A genuine ‘low smoke cable’ is manufactured from materials which, in a fire, produce very low levels of smoke, gas and reduce the spread of flame. Such cables are commonly termed Halogen Free, Low Smoke & Fume (LSF), Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH), or Zero Halogen Low Smoke (ZHLS). Low smoke cables have distinctive thermoplastic or thermoset compounds rather than the traditional PVC for their insulation, bedding, fillers and sheathing. In the event of a fire, traditional materials containing halogens can release hydrogen chloride gas (HCl) which in the presence of water produces hydrochloric acid. HCl on the skin can cause severe burns and inhalation of HCl fumes can cause death.