What are the requirements for LSZH?

Author: Clarissa

Dec. 16, 2024

LSZH Cables - Low Smoke Zero Halogen

Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) cables are designed to minimize the release of toxic and corrosive gasses when exposed to fire. Due to this, they are a crucial component in environments where fire and human safety are of upmost concern. 

With competitive price and timely delivery, SUNUA sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Key features and benefits of LSZH:

  • Flame Retardancy:

    LSZH cables possess flame retardant properties, contributing to their ability to resist ignition and slow down the spread of fire.

  • Low Smoke Emission:

    When exposed to fire, LSZH cables produce significantly lower levels of smoke compared to PVC cables. This reduces the risk of smoke inhalation and improves visibility in emergency situations.

  • Minimal Toxic Fumes:

    LSZH cables emit minimal amounts of toxic fumes when subjected to fire, enhancing the safety of occupants in the vicinity.

  • Absence of Acid Gases:

    Unlike PVC cables, which release acid gases when burning, LSZH cables do not emit acid gases.

  • Halogen-Free Composition:

    LSZH cables are essentially halogen-free, meaning they do not contain chlorine, fluorine, bromine, or iodine compounds. This makes them safer for human health and the environment.

  • Suitability:

    Due to their superior fire performance and low emission characteristics, LSZH cables are commonly specified for use in environments when ensuring fire safety and protecting human well-beings are paramount. This includes public areas, poorly ventilated spaces, cars, aircraft, railway carriages, ships, tunnels, and underground rail networks.

LSZH cables are subject to stringent standards set by organizations like the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). These standards define the requirements and testing procedures that LSZH cables must meet to ensure their compliance with safety and performance standards.

British Standards

BS

Electric cables. Thermosetting insulated and thermoplastic sheathed cables for voltages up to and including 450/750 V for electric power and lighting and having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire.

The BSI Standard BS defines the criteria for Low Smoke Zero Halogen  cables employed across diverse applications such as power distribution, control systems, and communication networks. It covers cables with varying voltage ratings and purposes. This standard outlines the construction, materials, and performance characteristics of LSZH cables to ensure their safety and reliability in the event of a fire. It also stipulates requirements for flame propagation, smoke emission, and the acidity of gases generated during combustion.

BS :

Electric cables. Thermosetting insulated, armoured cables of rated voltages of 600/ V and / V for fixed installations, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire. Specification

BS  is a British Standard on low voltage cables that specifies requirements for the construction and performance of thermosetting insulated, armoured cables of rated voltages of 600/ V and / V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by the fire. 

BS is applicable to cables for use in fixed installations in industrial areas, buildings, or similar applications. 

BS Series 

BS is a British Standard that is specifically to Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) cables used in power distribution and control applications. 

BS -3.12

This section of BS  specifies requirements for the construction, dimensions and mechanical and electrical properties of concentric copper wire combined neutral/earth (CNE) service cables having a rated voltage of 0.6/1 (1.2) kV. It is applicable to cables that, when assessed by the specified tests, produce lower levels of smoke and corrosive gases under exposure to fire than cables conforming to BS -3.11.

BS -3.22

This section of BS  specifies requirements for the construction, dimensions and mechanical and electrical properties of split concentric service cables having a rated voltage of 0.6/1(1.2) kV. It is applicable to cables that, when assessed by the specified tests, produce lower levels of smoke and corrosive gases under exposure to fire than cables conforming to BS -3.21.

BS -3.50

This section of BS  specifies requirements for the construction, dimensions, and mechanical and electrical properties of XLPE insulated, concentric copper wire screened waveform or helical cables with solid aluminium conductors having a rated voltage of 0.6/1 (1.2) kV. It is applicable to cables that, when assessed by the specified tests, produce lower levels of smoke and corrosive gases under exposure to fire than cables conforming to BS -3.40.

BS -4.20

6.35/11(12) kV three-core cables. Specifies an over sheath of one of the following compounds: Medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) compound type DMP 5 (Type A cables). Thermoplastic compound type DMZ 4 for cables having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire (Type B cables)

BS -4.10

6.35/11(12) kV to 19/33(36) kV single-core cables. Specifies an over sheath of one of the following compounds: Medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) compound type DMP 5 (Type A cables). Thermoplastic compound type DMZ 4 for cables having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire (Type B cables)

BS -8.5

LV and MV polymeric insulated cables for use by distribution and generation utilities. Specification for multicore and multipair cables for installation above and below ground &#; Single wire armoured and unarmoured multicore cables with copper conductors and non-halogenated sheath &#; Section 8.5 Single wire armoured and unarmoured multicore cables with copper conductors and non-halogenated sheath.

