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Wiring and Cable Alternatives

Page - May 5, 2005
U.S. wire and cable manufacturers, distributors, and importers have a keen understanding of the issues involved in the debate over the use of halogenated (PVC) vs. halogen-free wire and cables and are in ready position to be a source for the various PVC alternatives.

The technology, tooling, and materials for creating halogen-free wire jacketing compounds is also readily available. In the U.S., the market for any given cable-jacketing material is not directed by personal preferences or conscious choice. Wire and cable manufacturers can only provide what is legal, by way of electrical codes, for installation by the end user.

Specific parameters for the types of cable jacketing permitted in given applications are largely dictated by the National Electrical Code (NEC), which affects electrical codes in most states and municipalities. Whereas the NEC does not specifically prohibit halogen-free wire or cable installation in any application, regulations governing the most important area of installation, plenum spaces, are dictated by kindling point standards which can only be met by halogenated materials. The kindling point of a given jacketed-material is largely determined for the NEC by the UL910 Steiner Tunnel Test, which is conducted by Underwriters Laboratories. Halogenated materials usually demonstrate a higher kindling point. However, there is no consideration for toxicity, corrosivity, smoke levels, or toxic byproducts created by burned or heated cable insulations in fire conditions within the NEC. Most studies conclude that these are the most prevalent causes of death and property damage in a fire.

One state, New York, requires that all building materials are tested for toxicity under the Pittsburgh Protocol (named for the university where it was developed), but relative toxicity of materials is not considered within the code itself.

It is important to recognize that under most circumstances where the end user is not constrained by electrical codes, such as military and public works projects, the choice is made to use halogen-free, low-smoke, jacketed materials in order to protect lives and property. The following is a representative listing of companies that are currently acting as sources for halogen-free electrical and fibre-optic wire and cable in the United States.

Distributors - Wire and Cable

Company Address Phone Fax Contact Comments
Annaheim Wire Products 766 North Lemon Street Annaheim CA 92867 714-771-2511 714-771-5043 Mike Lewis Halogen-Free Electronics and Automotive Applications.
Annixter 6400 Shafer Ct. Ste 350 Rosemont, IL 60018 847-825-7700 847-825-7701 Mike Barron Halogen-Free Medium Voltage and Communications Cables.
Chase Wire and Cable 1822 Winchester Road Huntsville, AL 35811 205-859-4443 205-859-2945 Winston Sanders Halogen-Free Building, Telephone, Alarm, and Computer Wire.
Dynamic Wire 10846 Stanford Avenue Linwood, CA 90262 800-807-5892 310-603-9797 Jerry Clifford All Types of Halogen-Free Cable, Commercial Applications.
Tannenhill 1210 West 96th Bloomington, MA 55431 800-633-6339 612-881-0743 Sales Halogen-Free Cable, Commercial Applications.

Importers - Wire and Cable

Company Address Phone Fax Contact Comments
Multi-Contact USA 901 Winslow Avenue Woodstock, IL. 60098 815-334-9530 815-334-9529 Sales Silicon, Jacketed, Stranded Leads.

Manufacturers - Wire and Cable

Company Address Phone Fax Contact Comments
American Insulated Wire 36 Freeman Street Pawtucket, R.I. 02862 401-726-0700 401-723-1420 Sales - Paul Petit Halogen-Free, Commercial Applications, Telephone Switching, Building Wire and Custom Order Uses.
Autac, Incorporated 2180 Foxon Road North Brandon, CT. 06471 203-481-3444 203-488-0496 Peter Oddy Commercial Applications, Computer, Medical, and Power Cord Uses.
Barcel Wire and Cable Corporation 2851 Alton Avenue Irvine, CA 92714 800-289-8201 N/A John McCain Specialty Wrapped Products, High Temp Applications, Military Applications.
Bay Asociates, Inc. 150 Jefferson Drive - Dept. T Manlo Park, CA 94025 800-552-0661 415-327-4171 Charles O'Loughlin Halogen-Free, High Flexibility Uses, Commercial Applications.
Beldon Wire 2300 US Hwy, 27 South Richmond, IN 47374 800-235-3364 317-983-5780 Customer Service Halogen-Free, Commercial Applications, Copper and Fibre-Optics.
BICC Brandrex 1600 W. Main Street Willmantie, Ct. 06226 860-456-8000 860-450-7017 Dennis Chaulk Halogen-Free, Commercial and Military Applications, Copper, and Fiber Optics.
Brim Electronics Post Office Box 336 Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 201-796-2886 201-778-2792 Barry Danzinger Halogen-Free, Commercial Electronics Applications.
Calmont Wire and Cable, Incorporated 420T E. Alton Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92707 714-549-0336 714-549-4028 Bruce McDonald Halogen-Free, Commercial Applications, High Voltage Outdoor to High Flexibility Electronics.
Colhersee Co. Meyer Wire and Cable 1072T Sherman Avenue Hamden, CT 06514 203-281-0817 203-281-9648 Brian Meyer Polyethylene, Computer, Medical and Electronic Applications.
The Essex Group 1601 Wall Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 219-461-4000 219-461-4980 Fred Dittman Cross Link Polypropylene, Industrial and Automotive Use.
EZ Form Cable Corporation 315 Pack Street New Haven, CT 04413 203-785-8215 203-785-0466 Tom Ricard Halogen-Free Semi-Rigid Coaxial Cable, Medical Applications.
JIC Industrail Company, Incorporated 978 Hanson Ct. Milpitas, CA 95035 408-747-1223 408-935-9898 Sales Polyethylene, Medical Applications.
Monroe Cable Company 14 Commercial Avenue Middleton, NY 10941 914-692-2800 914-692-8041 Glen Blaunstein Water Jacketed Halogen-Free, Shipboard and Shipyard.
Optical Cable Corporation 5290 Concourse Roanoke, VA 24019 800-622-7711 540-265-0724 Kyle Crosswhite Halogen-Free, R&D Stages.
QS Technologies Incorporated 602A Pomeroy Avenue Meridan, CT 06450 203-237-2297 203-634-8756 Ed Broccoli Halogen-Free.
Supreraus 172 Sterling Street Clinton, MA 01510 978-368-1401 978-365-4054 Zefar Jafry Halogen-Free Coaxial Instrumentation Cable, Computer Applications, Military Applications.
Whitmar Wire and Cable Corporation 27737 Avenue Hopkins Valencia, CA 91355 805-257-2400 805-257-2495 Michael Weiss Low Smoke Zero Halogen.

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