ElectroFoam 220V: A special foam for electrical installations

Penosil ElectroFoam 220V isa low-expansion PU foam for installation and sealing work in the electrical sector. Typical problems that can be solved using ElectroFoam 220V include messy chases, loose boxes, draughts and noise. Additional values:

• Low expansion during the curing process; prevents box deformation and misalignment.
• 2 in 1: applicable with a foam gun or the special EasyGun applicator.
• Can access narrow and deep gaps with the EasyGun applicator.

Fire performance in electrical installations: what really matters?

When choosing a PU foam for electrical installations, fire performance must be evaluated from two different perspectives:

1. General reaction to fire (how the material behaves in a building fire)
2. Behaviour under electrical thermal stress (how it reacts to overheating components or short circuits)

Reaction to fire classification

Reaction-to-fire properties demonstrate what happens to a material when it comes into contact with fire and to what extent it contributes to development of fire. Within the European Union, construction products are classified according to EN 13501-1 as non-combustible (A1 & A2), combustible (from B to E) or F (no performance determined). Some markets still refer to the German classification system DIN 4102-1 and classes B1 (hardly flammable), B2 (normally flammable) and B3 (easily flammable).

Hardly flammable foams with certified fire resistance are primarily required in fire-rated constructions, such as fire-resistant doors, walls, or partition systems. In standard electrical installations, this level of fire resistance is usually not mandatory.

Electrical risk is different from building fire risk

Electrical installations present specific hazard scenarios:

• Overheated cables
• Loose connections
• Short circuits
• Glowing or overheated components

These situations create localised thermal stress, which differs from exposure to a fully developed building fire. To evaluate this type of risk, reaction-to-fire classification alone is not sufficient.

Glow-wire testing – simulating electrical fault conditions

For electrical applications, compliance with EN 60695-2-11 is particularly relevant. The glow-wire test simulates the effect of an electrically heated element coming into contact with a material – representing a real-life scenarios such as:

• Cable insulation overheating
• Component failure inside junction boxes
• Short-circuit-induced glowing conductors

During the test, a heated wire at a defined temperature is applied to the material to evaluate ignition behaviour, flame spread and self-extinguishing performance. This method specifically assesses how a material behaves under electrical fire hazard conditions, rather than general building fire exposure.

Positioning of ElectroFoam 220V