PVC, PVC-FR or Halogen-Free? Choosing the Right Cable for Your Plant

When planning machinery and industrial plant, an early decision carries long-term consequences: standard PVC, flame-retardant PVC-FR, or halogen-free? All three materials have their place — but the wrong choice can prove costly in the event of a fire or regulatory inspection. T.K. Kabel oHG offers all three variants across its entire product range.

PVC: The Economical Standard

Polyvinyl chloride has been the most widely used insulation material in cable technology for decades. PVC cables are robust, versatile, and cost-effective — proven from standard machine engineering to outdoor installation. For applications without elevated fire protection requirements, PVC remains the most economical and reliable choice.

PVC-FR: Flame-Retardant Where Standard Falls Short

PVC-FR cables (FR = flame retardant) are the logical next step for applications with elevated fire protection requirements where fully halogen-free cables are not yet mandatory. The key advantage:

• No flame propagation in bundles (IEC 60332-3-24 / DIN EN 60332-3-24) — the cable stops burning once the ignition source is removed
• Flame-retardant — suitable for densely routed cable trays in industrial environments

T.K. Kabel offers PVC-FR in its installation cable range in several variants: solid conductor (JE-Y(St)Y-FR), stranded conductor (JE-LIYCY-FR), and a steel-wire-armoured version (JE-LIYCYSY-FR). PVC-FR still contains halogens — corrosive gases are produced in a fire, but significantly less than in an uncontrolled cable fire.

Halogen-Free: Maximum Protection for People and Plant

Halogen-free cables are the right choice where no toxic gases can be tolerated in the event of a fire. The requirements are clearly defined by applicable standards:

• No corrosive gases (IEC 60754-2 / DIN EN 50267) — protects people and sensitive electronics
• Flame-retardant (IEC 60332-1-2) and no flame propagation (IEC 60332-3-24)
• Low smoke emission (IEC 61034) — improves visibility during evacuation

Typical applications: buildings with high occupancy, tunnels, data centres, public infrastructure, chemical plants.

Important note for outdoor installation: Halogen-free materials are hygroscopic — they absorb moisture. Halogen-free cables are therefore not suitable for direct burial in the ground. In outdoor applications with soil contact, they must always be routed through protective conduit.

The Decision at a Glance

Criterion	PVC	PVC-FR	Halogen-Free
Cost	Lowest	Medium	Higher
Flame-retardant	No	Yes (IEC 60332-3-24)	Yes (IEC 60332-3-24)
No corrosive gases	No	No	Yes (IEC 60754-2)
Low smoke emission	No	Partial	Yes (IEC 61034)
Direct burial possible	Yes	Yes	No (hygroscopic)
Typical application	Machinery, outdoor	Industry, cable trays	Buildings, public, chemical

Summary: Cable Selection from T.K. Kabel oHG

Standard PVC, flame-retardant PVC-FR, or fully halogen-free — the right choice depends on the installation environment, regulatory requirement, and protection objective. T.K. Kabel oHG offers all three variants across its major product categories, and supports customers with decades of expertise and ISO 9001 certification since 1996.