With increasing demand across the construction sector for products that offer reduced, or are completely free of, plastic components, a U.K.-based manufacturer of fire resistant mineral insulated cables says specifiers and building designers can have the best of both worlds when it comes to building safety and environmental credentials.

Wrexham Mineral Cables (WMC) produces what it describes as the only true ‘fire survival’ cable. Offering the highest levels of fire performance, the company said it is also seeing an increased interest in the environmental benefits of its products.

Government data recently revealed that plastic waste from the construction sector had risen by 46% in just two years. In order to reduce plastic within the supply chain, WMC believes that by focusing on the greenSource: WMC credentials of products, plastic waste can be significantly reduced. For example, mineral-insulated copper cable (MICC) is a non-aging product and does not use any plastics to aid fire performance. WMC’s bare MICC option consists of just two materials: copper and magnesium oxide. Neither will burn, and both elements are inorganic and non-carcinogenic. This results in no added smoke or toxins in a fire situation — creating no harm toward the natural environment. The copper used in the cables is 100% recyclable.

By comparison, the majority of other cables on the market require plastics or polymers to protect the conductors. A standard SWA 4 core 4 mm cable can contain around 270 g of plastic per 1 meter length — the equivalent of 54 plastic bags being sent to landfill.

According to Huw Williams, WMC factory manager, “Although recycling efforts are changing, cables that contain artificial fire retardants are still extremely difficult to recycle, potentially resulting in tens of thousands of tons of unrecyclable plastic being sent to landfill.

“With our MICC cable we don’t need polymer covers to aid fire protection. Our bare cable option consists of just two inorganic materials, where the copper element is 100% recyclable. The result is a totally inorganic and silicone free cable that maintains integrity in extreme fire conditions, whilst offering an environmentally friendly solution.”