Fire-resistant cables currently in widespread use fall primarily into two categories: UL-series flame-retardant cables and low-smoke halogen-free cables. Among imported products, the majority originate from the Americas and Europe. Since fire-resistant cable standards in the Americas and Europe are incompatible with each other and reflect significantly different approaches to fire protection, both the client and the design institute find themselves in a passive position when selecting products. Each side has its own valid arguments, and ultimately, the choice often hinges on the actual financial situation.

　　What are the standards for fire-resistant cables? Let’s take a brief look at this together below. To ensure data security, people hope that, before an entire network shuts down following a fire, there will be sufficient time to recover all data and move it to a safe location, thereby minimizing the likelihood of data loss. For this reason, cable television standards also include fire-resistance criteria known as “line integrity” standards. The goal is for cables to remain capable of maintaining circuit continuity and ensuring normal transmission of power and information even in the event of a fire. Cables that meet these line-integrity requirements are therefore referred to as fire-resistant cables. Currently, there are two typical levels of fire-resistant cables. According to Chinese standards, such cables can continue functioning for 90 minutes (E90) at a temperature of 750°C. According to German standards, they can maintain functionality for 180 minutes (FE180) even when exposed to temperatures ranging from 800°C to 850°C.

　　Low-Smoke Zero-Halogen Cables (LSOH): As the name suggests, low-smoke halogen-free cables produce minimal smoke and contain no halogens in the event of a fire. The principle behind low-smoke, zero-halogen cables is to prevent the generation of large amounts of toxic gases and dense smoke when the cable burns in a flame. Consequently, during a fire, these cables significantly reduce the risk of severe injuries or fatalities, greatly enhancing survival rates. The testing requirements for low-smoke, zero-halogen cables must meet three key criteria: 1. Flame-retardant performance: Low-smoke, zero-halogen cables must possess flame-retardant properties. There are two specific flame-retardant ratings that must be met: IEC 60332.1 (single-cable vertical flame test) and IEC 60332.3C (cable vertical flame propagation test). Among these, the flame-retardant requirements specified by IEC 60332.1 are generally applicable to standard cables, whereas those stipulated by IEC 60332.3C are relatively more stringent and represent trunk-line-level flame-retardant standards. 2. Smoke density requirements: Low-smoke, halogen-free cables must undergo smoke-density testing. If a flame is extinguished by burning cables within a confined space, the final indoor smoke density must be measured to ensure that, even under smoky conditions, the light transmittance remains at least 60%. This allows people to clearly see pathways through the smoke. 3. Toxicity requirements: Currently, there are various methods for toxicity testing (such as mouse experiments, among others). Low-smoke, zero-halogen cables employ two primary tests: the halogen acid gas release test (low-halogen test) and the gas acidity test (zero-halogen test). The testing principle involves analyzing the gases produced by low-smoke, zero-halogen materials at high temperatures—specifically at 800°C and 935°C—to determine the halogen content.

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