Have you been wondering about if you need a low smoke zero halogen cable for your application? FiberStore would like to learn more about this topic to you. Here we will discuss what the halogen is and why need to consider using halogen-free cable for your situation.
What are halogens?
In the periodic table have a specific group, several element belongs to. Halogens are one of these groups and the family of elements includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine. At first you may not have reason to know so but in fact there are many use halogen in our daily life. Chlorine is in almost all of the toothpaste, fluoride is used in swimming pool, iodine is a common thing in the medicine cabinet.
Other Halogen Uses
Beyond our daily contact with halogens there are also numerous other ways in which halogens are used. These elements in the cable jacket as flame retardants, including PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Coincidentally, the flame retardant chemical can cause some health problems. Although halogen compound to prevent infection and spread of fire, they will release harmful gases, if cable and reach the point of ignition. Carcinogenic substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS) and polycyclic armoatic hydrocarbons (pahs), nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins are all toxic chemicals, can be formed when these halogenated compounds was burned down. These gas compounds is not only dangerous when they are burned, in the air, they can condense into alkaline acid after contact with water (such as hydrochloric acid).
What is Low Smoke Zero Halogen
Low Smoke Zero Halogen or low smoke free of halogen (LSZH or LSOHL or SFH or OHLS) is material classification typically used for cable jacketing in the wire and cable industry. LSZH cable jacketing is composed of thermoplastic or thermoset compounds that emit limited smoke and no halogen when exposed to high sources of heat.
Most fiber optic network cables are insulated with polyethylene, PVC or thermoplastic urethane (TPU). In a fire, a halogen-containing plastic material releases hydrogen chloride, a poisonous gas that forms hydrochloric acid when it comes in contact with water. Designated halogen-free cables, on the other hand, do not produce a dangerous gas/acid combination or toxic smoke when exposed to flame.
Low smoke zero halogen cable reduces the amount of toxic and corrosive gas emitted during combustion. This type of material is typically used in poorly ventilated areas such as aircraft or rail cars. 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.
Low Smoke Zero Halogen – a safe alternative: Low Smoke Zero Halogen is actually a very good description of what these cables can do for us. When burning is very little smoke compounds such as
polypropylene production, no poisonous gas would like PVC cable. LSZH cabling or low smoke zero halogen cable is a safe choice area, potential and the potential of people with a fire near the fire. Low Smoke Zero Halogen also complies with the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and similar North American safety and environmental standards.
Source: fiberstore.com