Live fire tests conducted by AP Sensing, Corning, Niedax and Netz 33 demonstrate that an arson attack on critical cable infrastructure does not necessarily lead to an outage. When an incident is detected and precisely located in real time, operators gain valuable time to respond, potentially preventing costly damage and, above all, service disruptions.
Live Fire Tests Under Real-World Conditions
To investigate the interaction between fire detection and cable performance, Netz 33 and AP Sensing conducted two live fire tests at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Germany. They were joined by technology partners Corning, a global manufacturer of optical fiber and cable solutions, and the Niedax Group, an international manufacturer of cable management systems.
The first test simulated a fire in an enclosed cable duct. Jute rolls soaked in a gasoline-oil mixture burned for approximately 15 minutes. AP Sensing's Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) solution detected and located the fire in real time. The enclosed cable duct limited heat transfer, with peak temperatures reaching approximately 240°C. The cable duct sustained no significant damage, and Corning's fiber optic cable remained fully operational throughout the test.
The second test exposed the cable to significantly higher temperatures. Jute rolls soaked in gasoline and oil were ignited in an open cable duct, generating peak temperatures of more than 1,000°C at the cable. Even under these extreme conditions, the fire was immediately detected and located. At the same time, the fiber optic cable continued to transmit signals throughout the entire fire.
“The key is to prevent a critical incident from turning into a disaster. In many cases, cables and networks can continue operating for hours, even during a fire. If firefighters arrive within 10 minutes and extinguish the flames, service disruptions and major damage can often be prevented. And that pays off: Preventing just one major incident can offset the cost of monitoring entire networks.”
Resilience Through Collaboration
The tests demonstrate how individual components work together to create a resilient system. AP Sensing's DTS solution detects and locates fires in real time, while Corning's fire-resistant fiber optic cable maintains its functionality. Niedax's robust cable management system provides additional protection against thermal stress.
“Germany needs a resilient, high-performance digital backbone to remain competitive internationally. Against this backdrop, and in light of current geopolitical challenges, the tests clearly demonstrate how important it is for different solutions to work seamlessly together to protect critical infrastructure. With its high-quality cable management systems, Niedax makes a significant contribution to building secure and resilient infrastructure. Our products ensure that fiber optic cables, as essential components of high-performance networks, are securely routed and protected from external influences.”
“Our expertise in optical fiber, cables and passive connectivity solutions helps us contribute to a resilient, unified network that meets Germany’s needs today and in the future. Reliable, scalable infrastructure will be essential to strengthening the country’s digital capabilities and technological sovereignty.”
