Chlorine and other halogens are often included as additives to improve flame protection. But taking all aspects into 
consideration, this is not the right thing to do. Halogens are harmful to health. For this reason, 
halogen-free plastics are increasingly used for cables.





Introducing halogen-free cable

Halogen-free compounds have been used in a number of applications in the cabling industry since the 1970s. 
Major fire accidents have provided good evidence for the use of halogen-free compounds in cables.
 In case of fire, halogens incorporated into the cable material are released and may be inhaled by people.

One of the incidents mentioned here was the fire at the subway station in London. In 1987, 32 people died 
during this disaster. Research showed that most of the deaths were caused by inhalation of toxic gases and smoke.
 After this disaster, the permission to use halogen cables in the London subway system was banned. 
As a result of the reflection of this incident, many industries and organizations no longer wanted to use halogen cables.

Why are halogen-free cables important for fire protection?
Halogens can harm health. This is especially true when halogenated plastics, especially PVC, burn. In case of fire,
 hydrogen halides are released from the plastic. Halogens combine with water (such as extinguishing water used
 by firefighters or fluids used on mucous membranes) to form acids (chlorine becomes hydrochloric acid,
 fluorine becomes highly corrosive hydrofluoric acid). 

In addition, a mixture of dioxins and other highly toxic chemicals can form that can cause suffocation if inhaled.
 Even if a person survives a fire, their health can be permanently damaged. This is much less the case with
 halogen-free cables.

For integrated fire protection, cables must have flame protection and low smoke production.
 The flame retardant slows down the ignition and propagation of the flame and makes the fire 
extinguish itself and not flare up.

Fire safety and damage limitation
During a fire, materials containing halogen emit corrosive and toxic gases. Corrosive gases can damage
 (electronic) equipment and similar items.

The main focus was mostly on communication and data centers and telecommunication organizations.
 In these places, there are expensive high-tech equipment. Toxic gases are a great danger in closed spaces.
 Take the example of King's Cross or a similar disaster in 2003 at a subway station in South Korea 
where 120 people were killed. Toxic gases reduce the possibility of escape. After inhalation,
 it quickly affects the human body and leads to death