CharCoat CC Fire-Rated Intumescent Cable Coating – 90 min at 1100 °C (Hydrocarbon)

CharCoat CC is a water-based intumescent latex coating for the fire and ampacity protection of single, grouped or bundled electrical cables. First formulated in the 1970s to stop flame spreading along cable surfaces, it withstands cellulosic fires of 750 °C for 90 minutes and — the point that sets it apart — hydrocarbon fires of 1100 °C on electrical cables for 90 minutes at a very low dry film thickness. Made by CharCoat Passive Fire Protection, whose coatings are applied in more than 40 countries.

At a glance

• Product: CharCoat CC cable coating
• Type: water-based intumescent acrylic latex
• Fire rating: up to 90 minutes
• Circuit integrity: IEC 60331-11 / -21, 90 min at 750 °C and at 1100 °C (1.6 mm DFT)
• Approval: FM 3971:1990 (1.6 mm DFT)
• Application: brush or airless spray, 2 coats
• Pack: 5 US gallon (22.5 kg) plastic pail
• Warranty: 10 years, as stated by CharCoat

Why choose CharCoat CC

• Hydrocarbon-rated — 90 minutes at 1100 °C; CharCoat describes it as the only accessible hydrocarbon cable coating on the market.
• Keeps cables working in a fire — 90-minute circuit integrity to IEC 60331-11 and -21 at 750 °C and 1100 °C.
• No derating — FM 3971 tests passed for ampacity and current-carrying capacity (non-derating), dielectric strength, salt water and flammability.
• Stays flexible for life — cables can still be moved or removed; interior or exterior (QUV certified), 100% UV stable.
• Cheaper than the alternatives — CharCoat positions it as always less expensive than fire-rated cable, cable wraps or ducting.
• Water-based and non-toxic — solvent, mercury and asbestos free; meets LEED credit 4.1 (19 g/L).

Specifications

• Composition: water-based intumescent acrylic latex emulsion, single component (stir and spray)
• Fire rating: up to 90 minutes
• Intumescence: forms a protective char above 175 °C; typical 600–700% expansion after 10 minutes at 870 °C
• FM 3971:1990: 1.6 mm DFT — FM approved flame-retardant coating for grouped cables; passed ampacity, current-carrying capacity (non-derating), salt-water exposure and immersion, dielectric strength, flammability
• IEC 60331-11 and IEC 60331-21: 1.6 mm DFT — 90-minute circuit integrity at 750 °C and at 1100 °C
• Flammability: IEC 60332-3-22; BS 476 Parts 6 & 7 Class "O"
• Smoke: BS 6853 smoke index and toxic fumes; BS 6853 D.8.4 smoke density; ISO 5660 smoke production
• Surface burning: ASTM E84: 15; ASTM E162: 16 (1.6 mm DFT)
• Limiting oxygen index: ASTM D2863: 75
• Radiant heat: up to 957 °C for 127 minutes — no change
• UV: ASTM D2565 / G155 — 100% UV stable; 0.5 mm DFT for UV protection only; extends cable sheath life up to 25 years
• Other: salt-water immersion tested; submerged and rodent testing; radioactivity decontamination factor 5.83 (ASTM D4256-83)
• Application: brush or airless spray, 2 coats; material and air > 5 °C, humidity < 80%; airless tip 0.017–0.019 in, ≥ 200 bar
• Pack / storage: 5 US gallon (22.5 kg) plastic pails, other sizes on request; store frost-free at +5 to +30 °C; shelf life 18 months unopened

How it protects cables

In a fire, or above 175 °C, CharCoat CC swells into an insulating char around the cable. Fire cannot travel under the coating because there is no oxygen there, so flame spread along the cable run stops and the conductors stay cool enough to keep working. After a fire, the char is removed and clean cables are recoated — the cable itself does not need replacing as long as it still functions. The coating also helps locate an internal short circuit by charring at that spot.

Where it is used

• Substations, switch rooms and battery rooms
• Cable galleries, basements, trenches and tunnels
• Transformer bays and motor rooms
• Refineries and petrochemical plants (hydrocarbon fire risk)
• Marine: ships and rigs
• Cable gantries, conveyor belts and overland conveyors
• New and existing HV, MV and LV cables, and cables in need of repair

CharCoat CC versus other ways to fire-protect cables

• Versus fire-rated (FS/FR) cable: coats the cable you already have — no re-cabling, no shutdown of the whole run.
• Versus cable wraps and ducting: thin and flexible, adds little weight or bulk to trays and does not trap heat (no derating in FM 3971 tests).
• Versus ordinary fire-retardant paints: rated for hydrocarbon fires (1100 °C) as well as cellulosic fires.

Related products

• CharCoat CTI thermal insulation coating
• CharCoat IC insulator coating
• FIPRON Cord fire suppression for panels

Frequently asked questions

How long does CharCoat CC protect cables in a fire?

Up to 90 minutes — tested for circuit integrity to IEC 60331-11 and -21 at both 750 °C and 1100 °C at 1.6 mm DFT.

Does the coating reduce the current rating of the cable?

No derating was found in FM 3971 testing — the ampacity and current-carrying-capacity tests were passed as non-derating.

Can it be used outdoors?

Yes — interior or exterior (QUV certified), 100% UV stable and salt-water immersion tested. A 0.5 mm DFT protects cable sheaths from UV alone.

How is it applied?

By brush or airless spray in two coats, on clean dry cables, with material and air above 5 °C and humidity below 80%.

What happens after a fire?

Remove the char and recoat clean cables; the cable does not need replacing if it still functions.

What pack size is it supplied in?

5 US gallon (22.5 kg) plastic pails; other sizes on request. Shelf life 18 months unopened, stored frost-free between +5 and +30 °C.

Where can I buy it in India?

From Jai Enterprises, which supplies across India from Bhilai and Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Call +91 9340081159.

How to order

Supplied by Jai Enterprises, despatched from Bhilai and Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to sites across India. To request a price, call +91 9340081159 or send an enquiry from this page with your quantity and site details, and we will confirm availability, lead time and the right model for the job.