A Complete Guide to FRLS Cables and How They Differ from FR Cables

Fire safety in electrical installations is non-negotiable, especially in residential buildings. As per industry statistics, fire is among the most common potential hazards to buildings. With modern homes equipped with electronics and complex wiring systems, selecting the right cables is crucial for ensuring your life’s safety. It reduces the risk of potential fire hazards and ensures that your home’s electrical systems perform reliably for years. Understanding what an FRLS cable is can help you make informed decisions that protect your family and property.

This blog will empower you to walk through the nuances of FRLS cables, their properties, and FR and FRLS cable differences.

What is FRLS Cable?

FRLS stands for Fire Retardant Low Smoke, representing a significant advancement in electrical cable safety technology over the previous Flame Retardant (FR) cables. These cables are specifically engineered to resist the spread of fire while producing minimal smoke and toxic gases during emergencies.

These cables contain a low-smoke PVC compound that interrupts the combustion process and emits less smoke compared to other PVC-coated FR cables. This is the primary feature that makes them essential for modern electrical installations, where safety cannot be compromised in case of electrical mishaps.

Significant FR and FRLS Cable Difference

Understanding the flame retardant cable and FRLS cable differences is essential for making the right choice for your electrical installation. While both cable types offer fire protection, they serve different purposes and provide varying levels of safety.

1. Fire Resistance vs Fire Prevention

FR cables are designed to resist ignition and slow down flame spreading to other parts, but they may still lead to fire spreading and produce significant smoke and toxic gases if still exposed to fire. These cables meet basic fire safety requirements and are suitable for many standard applications.

Whereas the FRLS cables go beyond the basic fire resistance and are equipped with low smoke characteristics that prevent fire from spreading and burning the cable exterior. It is the most preferred choice for enclosed spaces, high-occupancy buildings, and critical installations where smoke generation could impede evacuation or cause additional harm.

2. Dense Smoke Vs Low Smoke

The structure and materials used in FR cables produce dense, toxic smoke that reduces visibility and threatens occupant safety. The flame-retardant PVC compound releases less smoke and toxic gases, thus creating more visibility for navigating easily in emergency situations.

3. Temperature-Based Performance Differences

FR cables are incapable of performing at higher temperatures, thus making them slightly less useful in critical situations. Whereas, FRLS cables typically maintain their properties at higher temperatures for longer periods, providing extended protection during fire incidents.

This feature often makes it a preferred choice for critical applications and modern safety-conscious installations.

If you want to learn about safe wiring options, check our guide on Types of Wires & Cables for Every Household Needs to make the right choice for your home.

FRLS Cable Properties:

Let’s explore a few FRLS cable properties that make them superior to other conventional cables.

1. Supreme Insulation:

The carefully curated materials included in FRLS wires make them resistant to higher temperatures without impacting their performance and withstanding direct fire exposure for defined periods. This characteristic ensures electrical circuits remain functional longer during emergencies.

2. Reliable Under Pressure

In an FRLS cable, several thin strands of electrolytic copper are twisted together with precision and accuracy for a compact look, uniform resistance, and dimension, thus keeping them together under pressure.

3. Certified to the Highest Standards

IS 694 represents the Indian Standard for PVC-insulated cables, including specific requirements for fire-retardant properties. Cables meeting this standard undergo rigorous testing to verify their fire resistance and smoke emission characteristics under controlled conditions.

4. Relatively Lower Smoke Emission

During fire incidents, FRLS cables produce significantly less smoke than conventional PVC cables, maintaining clearer evacuation routes and reducing toxic gas exposure. This property can be the difference between a safe evacuation and a fire hazard during emergencies.

Benefits of FRLS Cables:

The benefits of FRLS cables extend far beyond basic fire protection, making them an intelligent choice for any electrical installation. A few prominent examples include:

1. Enhanced Safety

FRLS cables significantly reduce any risk of fire spread and maintain a smoke-free evacuation route during any emergency. This feature provides a dual benefit of preventing flame spread and smoke inhalation hazards.

2. Helps to meet Regulatory Compliance

FRLS cables help ensure your home’s electrical installation meets local safety standards, protecting both occupants and property while potentially reducing insurance costs.

3. Built for Long Shelf Life

FRL cables are built to meet superior application standards with superior materials, resulting in longer service life and lower maintenance costs. Although the FR and FRLS cable rate difference might be significantly higher, their long shelf life, combined with safety features, justifies the initial investment.

4. Supports Environmental Responsibility

This is among the prominent benefits of FRLS cables. The reduced toxic gas emissions minimize the environmental impact during fire hazards. Their nature of operation aligns with the growing awareness of environmental considerations in the electrical installation of residential complexes.

Also, read our blog on the Top 5 Advantages of Flame Retardant Cables

Where can FRLS Cables be used?

The FRLS cable's fire safety properties cannot be underestimated. There are various applications where they can be successfully put to use.

1. Commercial Spaces

High-occupancy buildings like hotels, hospitals, schools, and office complexes benefit enormously from FRLS cable installations. The combination of fire retardancy and low smoke emission protects the occupants in such premises from fire and helps in easy evacuation.

2. Industrial Units

These cables are often used in industrial facilities, such as refineries, manufacturing operations, and chemical plants that pose fire risks. Their consistent performance under extreme temperature conditions prevents the electrical systems from contributing to fire spreading.

3. Residence Buildings Made for Living

Residential applications increasingly specify FRLS cables, especially in high-rise buildings and luxury developments where enhanced safety features are expected. The additional protection provides peace of mind for families while meeting increasingly stringent building codes.

Understanding what FRLS cable technology is and the difference between FR and FRLS cables empowers you to make informed decisions about electrical safety. Although the difference may seem insignificant initially, the benefits are enhanced protection, reliability, and long-term value.

At GM Modular, we believe in a complete and transparent commitment to fire safety, which is reflected in our comprehensive range of FRLS cables, ensuring that you have access to reliable, certified products that meet the highest safety standards and protect your family and valuable assets.

Also Read: Flame-Retardant Cables vs. Fire-Resistant Cables: What to Choose?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is FR in a cable?

FR in a cable refers to Flame Retardant. It means the capacity of the cable in preventing the spread of fire in case of an electrical mishap in a home.

Q. What does FRLS mean?

FRLS cables mean Flame Retardant, Low Smoke Halogen (FRLS) wires that are used to protect people and objects in potential fire hazard areas.

Q. Can FRLS wires completely prevent fires?

The oxygen index of FRLS cables is over 26%, indicating their crucial role in extinguishing fire flames. They can significantly prevent the fire from spreading in the nearby area. However, if the fire is of a large magnitude, they can delay the spreading of the fire due to their temperature-resistant characteristics.

Q. How to identify FRLS cables?

Look for the following properties in cables to identify whether they are FRLS cables or not.

• The oxygen index should be around 20 to 26%.

• Smoke Density should be less than 50% max

• The temperature index number must be more than 250 degrees Celsius

• Conduct a flammability test on the cable

Q. Which is better among FR and FRLS cables?

FR cables are ideally a good choice for a general household environment. However, for public spaces, commercial zones, or enclosed areas, the FRLS cables are a better choice due to their low smoke emission and greater fire spreading prevention capabilities.