BS -8.6

LV and MV polymeric insulated cables for use by distribution and generation utilities. Specification for multicore and multipair cables for installation above and below ground &#; Single wire or double steel tape armoured and non-halogenated sheathed multipair cable with copper conductors &#; Section 8.6 Single wire or double steel tape armoured and non-halogenated sheathed multipair cable with copper conductors.

BS

Electric cables. Armoured cables with thermosetting insulation for rated voltages from 3.8/6.6 kV to 19/33 kV having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire. Requirements and test methods

This standard specifies the requirements and test methods for armoured electric cables with thermosetting insulation designed for rated voltages ranging from 3.8/6.6 kV to 19/33 kV. The cables covered by BS : are specifically engineered to emit low levels of smoke and corrosive gases when exposed to fire, thus enhancing safety in case of fire incidents.

BS EN -1

Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions &#; Test for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable. Procedure for 1 kW pre-mixed flame

BS EN -1 is a European standard for testing the flame propagation of single insulated wires and cables. It involves subjecting samples to a vertical flame test to assess their flammability. 

BS EN -3

Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions &#; Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables.

BS EN -3 covers tests methods for the assessment of vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables, electrical or optical, under defined conditions. 

The standard categorises cables from A to F based on their fire performance, with A being the highest resistance level. Compliance ensures cables are suitable for fire-sensitive applications like buildings and transportation systems, reducing the risk of fire spread and enhancing safety.

BS EN -2

Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions &#; Test procedure and requirements.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website lszh compound.

BS EN details a smoke density test conducted within a chamber measuring 3m x 3m x 3m, commonly known as the 3-metre cube test. This procedure involves monitoring the reduction in transmittance of a white light beam traveling from one side of the chamber to the other at a specified height, allowing the accumulation of smoke within the chamber to be measured. To achieve a classification as &#;low smoke,&#; cables typically need to maintain a minimum light transmittance of 60%.

BS EN -1

Test on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables &#; Determination of the halogen acid gas content.

EC outlines the procedure for measuring the quantity of halogen gas and acidity released during the combustion of LSZH cables. This standard plays a crucial role in evaluating the toxicity and corrosiveness of the gases emitted when the cable is subjected to fire. IEC mandates that for a cable to be classified as halogen-free, emissions of hydrogen chloride (HCl) by LSZH cables must not surpass 0.5%. This requirement underscores the commitment to minimizing the release of corrosive and harmful gases during fire incidents, further enhancing the safety and environmental sustainability of LSZH cable applications.

BS EN -2

Test on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables &#; Determination of acidity (by pH measurement) and conductivity.

This part of IEC  specifies the apparatus and procedure for the determination of the potential corrosivity of gases evolved during the combustion of materials taken from electric or optical fibre cable constructions by measuring the acidity (pH) and conductivity of an aqueous solution resulting from the gases evolved during the combustion. The heating (combustion) procedure of this part of IEC  is the same as in IEC -3.

Compliance to these standards guarantees that LSZH cables do not emit harmful gases and do not facilitate the propagation of flames in the event of a fire, thereby enhancing their suitability for use in enclosed environments. When sourcing these cables for particular applications, it is important to verify their compliance with the applicable BSI and IEC standards to confirm that they meet essential safety and performance criteria.

What is LSZH Cable and Where to Use It?

LSZH cable is low smoke halogen free cable. low smoke emission, namely, reduces the production of harmful objects during combustion. Halogen is a toxic gas for humans. Halogen free means no toxic gases are released in the event of a fire.

What is the LSZH cable?

LSZH Copper Wire

The LSZH cable can be referred to as environmental protection cable. It is suitable for the rated voltage of 450/750V and below with requirements of high safety and environmental protection of the place.. For example, are suitable for tall buildings, seasons, metros, airports, hospitals, great libraries, gyms, schools, shopping malls and other crowded places.

All or part of the sheath of the LSZH cable, the cover, outer shell and auxiliary materials (lining and padding) are composed of flame retardant material of polyethylene, so it has excellent flame retardant characteristics.

