LSF vs LSHF (LSZH) - There is a Difference!

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.

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• 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

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.

So where does CPR come in I hear you ask!

Most cables designed for permanent installation within domestic, residential and commercial buildings are now subject to the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), covered by BS EN which became a legal requirement in July . The standard is primarily about the spread of fire and heat release, not the toxicity of gases or smoke given off.

The Euroclasses

The regulation classifies products into one of seven classes, but in most instances, only five classes will apply to cables. Lower classes Fca and Eca undertake a basic vertical flame test to BS EN -1-2. If there is a high level of flammability, it would be classified to Class Fca (testing to Fca can be conducted &#;in-house&#;). However, for the cable to meet the requirements of Class Eca, the test has to be conducted by an authorised test house, known as a Notified Body (NB) or Approval Body (AB).

In the test, a single cable of approx. 60 cm is mounted vertically using two clamps, a flame is applied to the bottom end for 60 seconds (or 120 seconds in the case of cable diameters greater than 25 mm). The test is deemed passed if, after the flame has been removed, the burning cable extinguishes itself and the fire damage is less than 425mm. It is irrelevant how long the cable burns before extinguishing itself.

Great! I hear you say! &#;All I have to do is ensure that the cable I install is at least CPR class Eca compliant and I don&#;t have to worry about what material it&#;s made from!&#;

If only it were that simple!

The 18th edition of BS recognises that where applicable, cables need to meet CPR requirements and carry a Euroclass for fire performance. BS does not specify or recommend which Euroclass to use in an environment or application, and notably, nor does it outlaw using cables that emit toxic fumes and smoke in the event of fire. Specifiers and installers must therefore ensure the cables they select are appropriate for the fire risks in the building or application and any contractual terms.

Part B of The Building Regulations does offer additional guidance.

&#;The primary danger associated with fire in its early stages is not flame but the smoke and noxious gases produced by the fire. They cause most of the casualties and may also obscure the way to escape routes and exits. Measures designed to provide safe means of escape must therefore provide appropriate arrangements to limit the rapid spread of smoke and fumes.&#;

&#;Okay, so I simply specify the highest CPR class I can find, just to be safe!&#;

Unfortunately specifying to what many might consider to be a &#;safe&#; level might prove cost prohibitive for the contractor, who may also discover cables to higher classifications scarce or impossible to come by. Test procedures to gain even Cca compliance are costly for manufacturers and can involve lengthy R&D to meet the standard &#; there are many cable types where it&#;s simply not cost effective to test to that level.

Another complicating factor is that cables redesigned to pass higher CPR classes may shift in electrical or data performance and physical properties - factors that may effective how they perform or their method of installation.

Lower CPR classes focus on spread of fire, not toxic fume and smoke emissions. Specifiers considering the emissions of cables when burnt need to choose Low Smoke Halogen Free (LSHF) but beware, as we&#;ve already learned, there are plenty of ways terminology and acronyms can trip you up.

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