What Is The Difference Between LSF, LSHF and LSZH ...

Hello everyone, I'm Carina from Linoya. We are a Copper Cable Manufacturer in China. Today's main sharing &#; What Is The Difference Between LSF, LSHF and LSZH Cables?

Linoya Cable

Public safety has become a huge issue in recent years. Electrical contractors and consultants need to be aware of the many changes in regulations when it comes to installing electrical cables and conduits in public places such as airports, schools and hospitals.

The advice is to use materials that are non-hazardous in case of fire.

The company is the world’s best lszh compound supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Let&#;s get to grips with some of the commonly used head scratching acronyms and pseudonyms. 

• PVC &#; Polyvinyl Chloride
• LSF &#; Low Smoke & Fume
• LSHF - Low Smoke Halogen Free
• LS0H - Low Smoke Zero (0) Halogen
• LSZH - Low Smoke Zero (0) Halogen
• 0HLS &#; Zero (0) Halogen Low Smoke
• ZHLS &#; Zero (0) Halogen Low Smoke
• LSNH &#; Low Smoke No Halogen

To highlight the key differences here&#;s a brief summary of the 3 types of cables along with some of the Pros & Cons.

PVC Cables

On burning, a standard PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) insulated cable produces dense black smoke and a cocktail of harmful chemicals which can cause reduced visibility and suffocation. It emits approximately 28% of Hydrogen Chloride (HCL) gas which has a pungent smell and converts to hydrochloric acid if it comes in to contact with water. The smoke and fumes produced during a fire can be more dangerous to people than the fire itself.

Some points to remember about these cables are:

• They are ideal for low risk buildings, not generally for public or large commercial buildings.
• Correctly specified PVC offers greater flexibility and cost advantages over LSHF.

LSF (Low Smoke & Fume) Cables

LSF cables are usually made up of a modified PVC compound which produces somewhat less HCL gas and smoke on burning than PVC. However, it still produces 15% to 22 % (depending on quality) of HCL gas and due to the presence of PVC can still emit dense black smoke. It does contain halogen, so it shouldn&#;t be confused with Low Smoke Halogen Free (LSHF) cables. The amount of PVC present in these cables can differ from manufacturer to manufacturer which makes installing LSF cables in public places somewhat of a lottery.

Some points to remember about these cables are:

• These cables are often purchased to cut cost or through confusion with LSHF cables. They should be considered to be a small improvement over PVC cables.
• These cables are not recommended for public, large commercial buildings, near sensitive electronic equipment and where escape is limited in case of fire.

LSHF (Low Smoke Halogen Free) Cables (LS0H - LSZH - 0HLS &#; LSNH)

LSHF cables are made up of halogen free compounds that are good fire retardants but emit less than 0.5% hydrogen chloride gas and smoke when burnt. In case of fire these cables produce small amounts of light grey smoke and HCL gas which greatly increases the chances of escape from populated areas. There&#;s no PVC in these cables, hence no harmful fumes or dense black smoke are given off in case of fire.

Some points to remember about LSHF cables are:

• They are ideal for public buildings like airports and railway stations, computer rooms, datacentres, where escape is limited and fire safety is critical.
• They emit <0.5 % of HCL gas thus providing a safer environment in the event of a fire.
• The low smoke generation ensures evacuation routes and signage remain visible during a fire.

PVC vs LSF vs LSZH Conclusion

PVC vs LSF vs LSZH Cable

LSF cables are flexible and low cost alternative to PVC cables but can still produce a dangerous amount of toxic gas and smoke. Whereas LSHF cables are less flexible and a higher cost but with a significant reduction in toxic gas and smoke. So in a high risk populated area where escape is limited LSHF cables are strongly recommended. But in low risk areas where the evacuation is easy and high flexibility is required, PVC could still be a good choice.

Though all of the above perform very differently with regards to the amount of toxic fumes and smoke they produce however they all could, and in many cases do, pass the CPR test to class Eca.

We can supply LSZH and PVC network cables.

Date&#;-05-30

: +86

Linoya group

For more cable compoundinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.