Have you heard of low smoke zero halogen wires(LSOH/LSZH cable)? Among the many types of wires, you may have heard of flame retardant wires, but you know little about their classification and characteristics. In fact, low smoke zero halogen wires(LSOH/LSZH cable) (LSZH) have become the preferred product for decoration and self-use by industry customers in the market with their excellent environmental protection and safety performance. This kind of wire not only releases very low smoke when burning, but also does not contain halogen, thus avoiding the emission of toxic gases and protecting people’s lives.
Today, TST CABLES will take you to learn more about the uniqueness of low smoke zero halogen wires(LSOH/LSZH cable) and see why it can stand out among many flame retardant wires and why it has become your ideal choice.
1. What is low smoke zero halogen wire?
low smoke zero halogen wires(LSOH/LSZH cable) refer to wires that produce very little smoke when burning in a fire and do not contain halogen components. The sheath material of this type of wire is usually composed of thermosetting compounds. When exposed to high heat sources, they only release limited smoke and do not produce corrosive and toxic halogen gases. LSZH wires have become the first choice for many places with high safety standards due to their environmental protection, safety and high performance.
1.1 The invention and development of low smoke halogen-free wires
The concept of low smoke halogen-free wires was first proposed by Richard Skipper in 1979, who invented the first commercial thermoplastic low smoke halogen-free material for cable sheathing. This invention solved the challenge of incorporating a large amount of inorganic fillers into the cable sheathing material to suppress the fire and form a protective char, thereby reducing the emission of toxic gases while maintaining the electrical insulation and physical properties of the cable.
1.2 Composition and principle of low smoke halogen-free wires
Low smoke halogen-free wires mainly use environmentally friendly materials as flame retardant fillers. When this material reaches a certain temperature in a fire, it absorbs heat energy and releases steam, destroying the combustion of the escaping gas and forming a protective char layer. This process not only reduces the emission of toxic gases, but also greatly reduces the density of smoke, thereby improving visibility and escape opportunities in a fire.
2. Advantages of low-smoke halogen-free wires
Due to their unique materials and structures, low-smoke halogen-free wires have significant advantages in fire protection and environmental protection.
Comprehensive comparison of conventional wires
| Traditional PVC wire | WDZ-BY（R）（TST CABLES Low smoke halogen free cable） | |
| Production process | Simple | More complex |
| Service life/year | 5-10 years | 50-70 years |
| Safety performance | Burns quickly, emits thick black smoke, contains a large amount of toxic hydrogen chloride gas, which is fatal to the human body | Very good flame retardant and fire resistance, low smoke, halogen-free and non-toxic |
| High temperature resistance | Begins to melt and loses insulation function above 70 degrees | Normal operation at 90 degrees high temperature |
| Insulation performance | Poor | Stronger |
| Current carrying capacity | General | Increase by 10%-20% |
| Fire resistance, short circuit resistance, overload resistance | -Once short-circuited or overloaded, PVC immediately melts, emits smoke, and even catches fire | Excellent high temperature resistance and anti-overload performance |
| Corrosion resistance | Poor | Good |
| Halogen-free | × | ✓ |
| Environmentally friendly | × | ✓ |
| Moisture-proof | × | ✓ |
| Mechanical performance | Poor | Improve |
| Product packaging | Bare package | Exquisite paper box packaging with anti-counterfeiting and moisture-proof functions |
| Service guarantee | No service, no guarantee | Electronic quality assurance |
2.1 Environmental protection and safety
Compared with traditional PVC wires, low-smoke halogen-free wires do not release corrosive and toxic gases such as hydrogen chloride in fires. This feature makes LSZH wires widely used in places that require strict safety standards and environmental protection requirements, such as hospitals, subways, airports, etc.
2.2 High-efficiency flame retardancy
LSZH wires can not only effectively suppress the spread of flames in fires, but also reduce the generation of smoke, thereby protecting the lives of on-site personnel and the integrity of equipment. This high-efficiency flame retardant performance makes low-smoke halogen-free wires the first choice in critical infrastructure such as high-rise buildings and data centers.
2.3 Excellent mechanical properties
Modern low-smoke halogen-free wires provide electrical and mechanical properties that are equivalent to or even better than traditional cables without reducing flexibility, bending radius and low-temperature performance. This makes LSZH wires not only excellent in safety, but also convenient and reliable in installation and use in practical applications.
3. Main application areas of low-smoke halogen-free cables:
Low-smoke halogen-free cables have become the preferred cable type in many industries due to their high safety and environmental protection characteristics, especially in places with strict requirements for fire safety and environmental protection.
