LSZH Foil Screened Signal Control Cables | LIH(St)H & LI2Y(St)H

Foil screened signal cable constructions from ETK Kablo combine an overall Al/PET foil screen with a halogen-free outer jacket for low-voltage signal and control circuits. This LSZH category includes LIH(St)H and LI2Y(St)H cable families in standard, TP/TT and PiMF/TiMF versions.

All six products use IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded electrolytic copper conductors together with an overall Al/PET foil screen and tinned copper earthing wire. LIH(St)H cables use halogen-free conductor insulation, while LI2Y(St)H cables use solid polyethylene insulation. Both families use a halogen-free outer jacket.

The range also provides different conductor-grouping and screening configurations. Standard versions use conductors stranded in layers. TP/TT versions arrange conductors into twisted pairs or triads. PiMF/TiMF versions add individual foil screens around each pair or triad in addition to the overall foil screen.

What Is a Foil Screened Signal Cable?

A foil screened signal cable uses a metallic foil around the cable core to provide electromagnetic screening for signal and control circuits. In the ETK Kablo products in this category, the overall screen consists of Al/PET tape together with a tinned copper earthing wire.

The foil screen helps reduce electromagnetic coupling between the signal circuits and nearby electrical equipment or cables. However, screening performance also depends on cable routing, termination, bonding and the equipment connected to the circuit.

The foil screen and the LSZH material system perform different functions. The screen relates to electromagnetic interference, while the halogen-free outer jacket relates to smoke and halogen behavior under fire conditions.

ETK Kablo LSZH Foil Screened Signal Cable Range

LIH(St)H Foil Screened Signal Control Cable

LIH(St)H is the halogen-free conductor-insulation family within this category. It uses IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded copper conductors with halogen-free insulation.

In the standard construction, the insulated conductors are stranded together in layers. Polyester tape surrounds the cable core, followed by a tinned copper earthing wire and an overall Al/PET foil screen. A UV-resistant halogen-free outer jacket completes the cable.

LIH(St)H is therefore suitable when the specification requires halogen-free conductor insulation, a halogen-free outer jacket and overall foil screening.

LI2Y(St)H Foil Screened Signal Control Cable

LI2Y(St)H uses the same overall foil-screening principle but differs from LIH(St)H in conductor insulation.

Its IEC 60228 Class 5 copper conductors use solid polyethylene insulation. Polyester tape, a tinned copper earthing wire and an Al/PET foil form the overall screening system. The outer jacket remains halogen-free.

Therefore, LI2Y(St)H should not be described as having halogen-free conductor insulation. Its conductor insulation is polyethylene, while the outer jacket is halogen-free.

LIH(St)H vs LI2Y(St)H

The principal difference between the two families is the conductor-insulation material. This difference also results in different published insulation-resistance values.

What Do TP and TT Mean?

TP refers to conductors arranged as twisted pairs, while TT refers to conductors arranged as twisted triads.

In LIH(St)H-TP/TT and LI2Y(St)H-TP/TT, the conductors are first organized into pairs or triads. These groups are then stranded together before the overall polyester wrapping and foil screen are applied.

TP/TT describes conductor grouping. It does not mean that each pair or triad has its own metallic screen.

What Do PiMF and TiMF Mean?

PiMF/TiMF constructions provide an additional level of screening between individual signal groups.

PiMF uses individually foil-screened pairs. TiMF uses individually foil-screened triads.

In ETK Kablo's PiMF/TiMF constructions, each pair or triad receives its own polyester wrapping, tinned copper earthing wire and Al/PET foil screen. The screened groups are then stranded together and surrounded by an additional overall Al/PET foil screen.

Standard vs TP/TT vs PiMF/TiMF

This distinction is important when specifying a signal cable. TP/TT primarily defines conductor grouping, while PiMF/TiMF adds separate electromagnetic screening around each pair or triad.

Foil Screened vs Unscreened Signal Cable

The main difference is the presence of a dedicated metallic electromagnetic screen.