When an ordinary cable burns, releases large amounts of smoke and halogenated acid gases. Halogen acid gas will cause corrosion damage to surrounding electrical equipment. It will also have an adverse effect on rescuers and will not be conducive to rescue work in the event of a fire., which in turn will lead to more serious secondary damage.

Nevertheless, low-smoke zero-halogen cables are manufactured from flame-retardant halogen-free polyethylene material for all or part of the outer jacket and supplemental material. This makes it not only more fire retardant, but also free from halogenated acid gases when burning.

What are the characteristics of LSZH Cable?

LSZH Insulated Cable

If we want to know where low smoke zero halogen cables should be used, we must know its types and characteristics.

The tensile strength of LSZH flame retardant cables is higher than that of PVC wires and cables usually. In the case of PVC cables, the tensile strength is 1,05 kGF/mm2. While, the tensile strength of low smoke halogen-free cables is greater than 1,2 kGF/mm2.

The LSZH cable has good climatic adaptability, can withstand temperatures from -30°C to 105°C. Besides, It has excellent flexibility due to its hardness. 80 a 90. LSZH cables have high volume resistivity. Y at ω/cm3 is for PVC cables and over ω/cm3 is for Low Smoke Halogen Free cables.

LSZH cables have good resistance to high cable tension. They can withstand voltages greater than 15kV. They also have good elasticity and adhesiveness.

What Are The Uses Of Low Smoke Halogen Free Cable?

Low smoke zero halogen cables are becoming more popular in military applications, aircraft, railway and maritime. This is because in these areas it is often difficult to ventilate in the event of a fire..

Besides, Low smoke halogen free material is also widely used in high pressure underground tunnels or track marking lines in railway system. when using them, reduces the possibility of harmful gases accumulating in the event of a fire. In case of fire, LSZH cable jacket helps protect personnel from flames, smoke and noxious gases emitted.

Use of LSZH Cable

What Are The Differences Between LSZH Cables And Normal Cables?

halogen

Low smoke halogen free cables do not release halogenated acid gases. Nevertheless, ordinary cables contain halogens in their insulating sheath. When a fire breaks out, large amounts of halogenated acid gas. This gas is very corrosive and can increase the spread of a fire..

There

When the LSZH cable burns, the smoke produced is very small. Instead, ordinary cables emit a lot of smoke during combustion. This hampers the work of the personnel involved and pollutes the environment.. Compared to normal insulated cables, low smoke halogen free cables emit only a very small amount of smoke. The amount of smoke emitted should also be recognized as a low smoke level.

Radius of Curvature in Laying

To further improve the electrical performance and mechanical power of the cable and ensure better power transmission quality, the bending radius of LSZH cable is larger than that of ordinary cable during laying construction.

Advantages and Disadvantages of LSZH Cable in Use

environmental protection cable

Advantages of LSZH Cables

1.Free of halogens: Low Smoke Zero Halogen cables are made with environmentally friendly insulation, coating and special materials. This means that it not only has good electrical and physical-mechanical properties, but also avoid secondary pollution by toxic combustion gases.

2.Low smoke emission and low toxicity: This type of cable uses special new sheathing materials. So, no toxic gases are produced during its production and use and it does not pollute the environment. The use of low-smoke, zero-halogen cables is essential in areas with special needs and where there is a high concentration of people.

3.Environmentally friendly: LSZH cable insulation and sheath do not contain heavy metals harmful to human, like lead and cadmium. And the cable is disposed of without contaminating the soil or water. It is more environmentally friendly than conventional cables. So, also known as green cable.

4.High flame retardancy: Green cables can meet the high fire requirements of buildings. The LSZH wires and cables are not easily combustible and prevent the spread of fire and the spread of disasters.. Especially in high-rise buildings, the use of LSZH cables can increase the rescue time and reduce the danger of harmful gases to people.

Disadvantages of LSZH Cables

The disadvantages of Low Smoke Zero Halogen cable are mainly price and popularity of use.. Although LSZH cables are environmentally friendly, its raw material and technical costs are more expensive than conventional PVC cables. Besides, due to excellent electrical conductivity, the mechanical properties and some other special properties of the ordinary wires, LSZH cables cannot completely replace ordinary cables. Nevertheless, as environmental requirements increase and technology advances, LSZH cables will develop strongly.

For more information, please visit cable compound.

6

0

Comments

Please Join Us to post.

0/2000

All Comments ( 0 )

Guest Posts

If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!

Your Name: (required)

Your Email: (required)

Subject:

Your Message: (required)