How to Choose Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) Cables?

With increasingly stringent building safety regulations, especially in hospitals, subways, airports, data centers, and high-rise buildings, cable safety performance has become critically important. 

1. Understand the Three Core Concepts

Many buyers confuse these terms, but they are technically different:

Low Smoke

Produces limited smoke density during combustion, maintaining visibility.

Zero Halogen

Contains no chlorine or bromine; emits no corrosive acidic gases.

Flame Retardant

Prevents flame propagation along the cable.

2. Match Electrical and Mechanical Performance

Beyond safety, LSZH cables must meet operational requirements:

High-purity copper conductors

Appropriate rated voltage and current capacity

Signal integrity for data cables (impedance, attenuation, crosstalk)

Strong mechanical durability (tensile and bending resistance)

Proper specification selection ensures stable system operation and long-term reliability.

3. Choose the Right Shielding Structure

In communication and industrial systems, electromagnetic interference protection is essential.

Common shielding types include:

UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)

FTP (Foiled Twisted Pair)

STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)

S/FTP (Overall and individual shielding)

High-interference environments typically require enhanced shielding structures.

4. Check Standards and Certifications

Reliable LSZH cables usually comply with:

National standards (GB or equivalent)

International standards (IEC, EN, UL)

CPR (EU Construction Product Regulation)

RoHS environmental compliance

Certified products help ensure project approval and regulatory compliance.

Beyond technical specifications, supplier reliability matters.