What are LSOH Cables and When Should I Choose Them?

As the economy continues to expand, the need for electrical cables has greatly increased in recent years and an overabundance of cablesare densely laid in buildings. But in the case a fire breaks out, the cables behave as an ignited fuse, creating a scenario in which the flames could quickly spread along the wires. These cables also emit fumes and toxic gases which will pose a severe threat to the safety. Therefore, low-smoke, halogen-free, flame retardant, environmentally friendly wire and cable industry has become the new development of “keywords”. Today, we’ll talk about one of the much talked about fire resistant cables – LSOH cable and share essential information you need to know before making a purchase.

What is LSOH cable?

The full name LSOH cable is Low Smoke Zero Halogen, also known as LSZH, LS0H, LSFH and OHLS, which is the material classification of wire sheathing in the wire and cable industry. Low smoke zero halogen (LSOH) wire reduces corrosive emissions by utilizing halogen-free thermoplastic or thermoset compounds. Thus, further damage to people and equipment from fire can be minimized.

LSOH CABLE

What are the hazards of halogens here? It is highly corrosive and dangerous. This produces hydrogen halides, which become acidic upon contact with moisture and can induce respiratory burns. The acids produced are also capable of rendering metal components which in turn can degrade equipment and even the steel structures in concrete elements of buildings. Consequently, this may result in lengthy and expensive decontamination efforts.

What is the difference between LSOH cables and ordinary wires?

PVC VS LSZH

LSOH wire benefits in the material  

Fireproof wires are made of flame-retardant cross-linked polyolefin and are more expensive than ordinary wires. As the name suggests, they are non-halogen, can withstand extreme temperatures and produce very little smoke. On the other hand, ordinary PVC wires are comparatively cheaper, easier to process and do not require significant technological investment during production. However, many manufacturers incorporate PVC into their wire to lower their costs and as a result, end up compromising insulation, low temperature resistance and safety of the wire significantly.

LSOH wire benefits in safety

ZW Cable lsoh cable manufacturer has done an experiment to compare the performance of traditional PVC wire and ZW Cable low smoke zero halogen cable. A sample of PVC cable was secured in a burning area in a flame cabinet or ventilated laboratory chamber. A controlled flame source was used to ignite both cables and record the smoke concentrations and visual changes produced during combustion.

The experiment shows that: traditional PVC cables are ignited in a short time and release a large amount of smoke and toxic gases; While LSOH cables only emit a very light amount of smoke during the combustion process, and the amount of smoke emitted should be recognized as reaching the level of “low smoke”. It also shows that fire-resistant wires are much safer and more reliable than traditional PVC wires. It further validates the safety advantages of cable LSOH in fire scenarios.

LSOH wire benefits in Service life

Conventional PVC wires have a service life of 25 years while fire resistant wires have a service life of up to 70 years. During these 70 years, fire-resistant wires do not need to be replaced, while PVC wires may need to be replaced 2-3 times during the same period. Hence, additional replacement costs are incurred. Estimates show that LSOH cables are more cost-effective than PVC wires.

Low Smoke Zero Halogen Cable Standards

Standard Definition Test Criteria
DIN EN 60754-2 VDE 0482-754-2:2021-02 Measurement of pH and conductivity. pH < 4.3 μS/mm, Conductivity < 10 μS/mm.
DIN EN 60754-1 VDE 0482-754-1:2021-02 Test equipment and methods for determining acidity. Test result < 5 mg/g for the cable to be considered halogen-free.
DIN EN 61034-2 VDE 0482-1034-2:2021-02 Measurement of smoke density from burning cables. Test result must achieve at least 60% light transmittance; higher transmittance may be required for specific applications.
DIN EN5067-2-1 Content of hydrogen halide gas produced after combustion Levels should be <100PPM

As we can see from the table above, low smoke halogen free cables meet stringent standards and testing requirements to ensure their superior performance in terms of safety and environmental performance. These standards cover a wide range of aspects such as acidity, electrical conductivity, smoke density and the content of hydrogen halide gases after combustion, ensuring the cable’s ability to reduce the release of harmful gases and optimize visibility under fire conditions.

When to use LSOH cable?

Low smoke Zero Halogen cables are widely used in a variety of important places for their excellent flame retardant properties, combustion with very little smoke and no corrosive gas overflow.

  • In poorly ventilated environments, such as airplanes, train cars or ships, low-smoke halogen-free materials are often used.
  • In the railroad industry, low smoke halogen free materials are also commonly used. Since there are often high voltage lines or signaling lines underneath railroads, the use of Low smoke and halogen free material effectively reduces toxic emissions caused by fires or short circuits and secures operational safety.
  • Other important industrial and public facilities power supply and distribution circuits, when the need to enhance fire safety, can also be used with flame retardant or low smoke, low toxicity cable.

LSOH cables have significant advantages in many safety-critical applications and are undoubtedly the best choice for environmentally friendly cables. Halogen-free cable products are free of halogens, eliminating the “secondary contamination” that occurs when they burn, and avoiding the toxic substances that are produced when conventional wires burn.

Need further help with your purchase? Any cable inquiry please feel free to contact us!

About Me
Richard Zi
Richard Zi

My name is Richard Zi, and serve as the General Manager of ZW Cable. With a deep and extensive background of more than 15 years in the cable industry, I am excited to share my wealth of knowledge and experience.ZW Cable is a renowned company in the field of cable manufacturing in world, we specialize in selecting the best cable sizes and effectively solving all your cable challenges. If you have any questions or needs regarding cable solutions, please contact me and I assure you of the highest standards of personalized and effective guidance and support.View All My Posts >>

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