International cable standards and cable models

Standards & Certification67

1. International Standards

  • IEC Standards (International Electrotechnical Commission Standards)
    • IEC 60227: PVC Insulated Cables.
    • IEC 60245: Rubber Insulated Cables.
    • IEC 60502: Power Cables with rated voltages from 1 kV to 30 kV.
    • IEC 60754: Test for Gases Evolved During Combustion.
    • IEC 61034: Smoke Density Test.

2. American Standards

  • UL Standards (Underwriters Laboratories Standards)
    • UL 44: Rubber Insulated Cables.
    • UL 83: Thermoplastic Insulated Cables, such as THHN, THWN-2.
    • UL 854: Service Entrance Cables (SE).
    • UL 1277: Power-Limited Circuit Cables.
    • UL 1666: Vertical Flame Test.
  • NEC Standards (National Electrical Code)
    • NEC Article 310: Installation Requirements for Power Cables.
    • NEC Article 725: Installation Requirements for Control Cables.

3. European Standards

  • EN Standards (European Standards)
    • EN 50525: Low Voltage Cables.
    • EN 50264: Cables for Railway Vehicles.
    • EN 50382: High-Temperature Cables.
    • EN 60332: Flame Retardant Test.
  • BS Standards (British Standards)
    • BS 5467: Rubber Insulated Cables.
    • BS 6724: Flame Retardant Cables.
    • BS 7870: Low Voltage Power Cables.

4. Australian/New Zealand Standards

  • AS/NZS Standards
    • AS/NZS 5000: Electric Cables.
    • AS/NZS 1125: Cable Insulation and Sheath Materials.
    • AS/NZS 3808: Flame Retardant Test.

5. Japanese Standards

  • JIS Standards (Japanese Industrial Standards)
    • JIS C 3306: Rubber Insulated Cables.
    • JIS C 3401: PVC Insulated Cables.
    • JIS C 3605: Power Cables.

6. Common Cable Models

  • THHN/THWN-2:
    • UL standard cables in the U.S., suitable for building wiring and power distribution.
    • Conductor: Copper or aluminum.
    • Insulation: Thermoplastic material (PVC).
    • Rated Voltage: 600V.
  • XHHW/XHHW-2:
    • UL standard cables in the U.S., suitable for medium and low-voltage power systems.
    • Conductor: Copper or aluminum.
    • Insulation: Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE).
    • Rated Voltage: 600V to 35 kV.
  • NYM-J:
    • European standard cables, suitable for internal building wiring.
    • Conductor: Copper.
    • Insulation: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
    • Rated Voltage: 300/500V.
  • H07RN-F:
    • European standard cables, suitable for mobile equipment and harsh environments.
    • Conductor: Copper.
    • Insulation: Rubber.
    • Rated Voltage: 450/750V.
  • ACSR:
    • Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced cables, suitable for overhead power transmission.
    • Conductor: Aluminum-clad steel core.
    • Insulation: None (bare wire).
  • MICC:
    • Mineral Insulated Copper Clad cables, suitable for fire protection systems and high-temperature environments.
    • Conductor: Copper.
    • Insulation: Magnesium oxide.
    • Rated Voltage: 600V to 1000V.

7. Special Cable Models

  • Fire-Resistant Cables: Compliant with IEC 60331 standards.
  • Flame Retardant Cables: Compliant with IEC 60332 standards.
  • Submarine Cables: Suitable for underwater power or communication transmission.
  • Solar Cables: Suitable for solar power generation systems.

8. How to Choose Standards and Models

  • By Application Field: Such as construction, power, communication, and industry.
  • By Voltage Level: Such as low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage.
  • By Regional Requirements: Such as UL standards in North America and EN standards in Europe.
  • By Performance Requirements: Such as fire resistance, flame retardancy, and high-temperature resistance.