Application-Based Classification

Wire & Cable Blog28

1. Building & Infrastructure Cables

1.1 Low-Voltage Power (≤1kV)

  • Non-Metallic Sheathed (NM-B)
    • Residential: NM-B 14/2, 12/2, 10/2 (NEC 334/UL 719)
    • Multi-Wire: NM-B 14/3, 12/3, 10/3 (UL 719/cUL)
    • Smart Homes (EU): NM-B 6/4 (HD 21.3 S3/VDE 0281)
  • Underground Feeder (UF-B)
    • Direct Burial: UF-B 14/2-10/2 (UL 493/CSA C22.2)
    • Middle East Desert: UF-B 8/3 (SASO 2203/GCC)
    • TUV-Rated: UF-B 14/3, 12/3, 10/3 (with ground)
  • Service Entrance (SEU/SER)
    • Copper Overhead: SEU 2/0-4/0 (NEC 338/BS 7889)
    • Aluminum Conduit-Free: SER 4/0 (UL 854/ABS)
    • Fire-Resistant: SEU-FR (EN 50575/Gulf TC)
  • Thermoplastic Insulated (THHN/THWN)
    • General Purpose: THHN 12-10 AWG (600V, 90°C dry/75°C wet, UL 83)
    • Outdoor Use: THWN 8-6 AWG (Sunlight-Resistant, NEC 310/SABS)

1.2 Medium/High-Voltage (1kV–66kV+)

  • Shielded Power Cables
    • XLPE: MV-105 5-35kV (IEC 60502-2/VDE 0276-620/KEMA-KEUR)
    • EPR: MV-90 8-45kV (UL 1072/DNVGL-ST-0378)
  • Extreme Environment Cables
    • High-Temp: RHH/RHW-2 750kcmil (90°C, UL 44/GOST R 53769)
    • Arctic: USE-2 (-60°C, CSA C22.2 No.49)
    • Solar Direct Burial: USE-2 1/0 AWG (UV-Resistant, UL 854/TUV Rheinland)

1.3 Control & Signal Cables

  • Fire Alarm (NEC 760)
    • Plenum: FPLP 18 AWG (CMP/UL 1424)
    • Riser: FPLR 16/2, 14/2 (CMR/IEC 60332-3)
  • Security Systems
    • In-Wall: 18/2 CL2, 18/4 CL3 (UL 13/EN 50173)
    • Alarm: 22/2, 22/4 UTP (UL 1685/BV)

2. Industrial & Heavy-Duty Cables

2.1 Power Transmission & Control

  • Diesel Locomotive (DLO)
    • Oil-Resistant: DLO 2/0, 4/0 (2000V, UL 1277/CSA C22.2 No.131)
  • Welding Cables
    • EPR Insulated: 2 AWG, 1/0 AWG (600V, UL 1581/KR/GL)
  • Tray Cables (TC/PLTC)
    • Unshielded: TC 4C, 6C (600V, UL 1277/EN 50288)
    • Shielded: PLTC 12 AWG (Power-Limited, UL 13)

2.2 Harsh Environment Solutions

  • Armored Industrial (TECK90)
    • CSA Certified: TECK90 3C #2 AWG (600V, CSA C22.2 No.131/LR/GL)
  • Mining & Tunneling
    • Ground-Check: GGC 2/0 & 4/0 (MSHA/UL 1309/SANS 10197)
    • Flameproof: IEC 61892/GOST Trailing Cables
  • Submersible Pump Cables
    • Wet Location: 8/3, 6/3 Type W (600V, UL 62/TUV IP68)

2.3 Robotics & Continuous Flex

  • Drag Chain Cables
    • High-Cycle: PUR Jacket (EN 50382, 20M+ bends)
  • Hybrid Cables
    • Oil/Chemical Resistant: TPE (UL 62A)

