Introduction:
&#; LSZH is the short form of Low Smoke Zero Halogen.
&#; These cables are constructed with jacket material free from halogenic materials such as chlorine and fluorine as these chemical have toxic nature when they are burned.
&#; LSZH cables are used mainly in Europe.
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&#; It is used in shipboard applications and computer networking rooms where toxic or acidic smoke and fumes can injure people and/or equipments.
&#; Examples of Halogens include fluorine, chlorine, Bromine and Iodine.
&#; These materials when burned produce acidic smoke that can cause harm.
&#; These cables will self extinguish.
Following are the benefits or advantages of LSZH cable:
&#;They are used where people are very near to cable assemblies where they do not get adequate amount of ventilation in the event of fire or there is poor ventilated areas.
&#;They are very cost effective.
&#;They are used in railway systems where high voltage signal wires are used in underground tunnels. This will reduce possibilities of accumulation of toxic gases when cables get fire.
&#;They are constructed using thermoplastic compounds which emit limited smoke with no halogen.
&#;They do not produce dangerous gas when they come in contact with high sources of heat.
&#;LSZH cable jacket helps in protection of people in the event of fire, smoke and dangerous gas due to burning of cables.
Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of LSZH cable:
&#;LSZH cable&#;s jacket uses high % of filler material in order to offer low smoke and zero halogen. This makes jacket less chemical/water resistant compare to non-LSZH cable counterpart.
&#;Jacket of LSZH cable experiences cracks during installation. Hence special lubricants are needed to prevent it from damage.
&#;It offers limited flexibility and hence it is not suitable for robotics.
If protection of equipment or people is a design requirement, consider low-smoke zero-halogen (LSZH) jacketed cables. They emit fewer toxic fumes than standard PVC-based cable jackets. Typically, LSZH cable is used in confined spaces such as mining operations where ventilation is of concern.
What is the difference between LSZH cable and common cables?
The function and technique parameter of LSZH fiber optic cable is just like common fiber optic cables, and inner structure is also similar, the basic difference is the jackets. LSZH fiber optic jackets is more fire-resistant compared with common PVC jacketed cables, even when they are caught in fire, the burned LSZH cables provide low smoke and no halogen substances, this feature is not only environment protective but the low smoke when it got burned is also important to people and facilities in the fired place.
LSZH jacket is made up of some very special materials which are non-halogenated and flame retardant. LSZH cable jacketing is composed of thermoplastic or thermoset compounds that emit limited smoke and no halogen when exposed to high sources of heat. LSZH cable reduces the amount of harmful toxic and corrosive gas emitted during combustion. This type of material is typically used in poorly ventilated areas such as aircraft or rail cars. LSZH jackets are also safer than Plenum-rated cable jackets which have low flammability but still release toxic and caustic fumes when they are burned.
Low smoke zero halogen is becoming very popular and, in some cases, a requirement where the protection of people and equipment from toxic and corrosive gas is critical. This type of cable is ever involved in a fire very little smoke is produced making this cable an excellent choice for confined places such as ships, submarines, aircraft, high-end server rooms and network centers.
Every coin has two sides. Since LSZH cables have so many benefits listed above, what are the Cons of the cable?
1. LSZH is more susceptible to jacket cracking. Special lubricants have been made to minimize damage during installation.
2. LSZH jacket has a high filler content, around 50% to provide the required flame and smoke performance. This results in a lower mechanical, chemical resistance, water absorption and electrical properties then non LSZH compounds.
3. The current generation of LSZH cables has not yet established a proven history of long time performance.
The LSZH cables are available with 1, 2, 12, 24 fibers, and variable sub-cable dimensions that support specific termination and routing requirements. They are suitable for halogen free and many international installations. LSZH cable contains no flooding gel and is OFNR Riser rated, is perfect for installation in conduits between buildings and run directly thru risers to a convenient network or dome fiber optic splice closure without a separate point of splice at building entrance.
There are also LSZH fiber optic patch cords available. Both LSZH fiber optic cables and LSZH fiber optic patch cords are required for the Rosh compliant cable assemblies, but Rosh standard is more strict besides it require the cables to be LSZH type. LSZH fiber optic jumper are used widely used in the places where expensive equipment would be damaged if exposed to corrosive gases, and they are also used in crowded areas like commercial centers and sports centers.
The European market is demanding that cables used in LANs, WANs, etc. meet LSZH specification. The IEC -1 governs the Flame Retardant Grade specifications in reference to LSZH cables.Reduction of dangerous/poisonous gases
Essentially, the compound used in manufacturing cables meeting the above specification reduces the amount of dangerous/poisonous gases in case of fire. The main difference in specifications between IEC -1 versus UL® , UL and UL 910 is that the cable under the IEC spec can continue to burn while still emitting very low gases. The UL specs demand that the flame be extinguished, but it can still emit dangerous/poisonous gases.IEC specification
Today virtually all medium and large installations in Europe must meet the IEC specification. Many public authorities are already demanding that new installations must meet IEC -3 which is a more demanding flammability specification for LSZH.
