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

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

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 XLPE/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cable is a low-voltage, individually and collectively screened, galvanised steel wire armoured (SWA) multi-pair communication and instrumentation cable featuring plain copper conductors, Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) core insulation, individual and overall Al/PET electrostatic tape screens with tinned copper drain wires, an extruded LSZH inner bedding sheath, SWA armour, and a flame-retardant LSZH outer jacket complying with BS/PAS 5308 and EN 60228 standards. It is designed for fixed transmission of analogue, digital data, or voice signals up to 300/500V from critical field transducers—such as pressure sensors, proximity detectors, and microphones—in industrial and petrochemical process environments where enhanced signal security and heavy mechanical protection are required.

Engineered to deliver uncompromised telemetry accuracy across electrically turbulent and physically demanding plant sectors, this cable utilizes pair-by-pair individual Al/PET foil wraps to completely eliminate intra-cable cross-talk between adjacent circuits carrying differing signal levels, while the collective Al/PET screen deflects external high-frequency electromagnetic interference (EMI). Beneath the halogen-free outer jacket, heavy helical galvanised steel wire armour provides superior tensile strength and radial crush resistance, allowing safe direct burial in ground trenches and surface routing in exposed petrochemical raceways without emitting toxic halogen gases or dense black smoke during fires.

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 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.
• Insulation: Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) compound providing low mutual capacitance, high dielectric strength, and high insulation resistance (>25 MΩ/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 shielding against external EMI.
• Bedding / Inner Sheath: 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 60332-3-24.
• Core Identification: Individually screened pairs are number-coded with Pair 1 colouring (Black/Blue), or standard BS 5308 colour-coded pairs extending up to 50 pairs.
• Sheath Colour: Blue (for intrinsically safe circuits) or Black (for general industrial instrumentation).

Applications

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 XLPE/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cables are specifically engineered for interconnecting measuring instruments, process transducers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and supervisory distributed control systems (DCS) where both individual pair channel isolation, zero-halogen life safety, and heavy mechanical crush resistance are mandatory. Their dual-screened, steel wire armoured, and zero-halogen architecture makes them ideal for outdoor exposed plant raceways, enclosed tunnels, and direct underground burial in aggressive petrochemical environments.

Typical installation environments include:

• Direct Burial Applications: Direct underground burial in plant utility corridors and perimeter trenches at suitable depths without auxiliary conduit systems.
• Petrochemical Units & Refineries: Transmitting sensitive analogue 4-20mA transducer signals and digital telemetry across outdoor processing units.
• Intrinsically Safe (IS) Circuits: Hazardous-area low-energy signal networks identified via the dedicated blue outer jacket.
• Public Infrastructure & Confined Spaces: Underground rail transit systems, passenger terminals, offshore modules, and data centers requiring zero toxic halogen acid gas emissions and low smoke density under fire.

Specifications & Dimensions

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 XLPE/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cable series covers multi-pair configurations from 2 pairs (2P) up to 30 pairs (30P), including 3-pair layouts, 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 ambient temperatures 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. 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 25 MΩ/km, and maximum L/R ratios between 25 µH/Ω and 65 µH/Ω, with all overall dimensions and nominal weights 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 armoured instrumentation cables to guarantee complete adherence to British and European electrical, mechanical, and life-safety directives:

Design Standards: BS/PAS 5308, EN 60228
Flame Retardancy: IEC/EN 60332-1-2 (Single cable vertical test), IEC/EN 60332-3-24 (Bunched vertical fire test)
Halogen-Free & Smoke Emission: Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound emission eliminating corrosive acid gas evolution
Mechanical & Environmental Defense: Galvanised Steel Wire Armour (SWA) suitable for outdoor exposed runs and direct burial
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 XLPE/LSZH armoured cables?
A: CAM cables feature only an overall collective Al/PET screen over the core bundle, 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: What mechanical advantage does Galvanised Steel Wire Armour (SWA) provide for this cable?
A: SWA armour provides continuous longitudinal tensile strength and radial impact protection, shielding the internal cores from trench rock compaction, shifting ground loads, and heavy mechanical damage during direct burial.

Q: What is the minimum bending radius required for PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 SWA cables?
A: The cable requires a minimum bending radius of 12 times the overall diameter (12× OD) for fixed installations to accommodate the mechanical stiffness of the steel armour wires without damaging the internal collective aluminum screen.

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 procurement 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 ICAM armoured instrumentation cables in strict conformity with British BS/PAS 5308 specifications and EN 60228 conductor standards, verified through rigorous IEC/EN 60332-1-2 and IEC/EN 60332-3-24 flame propagation testing. Utilizing high-purity oxygen-free Class 5 flexible stranded copper (0.5–0.75mm²) and Class 2 stranded plain annealed copper (1.0–2.5mm²), our precision extrusion lines apply cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) core insulation to ensure superior dielectric endurance, low mutual capacitance, and insulation resistances exceeding 25 MΩ/km. Combined with individual and collective Al/PET screening foils, tinned copper drain wires, an LSZH inner bedding sheath, heavy galvanised steel wire armour (SWA), and a zero-halogen flame-retardant outer jacket, our cables deliver complete cross-talk cancellation and rugged mechanical survivability across aggressive petrochemical installations.

With more than 20 years of precision cable engineering expertise, Huadong Cable Group operates fully automated multi-pair stranding, planetary cabling, high-tensile wire armouring, and polymer compounding workshops certified to ISO 9001, CE, CPR (EN 50575), RoHS, and REACH protocols. By eliminating commercial intermediaries, we provide competitive direct factory pricing, 100% routine and type test Mill Test Certificates (MTC) tested in accredited testing facilities, tailored continuous drum lengths on ISPM 15 heat-treated export wooden reels, and seamless door-to-port logistics for EPC contractors and industrial instrumentation builders worldwide.