The smoke from fires now has turned out to be one of the major causes of accidents, hence the concern to safety and environment increases with time. Therefore, people are more inclined to low smoke halogen free electrical cables in order to avoid and minimize the risk of fire outbreak in either big public spaces or interior home designs. So in what ways do the halogen-free cables provide safety to the users? Lets now demonstrate to you in details the safety advantages of cables.
What Are Halogen-Free Cables?
What are the hazards of halogens? Halogens are added to polymer products such as plastics to increase the ignition point. When burned, they emit halogenated gases and quickly absorb oxygen, thus extinguishing the fire. But it will release a high concentration of chlorine gas, caused by the visibility loss will lead to the inability to identify the path, at the same time, chlorine gas has a strong toxicity, affecting the human respiratory system, in addition, halogen-containing polymers combustion release of halogen gas in combination with water vapor, it will generate corrosive hazardous gases (hydrogen halide), some equipment and buildings caused by corrosion.
Halogen-free flame retardant cable materials are environmentally friendly materials that do not contain halogens such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine. Instead they use alternative materials such as silicone rubber, polyurethane and polyethylene. The composition lowers the production of volatile acids and gases at higher temperatures especially during combustion thus they can be used safely in public places and transport systems. Different manufacturers, regions and standards have developed different labels for halogen-free and flame retardant cables:
FRNC -Flame Retardant Non Corrosive
HFFR- Halogen Free Flame Retardant
LS0H -Low Smoke 0Halogen
LSZH -Low Smoke Zero Halogen
Safety advantages of halogen-free cables
1. Better safety
“Halogen-free cables are crucial for ensuring maximum functional retention during fires,” as noted in a patent on their importance in fire safety. Halogen-free flame-retardant cable materials have excellent flame-retardant properties, and the amount of smoke produced during combustion is much lower than that of conventional cables containing halogen-retardant cable materials. In addition, the maximum working temperature of low smoke halogen free wires can reach 250 degrees. It can create a safer environment for rescue teams and evacuation of people in case of fire, as there is no visibility problem.
2. Better environmental friendliness
It uses advanced low-smoke halogen-free flame retardant and polyolefin materials, does not contain no heavy metal stabilizers or softeners and other harmful substances, combustion does not produce toxic, harmful gases. It does not emit corrosive gases and protects equipment and buildings not affected by fire.
3. Better performance
It has good insulating properties and can realize high voltage resistance level and electrical insulation performance. The tensile strength of halogen-free flame retardant cable materials is around 10-14Mpa, and the elongation at break is around 150-250%.
Regulatory Standards and Compliance
Halogen free cables comply with several international standards to guarantee their safety and performance.
IEC 60754-1/BS6425-1 – International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and British Standard (BS) on the determination of halogen gas content. It is used to define whether a cable is halogen-free or low-halogen and is assessed by the amount of halogenated acid gas released after burning. Test results must show a value below 5mg/g to be certified as halogen free.
IEC 60754-2 – Measurement of the acidity of gases when cables are burned. It provides assurance that the products of combustion in cables do not cause serious corrosion of the environment or personnel. pH test results must be less than 4.3 and conductivity test results must be less than 10µS/mm.
IEC 61034-1/ASTME662 – Test standard for smoke density. It makes sure that the cable produces a minimum amount of smoke when burning to improve visibility during evacuation. Test results must show no more than 40% light attenuation to be low smoke. Depending on the application, customer and region, lower light attenuation may be required. The purpose of this is to allow people to still be able to recognize the source of the fire, as well as possible escape routes. Due to the high density of people, public buildings and trains require these standards.
Industries Benefiting from Halogen-Free Cables
The properties of halogen-free cables make them suitable for both industrial and consumer applications:
- Use in Manufacturing and Production
Reduced downtimes are also possible due to the use of halogen-free cables. The cables continue to perform even in the most of severe conditions which are a must in a continuous production processes.
- Benefits in Harsh Environments
The non-corrosive nature of the cables benefits industries such as oil and gas, mining and chemical processing. They resist chemicals and high temperatures, ensuring long-term functionality. This toughness reduces maintenance costs and increases safety.
- Use in Household Electronics
Halogen-free cables offer a safer alternative for home electronics. They minimize the risk of toxic gas emissions in the event of an electrical failure or fire. Homeowners can rely on these cables to protect their family and property.
- Advantages in Public Spaces
Public places such as airports, shopping malls and schools benefit from the low smoke and non-corrosive properties of halogen-free cables. By choosing halogen-free cables, public facilities can improve safety and comply with regulatory standards.
- Use in Transportation
The rail transportation sector is also one of the most demanding application markets for halogen-free cables. Low-smoke halogen-free cables are not only suitable for railroad power supply system, but also widely used in subways, airports, underground tunnels and other places. Especially in the subway and airports and other places with intensive personnel movement.
Also cable products on the market in different categories, selecting a high-quality qualified halogen-free cable is challenging and involves concerns about both personal and property safety. Here we share a few ways to identify halogen-free cables.
Check for certification marks: Quality halogen-free cables are usually certified for safety by UL, CE, VDE, CCC and other international or regional certifications.
Check the product specification: The product specification provided by the manufacturer should detail the cable’s temperature range, flame retardant rating, smoke density, acid gas release and other key parameters. Halogen-free cables should be clearly labeled with their low-smoke halogen-free characteristics.
Material inspection: under normal circumstances, low-smoke halogen-free cables should not be easy to ignite, the insulation layer of the cable is still relatively intact after prolonged combustion, there is no smoke and irritating odor, while the diameter increased. If it is easy to ignite, it can be determined that the insulation layer of the cable does not use low-smoke halogen-free materials. If there is a large smoke, it means that the insulation layer is using halogenated materials.
Brand reputation: Choose a brand with good market reputation and long-term industry experience. For example, ZW Cable manufacturer which always prioritizes environmental protection and meet international halogen free cable standards is trustworthy.
For halogen free cable specifications and inquiries, we can also please feel free to contact a ZW Cable representative!