LSZH unscreened signal control cables such as LIHH do not contain an overall metallic screen. LIH(St)H and LI2Y(St)H add an overall Al/PET foil together with a tinned copper earthing wire.

An unscreened construction can suit circuits where electromagnetic interference is limited. A foil-screened construction is more appropriate when the specification requires overall electromagnetic screening.

Foil Screen vs Copper Braid Screen

ETK Kablo also manufactures LSZH braid screened signal control cables. These constructions use a tinned copper braid rather than Al/PET foil as the primary overall electrical screen.

The correct screening method depends on the project specification, electromagnetic environment, cable installation, flexibility requirements and screen-termination method.

Foil Screen vs Foil and Braid Screen

LSZH foil and braid screened signal control cables combine an Al/PET foil with a tinned copper braid.

The additional braid changes the screening structure, cable diameter, copper content, termination requirements and cost. Therefore, a combined foil-and-braid construction should be selected when required by the electrical environment or project specification rather than simply because it contains more screening material.

Foil Screening Is Not Mechanical Armor

An Al/PET foil is an electrical screen. It should not be confused with mechanical armor.

The foil helps control electromagnetic interference, but it does not provide the mechanical protection associated with steel wire armor or steel wire braid. Projects requiring additional mechanical protection should specify an appropriate armored construction separately.

LSZH vs PVC Foil Screened Signal Cable

The main difference between LSZH and PVC versions is the material system rather than the basic overall foil-screening principle.

ETK Kablo's PVC foil screened signal control cables use PVC outer jackets, while the products on this page use halogen-free outer jackets.

The required fire strategy, smoke behavior, halogen requirements and project specification should determine which material system is suitable.

Electrical Characteristics

The electrical characteristics of these cables vary with conductor cross-section and conductor-insulation material. Therefore, one voltage or insulation-resistance value should not be applied to every size in the family.

The published maximum conductor resistance ranges from 85.0 Ω/km for 0.22 mm² to 7.98 Ω/km for 2.50 mm² at 20°C.

Operating Temperature and Bending Radius

ETK Kablo's current technical data specifies an operating temperature range of -30°C to +70°C for these constructions.

The published minimum bending radius is 7.5 × D, where D is the actual outer diameter of the selected cable.

IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded conductors provide installation flexibility, but Class 5 construction alone does not qualify a cable for drag-chain, robotic or continuously repeated flexing applications.

LSZH Fire Behavior

The current ETK Kablo documentation for these products lists IEC 61034-2 for smoke density, IEC 60754-1 and IEC 60754-2 for halogen and corrosive gas behavior, IEC 60332-3-24 for flame propagation and IEC 60332-1-2 for flame retardancy.

These characteristics should not be confused with circuit integrity during fire. Standard LIH(St)H and LI2Y(St)H constructions should not be described as FE180, PH120, E30, E60 or E90 cables unless a separate tested construction specifically provides that performance.

Is LSZH the Same as CPR?

No. LSZH and CPR describe different fire-related characteristics.

LSZH relates to material, smoke and halogen behavior. CPR defines reaction-to-fire classification under the applicable European framework.

A cable being LSZH does not automatically give it a particular B2ca, Cca, Dca or Eca classification. Where a project specifies a CPR class, the applicable Declaration of Performance for the selected product should be checked.

Where Are Foil Screened Signal Cables Used?

Foil-screened LSZH signal control cables can be considered for low-voltage automation, monitoring, measurement and control circuits where overall electromagnetic screening forms part of the project specification.

Typical applications can include industrial automation systems, control panels, building-management systems, HVAC controls, sensors, actuators, electronic control equipment and process-monitoring circuits.

The required construction should be selected according to signal type, electromagnetic environment, conductor grouping, circuit voltage, installation conditions and fire-related requirements.

How to Select a Foil Screened Signal Cable

First, select the required conductor-insulation system. LIH(St)H uses halogen-free conductor insulation, while LI2Y(St)H uses solid polyethylene.

