What is V0 V1 V2 HB,what is EN81-20?

What is UL94 V0,V1,V2,HB

UL94 is one of the most widely applied flammability tests for determining the flammability of plastic materials, which – based on burning speed, burning time and dripping behavior (anti-drip ability and whether particle drops are burning) – measures the ability of the plastic material to extinguish the flame after it is ignited.

The fire ratings of plastic materials gradually increase from HB, V-2, and V-1 to V-0:

HB: The lowest fire rating in the UL94 flammability standard. It is required that for specimens with a thickness of 3-13mm, burn rate should be less than 40mm per minute; and for specimens with a thickness of less than 3mm, burn rate is less than 70mm per minute, or flame is extinguished before the 100mm mark.

V-2: After two 10-second burning tests are performed on the specimen, the flame is extinguished within 30 seconds, and able to ignite the cotton wool located 30cm below.

V-1: After two 10-second burning tests are performed on the specimen, the flame is extinguished within 30 seconds, and unable to ignite the cotton wool located 30cm below.

V-0: After two 10-second burning tests are performed on the specimen, the flame is extinguished within 10 seconds.

The Use of Halogens in Products and Health Concerns

Halogens are present in electronic products, including in the insulation materials of wiring (which can contain PVC) and in flame retardants added to these products (many of which are Bromine-based). Electronic products face the risk of catching fire from short circuit conditions.  High current flow translates directly into high-temperature conditions that can lead to the ignition of a fire.

Should electronic-based products catch fire either from short circuits or simply from being present at a location when a fire condition develops from another cause, the combustion process may potentially release noxious fumes and gases, such as hydrogen chloride gas, benzene, naphthalene, and ethylene. All of these emissions are hazardous to humans and other living things, especially hydrogen chloride gas, which is toxic at even small doses of 5 parts per million (ppm).

These potential hazards have driven electronic manufacturers to seek alternative types of materials for use in electronics manufacturing that eliminate the use of halogen-based materials.

What is Meant by Halogen-Free?

Halogen-free refers to products whose materials are compliant with applicable standards that regulate the permissible amount of halogens that are contained in that product. In the case of printed circuit board manufacturing, for example, the IEC 61249-2-21 standard is often cited. This standard requires that PCBs may not contain more than a total of 1,500 parts per million of halogens. Additionally, it limits the amount of the specific halogens Bromine and Chlorine to no more than 900 ppm each.

To achieve halogen-free status, manufacturers of products have created designs that are zero halogen or halogen-free, such as flexible conduit. Depending on the specific type of product being considered, different standards may apply that define the requirements for halogen concentration as well as other flammability standards.

What is a halogen-free cable?

As their name suggests, halogen-free cables are halogen-free in the composition of the plastics. Plastics containing halogens can be identified by the chemical elements in their names, such as the previously mentioned polyvinyl chloride, chloroprene rubber, fluoroethylene propylene, fluoro polymer rubber, etc.

Halogen-free cables according to IEC 60754-2 or DIN EN 60754-2
Part 2 of DIN EN 60754 describes the determination of acidity by measuring the pH value and conductivity.


For you as a user, this means that our halogen-free cables in accordance with IEC 60754-2 do not fall below a pH value of 4.3. The determined conductivity value of our cables and lines is also not above the limit of 10 μS/mm.

Halogen-free cables according to DIN EN 61034-2

DIN EN 61034 defines the method for measuring the smoke density of burning cables under defined conditions.


The smoke density of cables and wires is expressed in minimum values for the light permeability. Fire safety calculations can be derived from this in Annex A of the standard.


In Annex B, DIN EN 61034-2 standard makes recommendations for the event that there are no requirements in other standards. In this annex, a light permeability value of 60% is recommended as the minimum value.

LSF cable (Low Smoke and Fume) and LSHF cable (Low smoke Halogen Free)

Reference:

LSF vs LSHF (LSZH) - There is a Difference! - FS Cables

Halogen-free cables – how, what, when and why? (lappgroup.com)