SBW vs. GSBW Cable

When two different metals come in contact and moisture plus contaminants like soot is present to form a week electrolyte, that produces corrosion also called galvanic corrosion.

Change of specification from coated steel to bare can be a consideration if you have to terminate the armour outdoors in a metal gland or even indoors if your area is a tropical / humid climate.

Argument about flame retardant and flame resistance is meaningless, you have to check if the cable sheathing conforms to the relavant IEC, BSS etc. standards specified to the manufacturer/supplier.

can you tell me that only IEC- 60331 is compatible with fire resistance or IEC-60332 also coplies to fire resistance

As i know IEC-60332 complies to flame retardant

For Low smoke low halogen cables ...IEC60331 and IEC-60332 are compatible?

as per our specs- IEC-60331 given only for flame resistance

IEC 60332 given only for flame retardant

Thanks for the previous reply

i will be grateful if anyone reply this mail also.As could not able to collect IEC standards.

dear,

Yes.

Flame resistance does not mean Flame retardant.

Both materials are different.

Any how, Normally manufacturers use galvenised wire for braiding / armouring.

So, there may not be ant apprehensions in acceptance of the material. You may just check the sample of the cable.

Further,

Flame resistance cable is superior to flame retardant .

As, Flame resistant cable will not allow to ignite the flame at all.

Where as, flame retardant cable will ignite the flame, but shall be extinguished quickly.

IEC 60331 and IEC 60332 both relate to TESTS to be carried out on cables. For vital emergency services during the fire, fire resistance cables are designed to maintain circuit integrity, however at present in cable industry; Fire Retardant, Low Smoke halogen fire (LS2H) or low smoke fume (LSF), fire resistance cables are all Fire Retardant and Fire Resistance cables.

Just to clarify some terminology used in this thread:

Flame Retardant: Flame Retardant is the property of the substance, or a treatment applied to a material, whereby the propagation of a flame is markedly retarded. The insulation and jacket of flame retardant cable is made of the substance having flame retardant property so that the cable eliminates the fire propagation.

Fire Resistant: Cable can withstand and continue service in fire. A fire resistant cable is suitable for use in critical and emergency signal paths, such as, fire alarm systems or emergency lighting.

LSZH (or LSZH or LSHF): This type of cable uses insulation and sheathing materials that do not emit more than 0.5% Halogens (poisonous gases in particular hydrogen chloride), and have reduced smoke emission properties. The IEC60754 specifies a maximum limit of 0.5% halogen acid shall be emitted in a fire for a cable to be classed as being of the LSZH type.

LSF: It produces low smoke but is not totally halogen free (can emit up to 22% hydrogen chloride). Basically it is an improved PVC cable. Obviously, it is less expensive than LSZH.

Halogens (Chlorine, Fluorine, Bromine and Iodine) are cheapest flame retardant material and are used with cable insulation (such as Chlorine in PVC) to increase its flame retardant property but cables made flame retardant by halogens produce smoke and toxic gases when it burns. Hence, the special insulation and sheathing materials are used in LSZH or LSF cables so that it is flame retardant as well as produces low smoke and low toxic gases. In most cases, the LSZH or LSF cables are flame retardant. However, they always may not be flame retardant.

Reference:

http://www.addison-tech.com/product/fiber-resistant.htm

http://www.drakact.com/dtc/files/Infoblatt_2005_01_Flammwidrigkeit_e.pdf

http://www.fscables.com/pdf_info/LSHF.pdf

- MS

Is it ok? Ok for what? You really don't give us much to go on to give you an answer do you?

you don't say what environment it needs to operate in or anything about what it is being used for or how. the devil is in the details and you gave us none of them.