High-rise buildings: In high-rise buildings such as office buildings and apartment buildings, low-smoke halogen-free cables are widely used in electrical wiring systems, especially in public evacuation passages and emergency lighting circuits to ensure less smoke in the event of a fire and facilitate the safe evacuation of personnel.
Public transportation facilities: Including subways, railway stations, airports, bus hubs and other places, these places have a large flow of people. Once a fire occurs, low-smoke halogen-free cables can significantly reduce the generation of smoke and toxic gases, protecting the safety of passengers and staff.
Public facilities: Such as schools, hospitals, libraries, gymnasiums, etc., these places are densely populated. The use of low-smoke halogen-free cables can reduce the danger of fire and protect people’s lives and health.
Industrial facilities: Chemical plants, power stations and other industrial sites usually have flammable and explosive substances. Low-smoke halogen-free cables help prevent the spread of fire and reduce toxic smoke in the event of a fire, protecting equipment and personnel.
Submarine and ships: In the marine environment, once a fire occurs on ships and submarine facilities, rescue is more difficult. Low-smoke halogen-free cables can reduce the harm caused by fire.
Mines: Cables in mines need special attention to safety. Low-smoke halogen-free mining cables can provide better safety protection in emergency situations.
Data centers and server rooms: These places store a large amount of sensitive data and expensive equipment. The use of low-smoke halogen-free cables can reduce the damage to data and equipment in the event of a fire.
Construction sites: There are many safety hazards at the construction site. The use of low-smoke halogen-free cables can help improve electrical safety during construction.
Stadiums: Especially in special and Class A sports buildings or extra-large and large stadiums, different levels of low-smoke halogen-free cables will be selected according to different grade requirements.
4. Market prospects of low-smoke halogen-free wires
With the continuous improvement of environmental protection and safety standards, the market demand for low-smoke halogen-free wires is also growing year by year. Especially in some industries and applications that have extremely high requirements for cable safety and environmental protection, the advantages of LSZH wires are becoming more and more obvious.
4.1 Policy Driven
Governments and industry standards around the world have continuously increased their requirements for the safety and environmental protection of cables, which has promoted the widespread application of low-smoke halogen-free wires. The European Union, the United States and other regions have issued a series of regulations requiring the use of low-smoke halogen-free wires in specific places.
4.2 Technological Progress
With the continuous advancement of cable manufacturing technology, the production cost of low-smoke halogen-free wires has gradually decreased, and its performance has also been significantly improved. This has enabled LSZH wires to be used in more fields, and has also promoted the continuous expansion of its market share.
4.3 Consumer Awareness Improvement
With the improvement of public awareness of environmental protection and safety, more and more consumers will give priority to low-smoke halogen-free wires when choosing cable products. This trend is not only reflected in the purchasing decisions of individual consumers, but also in the procurement of enterprises and public facilities.
V. TST cables: The leader in low-smoke halogen-free fireproof wires
As an industry leader, TST cables fireproof wires have won wide market recognition for their superior performance and excellent quality.
5.1 Excellent environmental performance
TST cables’ low smoke zero halogen wires(LSOH/LSZH cable) excel in environmental performance. Not only will they not release toxic and corrosive gases in a fire, but they can also effectively reduce the generation of smoke, thereby protecting the environment and personnel safety to the greatest extent.
5.2 Highly effective flame retardant performance
TST cables’ low smoke zero halogen wires(LSOH/LSZH cable) use highly effective flame retardant materials to prevent the spread of flames and reduce the emission of toxic gases. This feature makes TST cables wires widely used in many high-standard applications.
5.3 Excellent mechanical and electrical properties
TST cables’ low smoke zero halogen wires(LSOH/LSZH cable) not only excel in safety and environmental performance, but also in mechanical and electrical properties. High-purity and high-precision copper ensures the stability and reliability of the wires in complex environments.
5.4 Multi-layer protection and long life
TST cables’ low smoke zero halogen wires(LSOH/LSZH cable) use a multi-layer protection structure with excellent wear resistance, corrosion resistance and weather resistance. Many series have a lifespan of up to 70 years, far exceeding traditional wires, greatly reducing the cost of replacement and maintenance.
As an important part of modern cable technology, low smoke halogen-free wires have been widely recognized and applied in various high-standard application scenarios due to their superior environmental protection and safety performance. As a leader in the industry, TST cables fireproof wires not only lead in performance, but also set an industry benchmark in environmental protection and safety. In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous growth of market demand, low smoke halogen-free wires will surely play an important role in more fields and bring more safety guarantees to our living and working environment.
