A Definitive Guide to LSZH Low-Smoke Zero Halogen Cables

A Low-Smoke Zero Halogen (known shortly as LSZH or LSOH) cable is a cable with insulation and/or jacket that minimizes the smoke and produces no halogen when exposed to heat sources and fire. 

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Read this blog to learn where these cables are used, their properties, and how they radically differ from PVC and LSF.

An LSZH cable is useful for environments where fire and high temperatures might be hazardous and smoke and toxic fumes risk public safety, such as industrial plants, public buildings, and vehicles. LSZH cables are intended for indoor use.

Low-smoke zero halogen cables emit less than 0.5% hydrogen chloride gas and smoke when burnt.

Applications of LSZH Cables

• As power and control cables in public buildings: airports, bus stations, railway stations, shopping malls, state buildings, hospitals, schools, and universities.
• In data centers
• In industrial buildings
• In aircraft and ships
• Any type of construction that is difficult to escape if a fire happens
• In any other setting where regular cables are used

Benefits of Using LSZH cables

• LSZH cables are flame-retardant
• LSZH cables produce no halogens during the fire, making them less toxic for humans and the environment. This makes them different from other types of flame-retardant cables. Exposure to halogens harms the environment and lungs of people and other mammals.
• Self-extinguishing jackets of LSZH cables prevent the fire from spreading further.
• LSZH cables are UV resistant
• These cables are water-resistant but not waterproof, except for specific variations used on the board of the ship.

LSZH Cable vs. PVC Cable: Radically Different

A standard PVC cable can be flame-retardant or not flame-retardant, but they produce harmful black smoke during the fire and release harmful chemicals, including halogen. In many instances, the smoke and gasses produced during a fire cause more harm to people than the fire itself. For this reason, a flame-retardant PVC cable does not really protect people in case of fire. 

PVC cables are a great way to save costs, but it is not worth it for commercial and public buildings where safety is a great concern.

The cons of LSZH cables compared to PVC is that they are less flexible and more expensive, but these are negligible if you take into consideration the damage to people and property that a large-scale fire causes.

LSZH Cable vs. LSF Cable: Mistaken For Similar

Low-smoke zero-halogen сable is often compared to LSF Low Smoke and Fume cable because the names sound very similar. The relative lack of standardization and naming regulation is the driving factor behind such confusion. In reality, LSZH and LSF cables do not have anything in common.

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LSF cables are altered PVC cables that produce less harmful gasses and smoke when burning than traditional PVC. However, the material of LSF cables is still PVC, so gasses are emitted nevertheless, there are just 5x less of them. So, LSF cables are slightly improved compared to PVC, but they have no qualities of low-smoke zero-halogen cables, so they should not be bought in place of LSZH cables. 

Confusing LSZH and LSF cables can actually be dangerous if the intention is to place LSZH cables to protect the building from fire.

Where to Buy?

NNC offers a wide range of low-smoke zero halogen cables of high quality at excellent prices, including:

When talking about communication cables, we commonly use terms like LSZH and PVC to describe them. These two terms describe the chemical compounds used in production of the cables. Do you exactly know what they really mean? Or more importantly, which one is better for your project? In this article, we are going to explain these frequently asked questions, by analyzing and comparing LSZH and PVC cables.

LSZH — Short for low smoke zero halogen, LSZH is a kind of cable built with a jacket material free from halogenic materials (such as chlorine and fluorine), since the toxic nature of these chemicals when burned. The term “low-smoke, zero-halogen” describes two distinct properties of a cable compound. The term “low- smoke” describes the amount of smoke which a compound emits when burned, while “zero-halogen” describes the amount of halogens used to make the compound. Terms like LSOH, LSHF and LSNH are all proper references for cables possessing low-smoke and zero-halogen properties.

PVC — Polyvinyl chloride (vinyl), a general-purpose plastic jacket material used for cables. Features low in cost and flexible, PVC cable is widely used in applications such as computers, communications and low voltage wiring. In the world of cabling, “PVC” is often used to denote a cable that is not suitable for use in a plenum airspace. PVC can potentially be dangerous in a fire situation, releasing heavy smoke and hydrogen chloride gas, which poses a great threat to human health electronic devices. PVC cables often have a CM, CMG, or CMR rating as defined by the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Differences between LSZH and PVC Cable

Judging from the physical appearance, the difference between LSZH and PVC cable is very distinct. A PVC cable feels soft and it is smooth, whereas an LSZH cable feels rough since they contain the flame retardant compound and it is stiffer. LSZH cables are more aesthetically appealing than PVC cables. In addition to this, LSZH cable differs from PVC one in at least three aspects:

Cost: LSZH cables are slightly higher in cost than some PVC cables, but they are much safer when it comes to human health and sensitive and expensive electronic equipment. And this should be considered when comparing the cost.

Flexibility: Comparing with PVC compounds, there is a limited range of compound flexibility available for LSZH compounds, so LSZH cable is not recommended for robotic or continuous flex applications.

Heat: When a PVC cable is set on fire, it emits chemical fumes, acids and other toxic gases, which are both corrosive and harmful to human beings and environments. As for LSZH cable that has a flame-resistant jacket, it doesn’t emit these chemical substances even if it burns or exposed to high sources of heat. And it can reduce the amount and density of the smoke.

When Do I Use LSZH or PVC?

It is feasible that LSZH and PVC have equally effective performance in modern buildings. So the decision on which one to choose actually depends on the situation, that is to say, where you are going to run the cable.

PVC cable has been used in built environment for power and control applications for decades. It is commonly used for horizontal runs from the wiring center, or for vertical runs between the floors—but only if the building features a contained ventilation system running through the duct work.

LSZH cable would be more appropriate for places where fire presents a hazard to occupants. We know that the primary danger in the event of a fire is not the fire itself but the smoke and gas produced. Therefore, it is vital that the materials and products that are installed contribute as little smoke and gas as possible when burnt. LSZH cable can be employed in the following situations:

• Confined spaces with large amounts of cables in close proximity to humans or sensitive electronic equipment, such as submarines and ships.
• Mass transit, central office facilities and telecommunication applications.

Conclusion：

Even though PVC cable still reigns supreme in wire and cable industry, the use of this has decreased over the past years. On the other hand, LSZH cable technology has advanced significantly, it is well suited to some applications mentioned in this article. Your cabling choice always relays on your specific condition, while to consult with wire and cable experts can also be beneficial.

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