Similar International Standards
BS 7629-1:2015BSI, United Kingdom
HighCurrent
Electric cables - Specification for 300/500 V fire resistant screened cables having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire - Part 1: Multicore and multipair cables
Covers both fire resistance (circuit integrity) and low smoke zero halogen properties.
BS 6724:2016BSI, United Kingdom
MediumCurrent
Electric cables - Thermosetting insulated, armoured cables for voltages of 600/1000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire (LSF)
Covers low smoke zero halogen armoured cables in the same voltage class, but fire resistance is not its primary feature.
IEC 60502-1:2021IEC, International
LowCurrent
Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rated voltages from 1 kV (Um = 1,2 kV) up to 30 kV (Um = 36 kV) — Part 1: Cables for rated voltages of 1 kV (Um = 1,2 kV) and 3 kV (Um = 3,6 kV)
A base standard for power cable construction and electrical properties; fire performance is added by referencing other IEC standards.
EN 50525-3-41:2011CENELEC, European
MediumCurrent
Electric cables - Low voltage energy cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V (U0/U) - Part 3-41: Cables with special fire performance - Low smoke halogen-free flexible cables
Focuses on low smoke halogen-free properties for flexible cables, similar in fire reaction intent but at a lower voltage rating.
Key Differences
≠Halogen Content: IS 17094 permits a limited amount of halogen content (Halogen Acid Gas < 20%), making it 'Low Smoke Halogenated'. Most international equivalents like BS 6724 are strictly 'Low Smoke Zero Halogen' (LS0H/LSHF), requiring Halogen Acid Gas content < 0.5% as per IEC 60754-1.
≠Corrosivity and Toxicity: Due to being halogen-free, international LS0H standards (e.g., BS 6724) mandate tests for pH and conductivity of evolved gases (per IEC 60754-2) to ensure low corrosivity. IS 17094 focuses on the HCL percentage and does not specify these parameters.
≠Terminology: The Indian term 'FR-LS' bundles fire retardant, low smoke, and sometimes fire resistant properties. Internationally, these are distinct characteristics: 'Fire Resistance' (circuit integrity to IEC 60331), 'Flame Retardance' (flame propagation to IEC 60332), and 'Low Smoke Zero Halogen' (fire reaction to IEC 61034 & IEC 60754).
≠Fire Resistance Test Complexity: While IS 17094 specifies circuit integrity tests (e.g., 90 min at 950°C), advanced international standards like BS 8434-2 specify tests that include mechanical shock and water spray in addition to fire, representing a more challenging real-world fire scenario.
Key Similarities
≈Voltage Scope: The rated voltage of 'up to and including 1100 V' in IS 17094 aligns with the common international 'Low Voltage' category of 0.6/1 kV (600/1000 V) used in standards like IEC 60502-1 and BS 6724.
≈Smoke Density Test: Both IS 17094 and international low smoke standards specify a minimum light transmittance (typically 60%) when tested in a 3-meter cube, based on the methodology of IEC 61034-2, to ensure visibility for evacuation.
≈Flame Propagation Tests: All standards mandate testing for flame propagation on both single vertical cables (based on IEC 60332-1-2) and bunched vertical cables (based on the IEC 60332-3 series) to limit the spread of fire along cable routes.
≈Core Electrical & Mechanical Tests: Fundamental requirements for conductor resistance, insulation resistance, high voltage testing, and tensile properties of insulation/sheath are based on the same core principles and test methods derived from international standards like the IEC 60811 series.