FRLS Cables - Halogen content

[RRaghunath]

What is the halogen content to be specified (that is preferrable) and why. Could some one advise please. The cables are 33kV grade.

Thanks.

 

[KenAlmon]

rraghunath:

The choice of zero-halogen (ZH) vs not is largely one for the regulations. Typically, if you are governed by IEC codes, the European community is more in favour of ZH cables, while in North America there is less use of these cables (unless you are US military).

In any event, IEC 60754 has the test for measuring halogen content and I believe the max % concentration is 0.5%. In the US, MIL C-24643 governs and the limit is 0.2%.

As to why you would specify ZH or not depends on whether you believe that burning of these types of cables would help or hinder during a fire. There are two groups lined up opposing each other and one group says the use of PVC compounds are OK as long as the fire does not propogate, while the other group says that the use of halogen cables creates too much toxicity and smoke.

See

http://www.frocc.org/pdf/01mit_paper.pdf

for a pro-ZH write-up
and

http://www.datacable.org/issues/toxic.pdf

for a pro-non-HZ writeup.

Reka has a good writeup for these ZH cables that does not have too much bias - see

http://www.reka.fi/english/news/ca_news/cablesInFire.htm

Lots on the web but let your national regulations be a guide; seldom are they silent on the issue.

 

[RRaghunath]

Ken Almon,

Thanks.

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Visit

http://www.condumex.com/ing/cables/cables_casos_exito.html

http://www-zeus.desy.de/bluebook/ch20/subsection2_4_2_3.html

(consider polyurethane instead for low toxicity)

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/enviro/english/env2001/pdf/e2001_p13-16e.pdf

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/english/product/soden2_e.htm

(see ECO-ACE)
etc. for more info