhesion, and hybrid intumescent systems, the future promises even higher expansion rates, faster activation, and thinner film builds without compromising protection.
In the coming years, intumescent coatings are expected to integrate with digital monitoring systems, offering smart fire-proofing solutions capable of sensor feedback and predictive maintenance alerts. Products like ALTIC 007 will likely pioneer such intelligent coating technologies.
Conclusion
Protecting cables from fire damage is more than a safety obligation — it’s a commitment to operational reliability, environmental responsibility, and human life. ALTIC 007 Intumescent Coating provides a superior solution that combines cutting-edge chemistry, long-term durability, and global compliance.
By preventing flame spread, preserving cable performance, and reducing toxic emissions, ALTIC 007 delivers peace of mind for modern facilities facing complex fire risks. Whether applied in power stations, industrial plants, or high-tech data centers, it stands out as a powerful shield in the ongoing mission to make infrastructure safer and smarter.