NBC 2016 · Part 4 Fire & Life Safety · Part 8 Building Services · NBCS 2026 Part F

What NBC 2016 says
about cables.

NBC 2016 Part 4 cl. 3.4.6.1 states that it is desirable for wiring and cabling to have flame retardant property. Part 8/Sec 2 cl. 5.3.7.1 states that it is desirable to use flame retardant cables and wires in electrical distribution systems. NBC 2016 does not assign FR, FR-LSH or HFFR cable by occupancy group or storey count. Its mandatory cable clauses cover power routing to fire and life safety systems, wiring in shafts, basement substations and lift supply cables. This page lists each clause.

Reviewed by National Cables Technical Team · Last updated · Based on NBC 2016 Parts 4 and 8, NBCS 2026 Part F, IS 694:2010, IS 17048:2018
The Regulatory Framework

What NBC 2016 says about FR and FR-LSH cable.

NBC 2016 Part 4 cl. 3.4.6.1 states: "In general, it is desirable that the wiring and cabling are with flame retardant property."

NBC 2016 Part 8/Sec 2 cl. 5.3.7.1 states that it is desirable to use flame retardant cables and wires in electrical distribution systems. The same clause states that the availability of flame retardant low smoke and halogen cable may also be noted and considered.

Part 8/Sec 2 cl. 2.1.15 and cl. 2.1.16 define FR cable and FR-LSH cable by reference to IS 694:2010.

Part 4 cl. 3.1.1 classifies buildings into nine occupancy groups: A Residential, B Educational, C Institutional, D Assembly, E Business, F Mercantile, G Industrial, H Storage and J Hazardous. NBC 2016 does not assign a cable type to any of these groups.

Part 4 cl. 2.38 defines a high-rise building as 15 m or above in height. NBCS 2026 (SP 7:2026) Part F cl. 2.39 sets this threshold at 24 m.

Reading the clauses

Part 4 cl. 3.4.6.1 and Part 8/Sec 2 cl. 5.3.7.1 use the word "desirable" for flame retardant cable. The requirements in the table below use the word "shall".

Cable Clauses in NBC 2016

Cable requirements in NBC 2016 and NBCS 2026, by clause.

This table lists each cable requirement with its clause. NBCS 2026 rows are marked separately.

Location or SystemRequirementClauseNotes
Wiring and cabling, generalFR desirableNBC 2016 Part 4, cl. 3.4.6.1; Part 8/Sec 2, cl. 5.3.7.1Advisory. FR-LSH availability "may also be noted and considered accordingly" (cl. 5.3.7.1).
Medium and low voltage wiring in shafts and false ceilingsMetal conduitNBC 2016 Part 4, cl. 3.4.6.1—
Medium and low voltage wiring in shafts or ductsArmoured, or run through metal conduitNBC 2016 Part 4, cl. 3.4.5.4—
Power supply to fire and life safety panels and distribution boardsFire-proof enclosures, circuit integrity cables, or alternate route in the adjoining fire compartmentNBC 2016 Part 4, cl. 3.4.6.2; Part 8/Sec 2, cl. 4.2.1(29)Circuit integrity cable: IS 16246:2015.
Fire alarm and PA system cablesMetal conduit, or armouredNBC 2016 Part 4, cl. 3.4.6.2; Part 8/Sec 2, cl. 4.2.1(29)Physical segregation from power cables.
Substation in a basementFRLS, 2-hour ratingNBC 2016 Part 8/Sec 2, Annex BExtract of CEA Regulation 44(2)(x)(f).
Lift main power supply cablesFlame retardant PVC or XLPE insulated, armouredNBC 2016 Part 8/Sec 5A, cl. 6.2.3—
Enclosed metro stations: fire and life safety equipmentFire-resistant/fire-survival LSZH, armoured, XLPE insulatedNBCS 2026 Part F, Annex H-8.4NBCS 2026 (SP 7:2026).
Enclosed metro stations: other essential servicesFR LSZH armoured, XLPE insulatedNBCS 2026 Part F, Annex H-8.4NBCS 2026 (SP 7:2026).
Open metro stations: power supplyFRLSH armoured, XLPE insulatedNBCS 2026 Part F, Annex H-8.4NBCS 2026 (SP 7:2026).
Underground metro stations: emergency lighting wiringFire-resistant LSZH wiresNBCS 2026 Part F, Annex H-9(c)NBCS 2026 (SP 7:2026).
National Cables Selection Guidance

Choosing FR, FR-LSH or HFFR: National Cables guidance, not a code requirement.

