PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 MICA/XLPE/CAM/LSZH Cable

What is PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 Fire Resistant Cable?

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 MICA/XLPE/CAM/LSZH cable is a low-voltage, fire-resistant, unarmoured, and collectively screened multi-element communication and instrumentation cable featuring plain copper conductors, MICA tape fire barriers, XLPE insulation, an overall Al/PET electrostatic screen with tinned copper drain wire, and an LSZH outer sheath complying with BS/PAS 5308 and EN 60228 standards.

Engineered to ensure continuous circuit integrity for analogue telemetry, transducer monitoring, emergency speech systems, and data transmission during a fire, the cable incorporates high-temperature inorganic MICA tape over the conductors. This ceramic glass-like barrier prevents electrical short-circuits under extreme thermal exposure, while the collective Al/PET foil screen suppresses electrostatic interference and high-frequency noise from neighboring industrial circuits, all enveloped in a zero-halogen compound that eliminates toxic acid gases and dense black smoke.

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 Fire Resistant Cable Construction

• Conductor: 0.5mm² and 0.75mm²: Class 5 flexible plain copper; 1.0mm²: Class 1 solid / Class 2 stranded plain copper; 1.5mm² and 2.5mm²: Class 2 stranded plain annealed copper conforming to EN 60228.
• Fire Barrier: High-purity inorganic MICA tape helically applied over the copper conductors to ensure circuit integrity under fire.
• Insulation: Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) compound providing low mutual capacitance, high insulation resistance (>5 GΩ/km at 20°C), and excellent dielectric strength.
• Bedding / Inner Layer: Concentric multi-pair, multi-triple, or quad bunched core assembly optimized for compact cross-sections and smooth cable handling.
• Screen / Armour: Collective Aluminium/Polyester Tape (Al/PET) with a continuous tinned copper drain wire providing 100% electrostatic coverage against external EMI.
• Outer Sheath: Thermoplastic Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound, flame retardant per IEC/EN 60332-1-2 and bunched fire test IEC/EN 60332-3-24.
• Core Identification: Pairs, Triples, and Quads identifiable by standardized color coding schemes and numerical printing.
• Sheath Colour: Red (standard fire safety), Black (general industrial), or Blue (for intrinsically safe circuits).

Applications

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 fire-resistant cables are specifically engineered for transmitting critical voice, data, and analogue telemetry signals from transducers—such as pressure monitors, proximity switches, and microphones—in environments where circuit survival during a fire is paramount. Their unarmoured, lightweight profile makes them ideal for indoor installations, cable trays, raceways, and enclosed architectural risers where external mechanical crush hazards are absent.

Typical installation environments include:

• Petrochemical Units & Refineries: Critical emergency shutdown systems (ESD), gas detection loops, and intrinsically safe sensor networks using blue-sheathed variants.
• Fire Alarm & Public Address Systems: Connecting voice alarms, smoke evacuation controls, and emergency communication apparatus in commercial and public complexes.
• Process Control Rooms & Plant Marshaling: Multi-pair analog and digital transducer links requiring total electrostatic noise protection.
• Enclosed Public Transport & Tunnels: Indoor and underground duct runs requiring zero halogen acid emission and circuit continuity during fire emergencies.

Specifications & Dimensions

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 MICA/XLPE/CAM/LSZH cable series covers 1 pair (1P) to 20 pairs (20P), 1 triple (1T), and 2-pair quad [2P(Q)] configurations across nominal conductor cross-sections of 0.5mm², 0.75mm², 1.0mm², 1.5mm², and 2.5mm². Operating at a rated voltage of 300/500V, the cable supports fixed installations from -40°C to +80°C and flexed moved installation from 0°C to +50°C, maintaining a compact minimum bending radius of 6× overall diameter. Maximum conductor DC resistance values at 20°C range from 39 Ω/km (0.5mm²) down to 7.41 Ω/km (2.5mm²), with mutual capacitance of 75 pF/m to 120 pF/m, minimum insulation resistance exceeding 5 GΩ/km, and maximum L/R ratios between 25 µH/Ω and 65 µH/Ω, with all dimensions manufactured in strict compliance with BS/PAS 5308 and European harmonized tolerances.

Standards

Huadong Cable Group manufactures and factory-inspects PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 fire resistant cables in full compliance with British and European electrical and life-safety standards:

Design & Testing Standards: BS/PAS 5308, EN 60228
Fire Resistance & Flame Retardancy: Flame Retardant according to IEC/EN 60332-1-2 and IEC/EN 60332-3-24
Smoke & Halogen Directives: Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) emissions protecting personnel and sensitive electronic hardware
Voltage Rating (Uo/U): 300/500V
Temperature Spectrum: Fixed: -40°C to +80°C; Flexed/Installation: 0°C to +50°C
Regulatory Compliance: CE Marked, European Regulation EN 50575 (CPR Compliant), Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, RoHS Directive 2015/65/EU, REACH EC 1907/2006

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the primary role of the MICA tape layer in this cable?
A: MICA tape acts as an inorganic thermal barrier directly over the copper conductors; in the event of a fire when polymer insulation burns away, the MICA tape remains intact to prevent phase-to-phase or phase-to-ground short circuits, ensuring uninterrupted circuit operation.

Q: Can PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 cables be installed outdoors or directly underground?
A: No, Part 1 Type 1 cables are unarmoured and engineered specifically for indoor use or within protected raceways where mechanical crush hazards are absent; for direct burial or outdoor exposure, steel wire armoured (Part 1 Type 2) variants must be specified.

Q: Why are these fire-resistant cables available in Red, Black, and Blue outer sheaths?
A: Red is universally recognized for dedicated fire alarm and life-safety emergency circuits, blue designates intrinsically safe (IS) instrumentation loops in explosive hazardous environments, and black serves standard industrial process control systems.

Q: What payment terms does Huadong Cable accept for international project supply orders?
A: We accept standard international commercial payment terms including Telegraphic Transfer (T/T) and 100% Irrevocable Letter of Credit (L/C) at sight for engineering contractors, system integrators, and plant infrastructure builders.

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 – Why Choose Huadong Cable?

Huadong Cable Group manufactures PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 fire-resistant instrumentation cables to the highest international quality criteria, verified through rigorous IEC/EN 60332-1-2 and IEC/EN 60332-3-24 flame propagation tests. Utilizing high-conductivity Class 5 flexible or Class 2 stranded plain annealed copper conductors, our automated extrusion lines apply precision MICA thermal barriers paired with XLPE core insulation to deliver superior dielectric strength, low mutual capacitance, and insulation resistances exceeding 5 GΩ/km. Combined with a continuous collective Al/PET screening foil, tinned copper drain wire, and a zero-halogen flame-retardant outer sheath, our cables guarantee mission-critical communication continuity and life safety in hazardous processing facilities.

With more than 20 years of precision cable engineering expertise, Huadong Cable Group operates advanced multi-pair bunching, planetary cabling, electrostatic shielding, and polymer extrusion workshops certified to ISO 9001, CE, CPR (EN 50575), RoHS, and REACH protocols. By supplying directly from our manufacturing base, we offer competitive factory pricing, 100% routine and type test Mill Test Certificates (MTC) tested in accredited testing facilities, customized continuous drum lengths packaged on ISPM 15 heat-treated export wooden reels, and seamless door-to-port logistics for EPC contractors and industrial instrumentation builders worldwide.