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

What is PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 MICA/XLPE/ICAM/LSZH Cable?

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 MICA/XLPE/ICAM/LSZH cable is a low-voltage, fire-resistant, unarmoured, individually and collectively screened multi-pair communication and instrumentation cable featuring plain copper conductors, MICA tape thermal barriers, XLPE insulation, individual and overall Al/PET electrostatic tape screens with tinned copper drain wires, and an LSZH outer protective jacket complying with BS/PAS 5308 and EN 60228 standards. It is designed for fixed indoor transmission of analogue, data, or voice signals up to 300/500V from critical field transducers—such as pressure transmitters, proximity sensors, and emergency microphones—in petrochemical and industrial environments where circuit operation must be sustained during fire incidents.

Engineered for high-security signal transmission in harsh industrial and fire-risk zones, the cable utilizes helically wound inorganic MICA tape directly over each conductor, forming a vitrified ceramic barrier that preserves electrical separation even after the primary XLPE insulation is subjected to extreme fire temperatures. Furthermore, the dual-stage screening architecture—incorporating individual pair-by-pair Al/PET foil wraps to completely suppress internal capacitive cross-talk, complemented by a collective Al/PET screen to deflect external electromagnetic interference (EMI)—ensures uncompromised signal fidelity across low-level measurement circuits.

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 MICA/XLPE/ICAM/LSZH 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 wrapped helically over the copper conductors to deliver superior circuit integrity during active fires.
• Insulation: Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) compound providing low mutual capacitance, high insulation resistance (>5 GΩ/km at 20°C), and excellent dielectric endurance.
• Individual Screen: Aluminium/Polyester tape (Al/PET) with a continuous tinned copper drain wire applied over each pair to prevent circuit-to-circuit cross-talk.
• Bedding / Inner Layer: Concentric stranded pair bundle wrapped to maintain compact cable geometry and ease of installation.
• Collective Screen: Overall Aluminium/Polyester tape (Al/PET) with an integral tinned copper drain wire providing 100% electrostatic coverage against external electromagnetic noise.
• 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 identifiable by standardized British industrial colour codes and numbered printing.
• Sheath Colour: Red (fire emergency systems), Black (general industrial circuits), or Blue (intrinsically safe loops).

Applications

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 MICA/XLPE/ICAM/LSZH cables are specifically engineered for transmitting critical voice, telemetry, transducer feeds, and automated control signals where uninterrupted circuit survivability during a fire is paramount. Their unarmoured, space-saving design is intended for indoor installations, cable trays, raceways, and enclosed architectural risers where external mechanical crush risks 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.
• Life Safety & Emergency Speech Systems: Connecting voice alarms, public address systems, smoke extraction controls, and emergency microphones in transit and commercial facilities.
• Process Control Rooms & DCS Cabinets: Multi-pair analog and digital transducer links requiring individual pair shielding to eliminate cross-talk between differing signal levels.
• Enclosed Public Transport & Commercial Buildings: Risers, transit terminals, and data rooms requiring zero halogen acid gas emission and circuit integrity under fire.

Specifications & Dimensions

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 MICA/XLPE/ICAM/LSZH cable series covers multi-pair configurations from 2 pairs (2P) up to 30 pairs (30P) 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. 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 115 pF/m to 120 pF/m for individually screened pairs, 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 ICAM fire resistant cables in full compliance with British and European electrical and life-safety standards:

Design & Testing Standards: BS/PAS 5308, EN 60228
Flame Retardancy: IEC/EN 60332-1-2 (Single cable vertical test), IEC/EN 60332-3-24 (Bunched cable vertical test)
Fire Resistance & Smoke Emission: Inorganic MICA tape fire-barrier construction; Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound emission
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 difference between CAM and ICAM screening in PAS BS 5308 fire-resistant cables?
A: CAM cables feature only a collective Al/PET foil screen over the entire core bundle, whereas ICAM cables incorporate an individual Al/PET screen on each pair in addition to the collective screen, delivering complete isolation against intra-cable cross-talk between adjacent channels.

Q: How does the MICA tape preserve electrical transmission during a fire?
A: MICA tape is an inorganic, high-temperature dielectric barrier; when polymer insulation decomposes during a fire, the MICA layers remain physically stable around each conductor, preventing metallic contact, phase-to-phase shorts, and ground faults to sustain circuit continuity.

Q: Can this PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 cable be directly buried in the ground?
A: No, Part 1 Type 1 cables are unarmoured and engineered specifically for indoor cable trays, enclosed ducts, and sheltered raceways; for direct burial applications or heavy mechanical crush hazards, steel wire armoured (Part 1 Type 2) cables must be specified.

Q: What payment terms does Huadong Cable accept for international industrial export 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 ICAM 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 continuous individual and collective Al/PET screening foils, tinned copper drain wires, 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.