Next, define the conductor arrangement. Standard versions use conductors stranded in layers. TP/TT versions organize the conductors into pairs or triads. PiMF/TiMF versions add a separate foil screen around each pair or triad as well as an overall foil screen.

Then select the conductor cross-section and conductor, pair or triad count. Confirm the applicable voltage, temperature range, bending radius and electrical characteristics for the selected size.

Finally, verify the required LSZH tests, CPR class where applicable, screen-termination method and any other project-specific documentation.

What Should an RFQ Include?

A clear RFQ should identify the required LIH(St)H or LI2Y(St)H family, conductor cross-section, conductor or pair/triad count, construction type and total cable length.

The request should also state whether standard, TP/TT or PiMF/TiMF construction is required.

Where applicable, include the required CPR classification, test documentation, cable marking, packing length and other project-specific requirements.

ETK Kablo as a Foil Screened Signal Cable Manufacturer

ETK Kablo manufactures foil-screened signal and control cables at its production facility in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The portfolio includes LIH(St)H and LI2Y(St)H constructions with standard, TP/TT and PiMF/TiMF configurations for distributors, automation contractors, system integrators, OEMs and industrial projects.

Other electrical-screening configurations are available within the wider LSZH signal control cable range.

What Determines Foil Screened Signal Cable Price?

Foil screened signal cable price depends on conductor cross-section, conductor or group count, copper content, conductor-insulation system, Al/PET screening materials, halogen-free jacket material, cable diameter, order quantity and required technical documentation.

PiMF/TiMF constructions also contain separate screens and earthing wires around individual pairs or triads. Their material content and manufacturing structure therefore differ from standard and TP/TT versions.

For a meaningful commercial comparison, quotations should use the same conductor size, conductor arrangement, screening configuration, fire-related requirements and documentation scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a foil screened signal cable?

It is a signal or control cable that uses a metallic foil around the cable core to provide electromagnetic screening. ETK Kablo uses Al/PET tape together with a tinned copper earthing wire in the products in this category.

What is LIH(St)H cable?

LIH(St)H is a foil-screened signal control cable with Class 5 copper conductors, halogen-free conductor insulation, an overall Al/PET foil screen and a halogen-free outer jacket.

What is LI2Y(St)H cable?

LI2Y(St)H uses Class 5 copper conductors with solid polyethylene insulation, an overall Al/PET foil screen and a halogen-free outer jacket.

What is the difference between LIH(St)H and LI2Y(St)H?

The main difference is conductor insulation. LIH(St)H uses halogen-free insulation, while LI2Y(St)H uses solid polyethylene insulation.

What do TP and TT mean?

TP refers to twisted pairs and TT refers to twisted triads. These terms describe conductor grouping and do not mean that each group is individually screened.

What do PiMF and TiMF mean?

PiMF refers to individually foil-screened pairs, while TiMF refers to individually foil-screened triads. These ETK Kablo constructions also include an overall foil screen around the complete cable core.

Is foil screening the same as armor?

No. An Al/PET foil is an electrical screen used for electromagnetic screening. It does not provide the mechanical protection of steel wire armor or steel wire braid.

Is an LSZH foil screened cable fire resistant?

Not automatically. LSZH and flame-retardant characteristics do not mean that the cable provides FE180, PH120 or another circuit-integrity rating.

Is LSZH the same as CPR?

No. LSZH relates to smoke and halogen behavior, while CPR defines reaction-to-fire classification. The relevant Declaration of Performance should be checked when a specific Euroclass is required.

What is the operating temperature?

ETK Kablo currently publishes an operating temperature range of -30°C to +70°C for the products in this category.

What is the minimum bending radius?

The current technical data specifies 7.5 × D, where D is the actual outer diameter of the selected cable.

What determines foil screened signal cable price?

Key factors include conductor cross-section, conductor or pair count, copper content, insulation system, screening configuration, order quantity and required technical documentation.