Polymer pioneers in the 1960s and 1970s experimented with multiple thermoplastics to create a low-smoke and zero-halogen (LSZH) cable for the wire and cable industry. Despite achieving low-smoke low-halogen (LSLH) cable, the work of these scientists and engineers was not in vain—in 1979, Richard Skipper of the Raychem Corporation in Menlo Park, California, developed a thermoplastic infused with aluminum trihydrate to create the first LSZH thermoplastic. Aluminum trihydrate [Al(OH)₃] is a white, odorless powder derived from bauxite and commonly used as a flame retardant. The new patent greatly minimized flames and smoke when subjected to intense heat. According to the universal Harmonized Wire Coding System (a one-page download available at the end of this article), the alpha-numeric code of H05BQ-F lets users know the cable is LSZH because of its specific jacket and insulation compositions, as well as its fine-wire flexibility. This cable is further described in paragraph four.

At that time, Raychem primarily catered to the Aerospace, Automotive, and Telecommunications industries. Also noteworthy was that Raychem was already working on touch screens decades before cell phones and other touch-screen devices would become household names. Raychem and other cutting-edge technology companies—whether a traditional IBM or an upstart Apple—required or would require miles of flexible wire inside its ever-shrinking control panels where millions of computations occurred on a daily basis; they saw not only the risk of wires and components overheating to the point of combustion, but also the noxious and toxic gases that come with fire and smoke. Which is why over the last four decades, LSZH cable has become wildly popular worldwide.

Such gasses and other states of harmful chemicals likely helped spawn the EU agencies RoHS and REACH in the codified banning of hazardous chemicals, with RoHS confined exclusively to chemicals found in electronics, such as electrical fires releasing corrosive gases like hydrogen chloride. However, it’s important to keep in mind that RoHS and REACH are exclusively European, meaning a cord set sold in North America, South America, Asia, and the Middled East do not have to be RoHS and REACH compliant. If importing to Europe, you will need to comply with those two EU agencies.

Breaking the Cord Codes

What the HO5BQ-F alpha-numeric designation means: (H) Harmonized; (05) 300-500V; (B) Ethylene-propylene rubber; (Q) Polyurethane; (F) Fine wire flexible cable/cord. The outer sheath of the cable is polyurethane (PUR), and the insulation is comprised of ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR). This makes the cable extremely flexible, especially when the conductor wires inside the outer sheath are made of finely stranded copper wire. A note on “Harmonized” and its “<HAR>” mark. International cable must be manufactured according to European Norm (EN) 50525 cable standards. The standard is accepted by member countries of the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), which agree on the universal construction and testing of common products. In Europe, LSZH cable carries both the <HAR> and “CE” marks.

However, countries outside of CENELEC’s domain can obtain approvals to make international cable; they must have a European testing agency test their cables in accordance with the EN 50525 standard, and can be a costly and time-consuming venture. But such is the price paid to sell cords in 27 European countries—again, as long as your testing certification comes from a valid European safety agency such as VDE.

Besides its flexibility, the H05BQ-F is oil and UV resistant, and is resistant to seawater, wastewater, acids, hydrolysis, and microbes. It is tear-resistant, cut-resistant, and overall abrasion resistant, which is why in Europe per IEC 60601-1, 201.8.11.3.2, it is the only standardized cable that can be attached to hospital beds—the wheels of the bed won’t cut or tear the cable if the two come in contact. (It’s also noteworthy that most European countries don’t use hospital-grade cords, but instead use their typical household cords in hospitals.) H05BQ-F cable is versatile for both indoor and outdoor use, and is useable in dry and wet environments. The cord is often extruded in orange for visibility purposes in a variety of industries, but may be extruded in multiple colors.

Is H05BQ-F the Only International Cable?

Hardly. Interpower manufactures or offers HO3VV-F, HO5VV-F, H05RN-F and many other types of international cable. The code for “VV” signifies the outer sheath of the cable is made of PVC. “RN” designates rubber (natural or synthetic) and polychloroprene—and there are many other variants. A concise time-saving chart is downloadable on Interpower’s website: Harmonized Wire Coding System. While Interpower manufactures international cable, it also manufactures cable for specific countries, such as Australia, Korea, Japan, and China.

Recently, Interpower received approval to manufacture a specific cord set using Pecso Cavi 1.0mm² H05BQ-F orange cable at a length of 8.2 ft., which meets all EN 50525 and IEC 60227 cable standards. The cord set includes a Continental European CEE 7/7 black plug terminating one end of the set, and an IEC 60320 C13 black connector terminating the opposite end. The rating of the cord set is 10A/250VAC, and the Interpower part number for this set is 86232790. The cable is Harmonized to European standards bearing the <HAR> and CE marks.

86232780 Continental European Power Cord
86232790 Continental European Cord

For more information on this product or our complete line of Interpower products, please contact our Customer Service at (800) 662-2290, or at info@interpower.com., where you can interact with staff including a technical expert to walk you through questions.

Interpower offers no minimum order or dollar requirements. Interpower offers a 1-Week U.S. manufacturing lead time on custom Interpower products, and Same-Day Shipments available on in-stock items.