Reasons to use LSZH cable

Regulations in many industries have seen an increasing demand for Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) cables. The main concern is for the safety of people and electronic circuits during fire. Environmental protection and an increase in safety requirements and specifications from local and international communities has also increased the demand for an LSZH cable.

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This increased awareness of negative side effects arising from halogen when exposed to flames has lead to this jacket type being designed.

What is LSZH?

LSZH stands for Low Smoke Zero Halogen. It refers to a group of jacket and insulation compounds that do not contain halogens within their chemical makeup.  The terms LSOH, HFFR (Halogen Free Fire Retardant) and NHFR (Non Halogenated Fire Retardant) are also used interchangeably.

What are Halogens?

Halogens are a group of elements that are characterized by being 1 electron short of forming a stable molecule, as a result they are highly reactive and will combine with other elements in order to gain this missing electron. Halogens react with metals to form salts, common table salt is a mixture of the halogen chlorine and the metal sodium. When mixed with water, free hydrogen in water will combine with halogens to make acids. One of the most common acids being Hydrochloric acid which is a mixture of hydrogen and chlorine. Halogens can also mix with hydrogen (present in water) to create an acid. Hydrochloric acid used to acid etch concrete is a mixture of hydrogen and chlorine.

Why are Halogens used for flame retardancy?

Within some polymers, the introduction of a Halogen atom can produce a flame retardant capability. Poly-Vinyl-Chloride (PVC) is a common example and contains chlorine. When burned the chlorine is released and displaces oxygen from the flame thus helping to smother out the fire. Some flame retardant polyethylenes have bromine, another halogen, added in order to assist with flame retardancy.

What are the Side effects of Halogen when exposed to flames?

When combined with Hydrogen, Halogens form acids. These acids are toxic to animals and plants. Chlorine is an example where this characteristic is used in a controlled way to sterilize water by killing off microbes and bacteria. In the past, solutions based on the halogen iodine were also used for this application.

What about PVC?

When PVC burns, it releases Chlorine which is now free to combine with hydrogen to form an acid. This acid can burn lungs and eyes of people trying to flee the fire. It can also attack equipment that was not destroyed in the fire. Historical experience has shown that equipment located several rooms or floors away from a small fire can fail many months later due to attack by either halogen acids or salts.

What are the benefits of LSZH cable?

LSZH compounds contain no halogens and instead rely on releasing water or other non-toxic compounds in order to put out a flame. As a result, they are safer for both people and the environment.

Where are LSZH cables predominantly used?

LSZH cables can be used anywhere a normal cable can be used. Typically they are of greater benefit in indoor or restricted spaces where their low toxicity in a fire is a great benefit. This means that LSZH cables often find use in tunnels, offices, exchanges and data centres.

Can I still achieve my Green Star credits?

Yes, LSZH cable is suitable for Green Star applications. LSZH cabling is the safest choice for plenum use and any other applications in which smoke is likely to both build up and come into contact with people, since no harmful toxins are actually released. In line with our commitment to sustainability and reducing their impact on the earth, Garland offers Low Smoke Zero Halogen cables as an extension to our environmentally friendly Green Star rated range.

When you choose cabling for IT, communications or networking systems, your main aim is to buy the right cables for the job. However, you should also look at other factors before you choose which products to install.

For example, the jackets that go around the outside of cables can also affect your build. While regular plastic jackets do a good job, you might see extra benefits from buying low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) products.

Why are LSZH cables different? What are the advantages of using them?

What are LSZH cables?

Cables have external covers known as jackets. These jackets protect the inner cables from mechanical, accidental and environmental damage.

Regular jackets are often made from standard plastics like PVC. However, some jackets are made from more advanced plastics such as LSZH.

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LSZH jackets are made from thermoplastics or thermoset compounds. While they protect cables like any other jackets, their composition is different.

For example, regular jacket materials often create or contain halogens, such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine, to boost their ability to cope with fire. However, an LSZH jacket should be completely free from any halogens.

This lack of halogens means that an LSZH jacket reacts differently in certain situations. These reactions give this kind of cable some advantages that you won't get from other products.

What are the benefits of using LSZH cables?

LSZH cables have some additional safety and longevity benefits that you might find useful. What can these materials do?

Reduce the spread of fire

Some cable jacket materials can't cope with exposure to fire. They don't have any or enough flame retardance to stop a fire from spreading. Some might actually burn much too easily.

If a plastic jacket catches fire and then starts to burn, then the cable could spread flames on to other cables and components close to it. The fire could spread to your IT equipment. Plus, if the cable runs between rooms or floors in your building, then the cable could help the fire spread. You might find it harder to contain the fire and to minimise the damage it causes.

If your cables have LSZH jackets, then they are better able to cope with a fire. The jacket should have more fire resistance.

Plus, if you buy a high-quality product, then the material might also have self-extinguishing properties. Even if a cable were to catch fire, it shouldn't help the fire spread and its own flames should die out once the source of the fire is extinguished.

Keep people safer

If you have a fire that affects your cables, then any people in the immediate area might be adversely affected. They might not be able to get out of harm's way easily and quickly, especially if a cable burns in a room without much ventilation.

Cables that contain or create halogens when they burn will produce a lot of dark, dense and harmful smoke. They can also let off dangerous gases and fumes. Smoke and toxic substances can prevent people from exiting the area. They might not be able to see a path out; they might be in some physical discomfort.

LSZH cables don't create environmental dangers if they do catch fire. They will emit some smoke; however, it will be less dense and dark. People should be able to see through it. Plus, these cables don't contain or create halogens. So they won't produce toxic gases or fumes. Any people in the area can focus on dealing with the fire or leaving the building.

Give longer-lasting protection

Conventional jacketing plastics are often very flexible. However, LSZH cables tend to be more rigid. Their compounds typically contain additives which affect their ability to flex.

A more rigid cable isn't necessarily a disadvantage. A stiffer jacket can give more protection to its cable; it might not get damaged as easily as a softer and more flexible product.

To find out more about the benefits of LSZH cables and whether they are the best fit for your system, contact Cable Source Pty Ltd.

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