Power, data, and control cables are subjected to rigorous testing and certification processes to ensure maximum reliability and safety of the installation. These cables must comply with international electrical cable standards, which provide a set of requirements, recommendations, and procedures for the design, manufacture, testing, and installation of cables, such as their electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, or resistance to environmental factors. The most common international standards for electrical cables are as follows.
IEC | INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION | MOST COMMON STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards stand out as the global reference for the manufacture and use of cables. Some of the most common IEC standards for electrical cables are as follows:
IEC Standards
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| IEC 60092 | Electrical installations in ships. |
| IEC 60228 | Conductors of insulated cables – Guide to the dimensional limits of circular connectors. |
| IEC 60331 | Tests for electric cables under fire conditions. Circuit integrity. |
| IEC 60332-1 | Tests on electric and optical fiber cables under fire conditions – Test for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable. |
| IEC 60332-3 | Tests on electric cables under fire conditions – Test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables. |
| IEC 60502-1 | Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rated voltages from 1 kV (Um = 1.2 kV) to 30 kV (Um = 36 kV) – Part 1: Cables for rated voltages of 1 kV (Um = 1.2 kV) and 3 kV (Um = 3.6 kV). |
| IEC 60754-1 | Test on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables – Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas. |
| IEC 60754-2 | Test on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables – Determination of acidity (by pH measurement) and conductivity. |
| IEC 60793-1 | Optical fibers. |
| IEC 60794-1 | Optical fiber cables. |
| IEC 61034-2 | Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions. |
EN | EUROPEAN NORM | MOST COMMON STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES
The European Norm (EN) standards stand out as the European reference for the manufacture and use of cables. Some of the most common EN standards for electrical cables are as follows:
EN Standards
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| EN 50200 | Method of test for resistance to fire of unprotected small cables for use in emergency circuits. |
| EN 50288-7 | Sectional specification for instrumentation and control cables. |
| EN 50363 | Insulating, sheathing, and covering materials for low voltage energy cables. |
| EN 60228 | Conductors of insulated cables. |
| EN 60332-1 | Test for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable. |
| EN 60332-2 | Test for vertical flame propagation for a single small insulated wire or cable. |
| EN 60332-3 | Test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables. |
| EN 61034 | Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions. |
BS | BRITISH STANDARD INSTITUTION | MOST COMMON STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES
The British Standard (BS) standards stand out as the UK reference for the manufacture and use of cables. Some of the most common BS standards for electrical cables are as follows:
BS Standards
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| BS 5266-1 | Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises. |
| BS 6839-1 | Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of systems. |
| BS 5839-6 | Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings. |
| BS 5839-8 | Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of voice alarm systems. |
| BS 5839-9 | Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of emergency voice communication systems. |
| BS 6387 | Specification for performance requirements for cables required to maintain circuit integrity under fire conditions. |
| BS 7211 | Electric cables. Thermosetting insulated, non-armoured cables for voltages up to and including 450/750 V, for electric power, lighting, and internal wiring, with low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire. |
| BS 7629-1 | Electric cables. Specification for fire-resistant cables with low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire. Multicore and multipair cables. |
| BS 9717 | Fire-resistant elastomer insulated cables (limited circuit integrity) for fixed wiring in ships and on mobile and fixed offshore units – Requirements and test methods. |
| BS 7846 | Electric cables. Thermosetting insulated, armoured, fire-resistant cables of rated voltage 600/1000 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire. Specification. |
| BS 8434-2 | Methods of test for the assessment of the fire integrity of electric cables. Test for unprotected small cables for use in emergency circuits (EN 50200 with a 930° flame and water spray). |
| BS 8491 | Method for the assessment of the fire integrity of large diameter power cables for use as components for smoke and heat control systems and certain other active fire safety systems. |
| BS 8519 | Selection and installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems for life safety and fire-fighting applications. Code of practice. |
CEI | COMITATO ELETTROTECNICO ITALIANO | MOST COMMON STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES
The Comitato Elettrotecnico Italiano (CEI) standards stand out as the Italian reference for the manufacture and use of cables. Some of the most common CEI standards for electrical cables are as follows:
CEI/EN Standards
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| CEI 20-11 / EN 50363 | Insulating, sheathing, and covering materials for low voltage energy cables. |
| CEI 20-36 / 2-1 | Tests for electric cables under fire conditions – Circuit integrity – Section 21: Procedures and requirements – Cables rated voltage less than or equal to 0.6/1.0 kV. |
| CEI 20-45 | Fire-resistant halogen-free (LSZH) elastomer insulated cables with rated voltage. |
DIN | DEUTSCHES INSTITUT FÜR NORMUNG | MOST COMMON STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES
The Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) standards stand out as the German reference for the manufacture and use of cables. Some of the most common DIN standards for electrical cables are as follows:
DIN Standards
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| DIN 4102 | Reaction to fire of building materials and components. Part 12: Maintenance of electrical cable systems circuit integrity; requirements and tests. |
NBN | NORME BELGE | MOST COMMON STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES
The Norme Belge (NBN) standards stand out as the Belgian reference for the manufacture and use of cables. Some of the most common NBN standards for electrical cables are as follows:
NBN Standards
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| NBN C 30-004 | Fire resistance of electrical cables – Classification and test methods. |
| NBN 713-020 | Fire resistance of building materials. |
NF | NORME FRANÇAISE | MOST COMMON STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES
The Norme Française (NF) standards stand out as the French reference for the manufacture and use of cables. Some of the most common NF standards for electrical cables are as follows:
NF Standards
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| NF-C-32-070 | Insulated and flexible cables for installations – Classification tests of cables and cords with respect to their reaction to fire. |