→ FR Single Core (IS 694:2010)
When to specify
Oxygen index ≥29 (IS 694:2010 cl. 10.5). IS 694:2010 sets no halogen acid gas or smoke limit for FR. Specify where the project specification calls for flame retardant cable with no smoke or halogen limit.
→ FR-LSH Single Core (IS 694:2010)
When to specify
Halogen acid gas ≤20% by weight (IS 694:2010 cl. 10.6). Smoke density rating ≤60% (cl. 10.8). Specify where the project specification sets these limits.
→ HFFR Single Core (IS 17048:2018)
When to specify
Halogen acid gas ≤0.5% as HCl (IS 17048:2018 Annex D). Light transmittance ≥70% (cl. 5.6). Oxygen index ≥31 (cl. 5.4). For hospitals and data centres, specify HFFR to IS 17048:2018 where the project specification limits halogen acid gas to 0.5%.
→ Before ordering
Check the project specification
NBC 2016 does not assign FR, FR-LSH or HFFR by occupancy group. Confirm the cable type, IS standard and test values in the project specification before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions

NBC 2016 cable clauses — common questions.

What NBC 2016 and NBCS 2026 say about cable type, with the clause for each answer.

Does NBC 2016 require FR-LSH cable in high-rise buildings?

NBC 2016 Part 8/Sec 2 cl. 5.3.7.1 states that it is desirable to use flame retardant cables and wires in electrical distribution systems.

The same clause states that the availability of flame retardant low smoke and halogen (FR-LSH) cable may also be noted and considered.

NBC 2016 Part 4 cl. 2.38 defines a high-rise building as 15 m or above in height, irrespective of occupancy.

NBCS 2026 (SP 7:2026) Part F cl. 2.39 sets the high-rise threshold at 24 m.

Neither code assigns a cable type by building height or storey count.

Does NBC 2016 require HFFR cable to IS 17048:2018 in hospitals or data centres?

IS 17048 is not cited in NBC 2016, its Amendment No. 1 (2021), or NBCS 2026 Part F.

NBC 2016 Part 4 cl. 3.1.1 places hospitals and sanatoria in Group C, subdivision C-1.

NBC 2016 does not assign a cable type to any occupancy group.

National Cables selection guidance: specify HFFR to IS 17048:2018 where the project specification limits halogen acid gas to 0.5%.

FR-LSH to IS 694:2010 has a halogen acid gas limit of 20% by weight (IS 694:2010 cl. 10.6).

Which NBC 2016 cable requirements are mandatory?

Part 4 cl. 3.4.6.2: power to fire and life safety panels shall be through fire-proof enclosures, circuit integrity cables (IS 16246), or an alternate route in the adjoining fire compartment.

Part 4 cl. 3.4.6.2: fire alarm and PA cables shall be laid in metal conduit or be armoured.

Part 4 cl. 3.4.5.4: medium and low voltage wiring in shafts or ducts shall be armoured or run through metal conduit.

Part 8/Sec 2 Annex B (extract of CEA Regulation 44(2)(x)(f)): a substation in a basement uses FRLS cable of two-hour rating.

Part 8/Sec 5A cl. 6.2.3: lift supply cables shall be flame retardant PVC or XLPE insulated armoured cables.

What cables does NBCS 2026 specify for metro stations?

NBCS 2026 (SP 7:2026) Part F Annex H-8.4 covers cables at metro stations.

Enclosed stations: fire-resistant/fire-survival LSZH armoured XLPE cables for fire and life safety equipment.

Enclosed stations: flame retardant LSZH armoured XLPE cables for other essential services.

Open stations: FRLSH armoured XLPE cables for power supply.

Annex H-9(c): fire-resistant LSZH wires for emergency lighting at underground stations.

National Cables holds BIS licences for both IS 694:2010 and IS 17048:2018.

FR and FR-LSH to IS 694:2010 (licence CM/L 8800140116). HFFR to IS 17048:2018 (licence CM/L 8800227819).

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