PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 Mica/XLPE/CAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH Cable

What is PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 Fire Resistant Cable?

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 Mica/XLPE/CAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cable is a low-voltage, fire-resistant, collective screened, and galvanised steel wire armoured (SWA) multi-element instrumentation cable featuring plain copper conductors, inorganic MICA tape fire barriers, XLPE insulation, an overall Al/PET electrostatic screen with tinned copper drain wire, an LSZH inner sheath, SWA armour, and an LSZH outer protective jacket complying with BS/PAS 5308, EN 60228, and IEC/EN 60331-21 standards.

Engineered to deliver uninterrupted circuit integrity for analogue, data, or voice signals up to 300/500V from critical field transducers—such as pressure monitors, proximity detectors, and emergency communication microphones—this cable withstands aggressive mechanical crush loads, tensile pull, and direct flame exposure in petrochemical and industrial facilities. The MICA tape layer vitrifies into a rigid ceramic insulative shell under intense fire conditions to prevent core-to-core short circuits, the SWA armour provides heavy mechanical defense and direct underground burial capability, and the dual LSZH jacket design prevents dense smoke evolution and corrosive halogen acid gas emissions.

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 Mica/XLPE/CAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH Cable Construction

• Conductor: 0.5mm² and 0.75mm²: Class 5 flexible stranded 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 each conductor to ensure electrical circuit integrity under active fire per IEC/EN 60331-21.
• Insulation: Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) compound providing low mutual capacitance, high dielectric strength, and high insulation resistance (>5 GΩ/km at 20°C).
• Collective Screen: Overall Aluminium/Polyester tape (Al/PET) with a continuous tinned copper drain wire providing 100% electrostatic coverage against external EMI.
• Inner Sheath / Bedding: Extruded thermoplastic Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound providing a uniform protective cushion for the metallic armour.
• Armour: Galvanised Steel Wire Armour (SWA) helically applied to deliver heavy-duty mechanical crush protection, tensile capability, and direct burial suitability.
• Outer Sheath: Thermoplastic Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound, flame retardant per IEC/EN 60332-1-2 and bunched fire test IEC/EN 60332-3-22/24.
• Core Identification: Pairs, Triples, and Quads identifiable via standardized British industrial colour codes and numerical markings.
• Sheath Colour: Red (for dedicated fire emergency circuits), Black (for general industrial process lines), or Blue (for intrinsically safe loops).

Applications

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 Mica/XLPE/CAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cables are specifically engineered for transmitting critical emergency speech, shutdown telemetry, transducer signals, and supervisory automated control links where both circuit survival under fire and heavy physical protection are mandatory. Their robust steel wire armour and halogen-free construction make them ideal for outdoor plant raceways, direct underground burial, and harsh industrial environments.

Typical installation environments include:

• Direct Burial Applications: Underground cable trenches and perimeter duct runs in process plants at suitable burial depths without auxiliary conduits.
• Petrochemical Units & Refineries: Critical emergency shutdown systems (ESD), combustible 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 fans, and emergency microphones in transit and commercial facilities.
• Heavy Industrial Cable Trays: Outdoor installations and plant galleries subject to mechanical impact, vibrations, and rodent damage.

Specifications & Dimensions

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 Mica/XLPE/CAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cable portfolio 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 minimum bending radius of 12× overall diameter for fixed setups. Maximum conductor DC resistance values at 20°C range from 39 Ω/km (0.5mm²) down to 7.41 Ω/km (2.5mm²), with maximum mutual capacitance values of 115 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 2 armoured 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: IEC/EN 60331-21 (Fire resistance test under flame)
Flame Retardancy: IEC/EN 60332–2, IEC/EN 60332-3-22, IEC/EN 60332-3-24
Halogen-Free & Smoke Emission: IEC/EN 61034-1/2 (Low Smoke Density), IEC/EN 60754-1/2 (Zero Halogen Acid Gas)
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 PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 and Part 1 Type 2 fire-resistant cables?
A: Part 1 Type 1 cables are unarmoured and engineered strictly for indoor installations or protected raceways, whereas Part 1 Type 2 cables incorporate Galvanised Steel Wire Armour (SWA) and an inner LSZH bedding, making them suitable for direct underground burial and high-mechanical-impact areas.

Q: How do the MICA tape and SWA armour work together during an industrial emergency?
A: The MICA tape layer functions as an inorganic fire-barrier preserving conductor insulation and circuit continuity under direct flame impingement per IEC/EN 60331-21, while the heavy SWA armour shields the cable against physical impacts from structural debris or heavy ground loads.

Q: Why are these fire-resistant cables supplied in Red, Black, and Blue outer sheaths?
A: Red indicates dedicated life-safety and fire emergency circuits, blue identifies 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 2 – Why Choose Huadong Cable?

Huadong Cable Group manufactures PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 fire-resistant armoured instrumentation cables to the highest international quality criteria, verified through rigorous IEC/EN 60331-21 fire resistance and IEC/EN 60332-3-22/24 bunched vertical 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, an LSZH inner sheath, heavy galvanised steel wire armour (SWA), and a zero-halogen outer jacket, our cables guarantee mission-critical communication continuity and structural survivability in hazardous processing facilities.

With more than 20 years of precision cable engineering expertise, Huadong Cable Group operates advanced multi-pair bunching, planetary cabling, high-tensile wire armouring, 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.