PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 MICA/XLPE/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH Cable

What is PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 MICA/XLPE/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH Cable?

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

Engineered for high-security signal transmission where extreme physical durability and uninterrupted circuit continuity are required, this cable withstands harsh direct flame impingement, heavy mechanical impact, and soil crush loads in industrial and petrochemical plants. The ceramic-forming MICA tape barrier prevents electrical short-circuits during severe fire emergencies, the individual pair Al/PET shielding suppresses internal capacitive cross-talk between adjacent channels carrying differing signal levels, and the heavy galvanised steel wire armour provides high tensile strength and radial crush resistance for direct underground burial.

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 MICA/XLPE/ICAM/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).
• 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.
• Collective Screen: Overall Aluminium/Polyester tape (Al/PET) with an integral tinned copper drain wire providing 100% electrostatic coverage against external EMI.
• Inner Sheath / Bedding: Extruded thermoplastic Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound serving as a protective cushion for the armour wires.
• 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 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/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cables are specifically engineered for transmitting critical voice, data, transducer feeds, and automated emergency control signals where enhanced signal security, circuit survival during a fire, and high mechanical protection are required. Their dual-screened, steel wire armoured, and zero-halogen architecture makes them ideal for outdoor plant raceways, direct underground burial, and aggressive industrial environments.

Typical installation environments include:

• Direct Burial Applications: Underground 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.
• High-Security Transducer Marshaling: Multi-pair analog and digital transducer links requiring individual pair shielding to isolate differing voltage and frequency signals from mutual cross-talk.
• Public Infrastructure & Heavy Plant Galleries: Risers, transport tunnels, and offshore modules requiring zero halogen acid gas emissions and structural survivability during fire emergencies.

Specifications & Dimensions

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 MICA/XLPE/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cable portfolio 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 minimum bending radius of 12× overall diameter for fixed installations. 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 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 overall dimensions strictly manufactured in compliance with BS/PAS 5308 and European harmonized tolerances.

Standards

Huadong Cable Group manufactures and factory-inspects PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 ICAM fire-resistant armoured cables in full compliance with British and European electrical, mechanical, 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 60332-1-2, IEC/EN 60332-3-22, IEC/EN 60332-3-24
Halogen-Free & Smoke Emission: IEC/EN 61034-2 (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 CAM and ICAM in PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 fire-resistant cables?
A: CAM cables feature only a collective Al/PET screen over the entire core assembly, whereas ICAM cables incorporate individual Al/PET foil screens with dedicated drain wires on each pair in addition to the collective screen, delivering complete suppression of intra-cable cross-talk between adjacent channels.

Q: How does the combination of MICA tape, ICAM screens, and SWA armour protect critical circuits?
A: The MICA tape layer vitrifies to prevent phase-to-phase short-circuits under direct flame impingement per IEC/EN 60331-21, the individual and collective Al/PET screens eliminate cross-talk and electromagnetic interference, and the Galvanised Steel Wire Armour (SWA) provides mechanical crush and tensile protection for direct underground burial.

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 petrochemical 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, petrochemical plants, and automation system integrators.

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 – Why Choose Huadong Cable?

Huadong Cable Group manufactures PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 ICAM fire-resistant armoured 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 individual and collective Al/PET screening foils, an LSZH inner bedding sheath, heavy galvanised steel wire armour (SWA), and a zero-halogen outer jacket, our cables guarantee total signal isolation 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.