①. Comparison of Key Differences
|
Comparison Item |
LSZH Low Smoke Zero Halogen Cable |
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Cable |
|
Material |
Polyolefin material, halogen-free (no chlorine, bromine, etc.) |
Halogen-containing material with chlorine |
|
Smoke during combustion |
Low smoke emission, white smoke. No toxic and corrosive acid gas such as hydrogen chloride is generated, high light transmittance for easy evacuation |
Heavy black smoke; releases toxic and corrosive HCl gas, irritates respiratory tract and corrodes circuit boards and equipment |
|
Hand feel & Bending performance |
Relatively stiff, poor toughness, scratch resistance weak, requires larger bending radius |
Flexible, easy for wiring, wear-resistant, good bending performance |
|
Temperature resistance |
Normal continuous operating temperature: 90℃ |
Ordinary PVC: 70℃ continuous; heat-resistant grade: 90℃ |
|
Aging performance |
No plasticizer precipitation, good long-term stability |
Plasticizer migrates over time; sheath becomes hard, brittle and prone to cracking |
|
Cost |
Higher, generally 20%~30% more expensive than PVC |
Low cost, cost-effective |
|
Flame retardancy |
Flame-retardant grade is self-extinguishing; flame-retardant PVC can also self-extinguish, but huge difference in smoke toxicity |
Flame retardant available, yet smoke hazard is severe in fire |
Key takeaway: The biggest difference is not whether they can catch fire, but the smoke and toxic gas released when burning.
②. Application Scenarios of LSZH Cables
(Places with strict fire code requirements, enclosed spaces, crowded areas or areas with valuable equipment)
- Rail transit: Metro, tunnels, railway tunnels, stations
- Public buildings: Hospitals, schools, cinemas, stadiums, airports, large shopping malls, high-rise office buildings, hotels, evacuation corridors and stairwells
- Weak current for computer rooms: Data centers, telecommunication rooms, central control rooms (HCl smoke will corrode servers and switches)
- Enclosed spaces: Underground utility tunnels, underground parking lots, ships, offshore platforms
- Green buildings and projects where low-smoke zero-halogen cables are specified for fire acceptance.
Common cable types: WDZ, WDZC, WDZB (Low Smoke Zero Halogen Flame Retardant)
③. Application Scenarios of PVC Cables
(Well-ventilated, low-occupancy areas, budget-oriented and ordinary locations)
- Ordinary indoor household wiring (BV, RV and other PVC wires inside rooms; note that many local new codes require LSZH cables in evacuation routes)
- Open workshops, warehouses, internal wiring of control cabinets, automation control cables (KVV)
- Temporary projects, ordinary outdoor laying, non-public well-ventilated areas
- General power circuits with no mandatory smoke requirement and limited budget
⚠️ Note: PVC cables are not suitable for evacuation routes, enclosed underground spaces, computer rooms, metro tunnels. Many local fire codes prohibit ordinary PVC cables in these zones.
④. Simple Selection Rule
Choose zero-halogen for enclosed, crowded spaces and evacuation routes, tunnels and computer rooms; PVC is suitable for well-ventilated ordinary sites when budget is tight.