3. Renewable Energy Cables

3.1 Solar Photovoltaic (PV)

  • Utility & Floating Solar
    • PV-Specific: PV-WIRE 10AWG (UL 4703/TÜV Rheinland)
    • Floating Solar: UV/Ozone-Resistant (JIS C 3665)
  • Residential Solar
    • USE-2/RHW-2: 10-8 AWG (Sunlight-Resistant, CSA C22.2)

3.2 Wind Energy

  • Offshore Wind
    • Dynamic: 66kV (IEC 61400-24/Lloyds Register)
    • Ice-Resistant: 35kV (IEC 62930/DNV-ST-0119)
  • Onshore Wind
    • High-Temp: RHH/RHW-2 500kcmil (UL 44/GL)

3.3 Hydrogen Energy

  • H₂ Refueling
    • High-Pressure: EPR/XLPE 1/0 AWG (ISO 19880-3/DNVGL-ST-0378)

4. Transportation & EV Infrastructure

4.1 EV Charging

  • DC Fast Charging
    • CCS/CHAdeMO: 2/0 AWG (IEC 62196-3/SAE J1772)
    • Pantograph Cables: 1500V DC (EN 50620)
      4.2 Rail & Aviation
  • Overhead Catenary
    • 25kV AC: EN 50264-3/BS 6853
  • Aircraft Ground Power
    • MIL-DTL-38999: Airbus Spec

5. Data & Communication Cables

5.1 High-Speed Data Transmission

  • Ethernet
    • Cat5e: 100MHz (ISO/IEC 11801)
    • Cat6A: 500MHz/10Gbps (TIA-568.2-D)
    • Cat8.2: 2000MHz/40Gbps (IEC 61156-8)
  • Fiber Optic
    • Multimode: OM3/OM4 (850nm, IEC 60793-2-10)
    • Single-mode: OS2 G.654 (1310/1550nm, ITU-T G.652.D)

5.2 Broadcast & Security

  • Coaxial
    • Low Loss: RG6/LMR-400 (IEC 61196/UL 1655)
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE)
    • PoE++: 90W (IEEE 802.3bt)

6. Specialty & High-Performance Cables

6.1 Fire Survival & Nuclear

  • Mineral Insulated (MI)
    • Fire Survival: MICC 1C×2.5mm² (950°C, BS 6387/EN 60702)
    • Ceramic Fiber: 1800°C (IEC 60331-21)
  • Nuclear Power
    • K1 Class: 5kV XLPE (IEEE 383/KEMA-KEUR)
    • K3 Class: 1kV Low-Smoke (IEC 60505/TUV)

6.2 Eco-Friendly & Marine

  • Biodegradable
    • Seaweed-Based Jackets: ISO 14067/UL ECOLOGO
  • Marine & Offshore
    • Saltwater-Resistant: 400 MCM (UL 1309/ABS/NK)
    • Dynamic Umbilicals: 3C×300mm² (IEC 61892)

7. Submarine & Deep-Sea Cables

7.1 High-Voltage Power Transmission

  • HVAC/HVDC
    • 220kV XLPE: IEC 63026/CIGRE TB 490
    • ±525kV XLPE: CIGRE TB 623 (2000MW)
  • Deep-Sea Mining
    • Titanium-Armored: 6.6kV (DNV-OS-E402, 3000m Depth)

7.2 Fiber Optic Submarine

  • Long-Haul
    • OS2 G.654: 200km Span (ITU-T G.973)
    • 24-Fiber SDM: Space Division Multiplexing (ITU-T G.977.2)

Regional Compliance Integration

Region Key Standards Featured Products
EU EN 50575, VDE 0298 H07Z-K Halogen-Free, SEU-FR
GCC ES 609, SASO 2203 UF-B 8/3, Desert-Grade XLPE
ANZ AS/NZS 5000.1, AS 3013 Flame-Retardant Mining Cables
ASEAN TIS 11-2531, SNI 04-0225 Tropical UV-Resistant Cables
Africa SANS 10197, NRS 063 Solar DC Combiner Cables