FR means FLAME RETARDANT,

It has got resistance to fire momentarily (by adding fillers in PVC compound) at the cost of decreasing in insulation properties (viz. Volume resistivity, ageing properties) by at least 10% comparing to normal PVC Moreover its conductor temperature withstanding capability (during overload) remains only at 70 deg C same as ordinary PVC cables.

Flame Retardant Low Smoke FRLS IS 694: 1990.

PVC has got fire retardant properties due to its halogen content. The fire in the gets extinguished immediately on removal of the fire source. In cable gallery many PVC cables are bunched in the cable shaft or on cable trays. In case of fire in these cables the fire becomes self-sustaining. Moreover due to the burning of PVC a dense corrosive smoke is emitted which makes fire fighting very difficult, due to poor visibility and toxic nature of the smoke, HCL content of the smoke, not only damages other costly equipment lying near by, but also penetrates the RCC and corrodes the steel reinforcement.

To overcome these deficiencies FRLS i.e. Fire Retardant Low Smoke PVC was developed. If required, Fire Retardant Low Smoke (FRLS) PVC inner sheath and/or outer sheath is available.
This PVC compound, apart from meeting the requirements of Type ST2 as per IS5831, has got better fire retardant properties and it emits lower smoke and acid fumes when it catches fire. FRLS has special flame retardant, low smoke emitting and toxic fumes suppressing properties, in addition to the properties required by IS 694: 1990. The word FRLS is used in India, is for "fire retardant low smoke", which are wires & cables insulated & sheathed with fire retardant low smoke PVC polymer. You should not confuse it with fire resistant/survival cables that are capable of surviving fire for 30 minutes to three hours. By surviving I mean that these cables continue to conduct electricity in case of actual fire. This is because of special construction of fire resistant cables because of which the cable is able to survive fire, water and mechanical stress.

FR & FRLS PVC compounds are said to be flame retardant because they have better LOI (limiting Oxygen Index) and TI (temperature Index) than ordinary PVC, but, only better LOI & TI does not guarantee better flame retardant properties. LOI & TI are only quality control tests and flame retardant testing is incomplete without finished cable testing as per IEC 332-1 &3. Moreover, all the FR and FRLS PVC compounds contain antimony trioxide which is a probable carcinogen. When inhaled,ATO can cause irritation of the respiratory track, mouth, nose & stomach. It may also cause the heart to beat irregularly or even stop. The use of FR & FRLS PVC compounds does not solve the issues of dense black smoke and HCL acid gas emitting from burning which are the main cause of loss of human lifes during fire accidents, as was the case in the current Carlton Towers fire at Bangalore.
Outer sheath shall be of PVC black in colour. In addition to meeting all the requirements of Indian standards referred to, outer sheath of all the cables shall have the following FRLS properties. (a.) Oxygen index of min. 29 (Test method as per IS 10810 Part-58) (b.) Acid gas emission of max. 20% as per IEC-754 (Part-I) (c.) Smoke density rating shall not be more than 60% during Smoke Density Test as per ASTMD-2843.

Typical FRLS Properties exhibited by these Cables: Minimum oxygen Index Temperature Index Halogen Acid Gas Generation Test Smoke Density Rating Test Min. 29 Min. 250C Max. 20% (by weight) Max. 60%

Flame Retardance withstands flame test as per specification IEC 332-1, (single cable), TEEE383 (bunched cable) Swedish Chimney SS-424-14-75, (Class F3 upto cable diameters of 70 mm only).
The minimum concentration of oxygen, expressed as percent by volume, in a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen that will just support combustion of a material under conditions of ASTM D 2863, Standard Test Method for Measuring the Minimum Oxygen Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index).