Superior Fire Safety.
Next-Generation Performance.
SMOKEGUARD
®
Compounds for plenum spaces (NFPA 262)
Advanced flame-retardant compounds for NFPA 262 plenum wire and cable applications.
SMOKEGUARD specialty vinyl and specialty olefin compounds are engineered to meet the most demanding fire safety standards while delivering exceptional flexibility and performance for modern cable installations. They feature low smoke and flame-retardant properties, making them suitable for applications that must pass NFPA 262 plenum fire test requirements for communications, power, control, signal and specialty cables used in air-handling spaces.
*Since testing is conducted on the cable, not the compound, material selection is dependent on the entire cable design.
SMOKEGUARD is a registered trademark
Flame-Retardant, Yet Flexible.
SMOKEGUARD compounds have low smoke and flame-retardant properties and are formulated to pass the NFPA 262 plenum fire test requirements, which are critical for ensuring safety in communication and electrical cables used in plenum spaces. Plenum spaces, such as those found in data centers and commercial buildings, must minimize the risk of smoke and fire spread, thereby enhancing the safety of buildings and their occupants.
Facilitating both installation and maintenance, SMOKEGUARD compounds provide high levels of flexibility, allowing cables to reach tighter angles and enabling connections in confined spaces, such as those found in data centers and other complex installations. This feature also protects signal integrity in high-bend installations — especially crucial for protecting glass fibers in fiber optic cable installations.
Benefits of SMOKEGUARD
Compliance with Fire Safety Standards
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SMOKEGUARD compounds are engineered to meet the NFPA 262 plenum test — the most stringent cable fire safety standard in both Europe and the U.S. Following guidelines from NFPA 70 (NEC), which demands exceptional flame retardancy for safe electrical wiring installation, the NFPA 262 test is written to ensure fire protection and prevention.
Additional standards and certifications include:
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REACH, RoHS, Prop 65 compliant grades.
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NEC type CMP, CL2P, CL3P, FPLP and OFNP (copper and fiber optic)​​.
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UL recognized under document QMTM2 as plenum cable compound component​.
By reducing the risk of smoke and fire spread, SMOKEGUARD contributes to the overall safety of buildings and occupants. This is particularly important in plenum spaces, where the potential for fire and smoke to spread through ventilation systems poses a significant safety risk.
Vinyl-Based Compounds for Jacket and Insulation
In the late 1980s, Alphagary revolutionized fire-safe cable materials with our first plenum-rated jacket compound — later patented under the SMOKEGUARD brand. Both cable designers and manufacturers embraced this series for its ability to meet strict fire safety standards while delivering a unique balance of mechanical performance.
Building on this success, we’ve expanded our offerings to include copper cable insulation compounds, giving designers the flexibility to create next-generation cables without compromising on cost.
Olefin-Based Compounds for Insulation, Separators and Fillers
As cable designs became more complex, we’ve drawn on years of collaboration with our customers and testing facilities to develop SMOKEGUARD olefin-based plenum compounds. Engineered for insulation, buffer, filler and skin applications, this versatile series meets the evolving demands of high-speed data transfer.
With a perfect balance of safety and performance, SMOKEGUARD empowers cable designers to push the boundaries of innovation.
Application Versatility Including Thin-Wall Designs
SMOKEGUARD compounds are used for a variety of communications, power and hybrid cable applications that must pass plenum safety standards. This versatility provides cable engineers with several tailored options when designing cables for various spaces, including data centers, commercial buildings and factory floors to support next-generation requirements in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. Ideal for both copper and fiber optic cables, SMOKEGUARD provides cost-efficient options for both long and short runs, as well as resistance to water for outdoor installation.
The SMOKEGUARD series of materials also offers:
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Performance to the highest U.S. safety fire standard: NFPA 262.
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Specialty vinyl-based materials for jacket, insulation and fiber optic buffer applications.
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Specialty olefin-based materials for insulation, primary or secondary layers, separators and fillers.
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Grades for copper and fiber optic cables.
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Grades for indoor and outdoor applications​.
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Features such as oil resistance and fluid resistance.
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High-speed processing, including thin-wall designs.
Fast Processing and Easy Installation
Modern cable designs are more complex than ever, featuring intricate constructions and thinner walls that demand high-performance materials. At the same time, cable manufacturers require materials that support high-speed processing without compromising cable performance.
At Alphagary, formulation integrity is paramount. We ensure every compound meets strict standards and controls. Once approved, our materials deliver unwavering consistency, giving cable engineers the confidence to focus on maximizing high-speed output.
In today’s cable installations, ease of deployment is also a top priority, especially for fiber optic cables used in data centers, where blowing, pulling and air-jetting must not compromise data integrity. That’s why we’ve engineered our materials with a low coefficient of friction, ensuring smooth, efficient installation in confined spaces without sacrificing performance.
Expertly Engineered and Supported
Over decades of hands-on experience, we’ve gained valuable insight into what cable manufacturers need, and we’ve turned that knowledge into robust materials engineered to perform. If off-the-shelf materials don’t satisfy your requirements exactly, we often customize materials for specific applications and designs. Together, we consider the equipment your cables will run on in order to optimize processing and reduce down-time.
Our team also works closely with you during third-party follow-up testing and verification, offering support via lab analysis and transparent documentation. This collaboration minimizes downtime and ensures cable production stays on track to meet the rapidly growing demands for cable materials.
Find the perfect SMOKEGUARD compound for your application
We invite you to explore our plenum compound series SMOKEGUARD. Browse off-the-shelf materials to understand our capabilities, ask our experts to help choose a material based on your required criteria, and contact us for data sheets (TDS, SDS), technical questions and product recommendations. We're here to help.
This chart represents an overview only. Many grades are not listed here. Please contact us if you need a material or features not listed.
Material Name | Jacket (specialty vinyl) | Insulation (specialty vinyl) | Buffer, filler, skin (Olefin) | Temp Rating | Hardness | LOI% | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMOKEGUARD O 503 | Filler, insulation | 105 | 59D | -- | Specialty olefin for insulation, filler | ||
SMOKEGUARD O 401 | Skin | 105 | 61D | -- | Specialty olefin (PP-based) for skin | ||
SMOKEGUARD O 240 | Filler | 90 | 54D | -- | Specialty olefin for filler | ||
SMOKEGUARD O 301 | Buffer, insulation | 90 | 47D | -- | Specialty olefin for insulation, buffer | ||
SMOKEGUARD III 1446 | Jacket | Insulation | 105 | 55D | 46 | Specialty vinyl for plenum jacket, insulation | |
SMOKEGUARD III 1089 | Jacket | 90 | 59D | 54 | Specialty vinyl for plenum jacket | ||
SMOKEGUARD III 1046D | Jacket | Insulation | 90 | 59D | 48 | Specialty vinyl for plenum jacket, insulation | |
SMOKEGUARD III 1045 | Jacket | Insulation | 90 | 60D | 53 | Specialty vinyl for plenum jacket, insulation | |
SMOKEGUARD III 1042 | Jacket | 90 | 57D | 51 | Specialty vinyl for plenum jacket | ||
SMOKEGUARD III 1041 | Jacket | Insulation, Buffer | 90 | 57D | 51 | Specialty vinyl for plenum jacket, insulation, buffer |
Information contained herein is privileged and confidential to Alphagary/Mexichem/Orbia. We reserve the right to change or update as needed. Product information is to the best of our knowledge and may not be appropriate for every application or use and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is being made.​
Yes! We formulate compounds with reduced carbon footprint. Visit our sustainability page to learn more.
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