What&#;s the difference between PVC and LSZH cables
Physically, PVC and LSZH are very different. PVC patchcords are very soft; LSZH patchcords are more rigid because they contain the flame retardant compound, and they are aesthetically more pleasing
A PVC cable (made of polyvinyl chloride) has a jacket that gives off heavy black smoke, hydrochloric acid, and other toxic gases when it burns. Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) cable has a flame-resistant jacket that doesn&#;t emit toxic fumes even if it burns.
LSZH more expensive and less flexible
LSZH cables usually cost more than the equivalent PVC cable, and certain types are less flexible. LSZH cable does have some restrictions. According to CENELEC standards EN, , , screened cables must be halogen free. However, no similar regulation yet applies to unscreened cables.
Where do you run the cable?
Whether you choose a riser (PVC), plenum or LSZH jacket depends on where you&#;re going to run the cable.
PVC cable is commonly used for horizontal runs from the wiring centre. You can use it for vertical runs between the floors &#; but only if the building features a contained ventilation system running through the duct work.
LSZH cable is used between floors in a building. It has a special flame-retardant coating.
A plenum is a space within the building created by building components, designed for the movement of environmental air.
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Today's growing awareness of the negative effects of halogens releasing large amounts of smoke and toxic gases when exposed to flames has led to a growing demand for low smoke zero halogen cables (LSZH) in many industries. So what exactly is low smoke zero halogen cable?
Low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) ethernet bulk cable is constructed with a halogen-free jacket material, providing a flame-retardant solution well-suited for safety-conscious environments. LSZH ethernet bulk cables come in extensive lengths&#;commonly up to 500 or feet. The LSZH jacket ensures minimal emission of toxic gases in the event of combustion. In particular, they release less than 0.5% hydrochloric acid (HCl) gas when exposed to fire. Additionally, the absence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in cable construction not only enhances fire resistance but also greatly reduces the potential for smoke production.
Benefiting from the characteristics of halogen-free, LSZH ethernet bulk cables are popular in Europe, since the European market requires cables used in LANs, WANs, etc. meet LSZH specifications. These cables indeed comply with IEC and the European flame retardant standard CPR, and their compliance solves customers' worries. So how exactly do LSZH ethernet bulk cables perform better than other ethernet bulk cables?
The following four main advantages prompt us to choose low smoke zero halogen bulk cables.
Good safety performance: Adopting a new type of special coating material that is non-polluting to the environment, almost no acid gases like HCL and less smoke are released when LSZH cables burned, so in those important application scenarios like data centers, they will effectively prevent damage to equipment that is susceptible to corrosion and smoke damage to a certain extent. Moreover, the smoke concentration is low and the visibility is high, thereby reducing the risk of fire hazards.
Good fire resistance: LSZH cables have good flame retardancy and high fire resistance. In addition, LSZH cables are self-extinguishing. When they are used in cabling scenarios such as data centers, their self-extinguishing characteristics can inhibit the spread of flames and protect the scene to a certain extent.
Environmentally friendly: LSZH cables use an environmentally friendly insulating layer, sheath, and special oxygen barrier materials, with no halogen elements nor heavy metal elements such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury that are harmful to the human body and the environment. They will almost not cause environmental pollution and are healthy and relatively environmentally friendly.
Easy maintenance: LSZH cables have a lower friction coefficient than some non-low smoke and halogen-free sheaths, making subsequent maintenance and replacement easier.
Now that we learned the above advantages of low smoke zero halogen cables, benefiting from these advantages, what are the appropriate application scenarios of LSZH ethernet bulk cables?
To leverage their intrinsic properties, the most notable of which is their low emission of toxic gases and smoke, LSZH cables are ideally being implemented in environments where ventilation is scarce, population density is high, or air circulation is notably poor. In such scenarios, the dispersal of smoke and toxicants is hampered, rendering the use of cables containing halogenated compounds (such as those with PVC or FEP insulation) inappropriate and potentially hazardous.
Their elevated safety performance and reduced environmental impact render them exceptionally suited to enclosed public spaces, substantial commercial edifices, and data centers where network reliability and human safety are of utmost priority. LSZH ethernet bulk cables are a conscientious commitment to safety and sustainability in densely populated or poorly ventilated constructions.
Halogen elements constitute Group 17 of the periodic table and are comprised of fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At). These elements are characterized by their highly reactive nature due to their ability to gain an electron to achieve a stable noble gas electronic configuration. Halogens are excellent low-cost flame retardants, so sometimes halogenated flame retardants are added to cable polymers to reduce their flammability, the most common of which are PVC ethernet bulk cables.
LSZH bulk cables are conventionally not recommended for use in outdoor environments. Since they are not UV-resistant, waterproof, and weatherproof. When exposed to sunlight, moisture, and extreme temp, LSZH cables will become brittle and will largely shorten their lifespan. If there are outdoor application requirements, you are recommended to choose outdoor-rated ethernet bulk cable jacketed with a double-layer PVC and LEDP.
The main differences between LSZH and low smoke and fume cables (LSF) are materials, safety performance, and cost. LSZH cables use a halogen-free sheath and will not release toxic gases when burned. LSF cables use a resistant coating and modified PVC that still contain halogen elements and release toxic gases when burned. So LSZH cables have better safety performance. Given all this, it is recommended that you choose the appropriate cable based on your actual needs.
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