Application Scenarios

Marine Installations

This cable series finds extensive use in shipboard applications, providing fixed wiring solutions throughout vessels. These cables serve critical systems in engine rooms where high temperatures, vibration, and exposure to oils and fuels are common challenges. They also connect control panels that manage essential ship functions and support lighting systems throughout the vessel. The cables' ability to maintain integrity under these conditions helps ensure the continuous operation of vital ship systems.

Offshore Units

Beyond shipboard applications, these cables are essential components in offshore oil and gas infrastructure. Power distribution on oil rigs requires cables that can withstand constant exposure to corrosive sea air while maintaining electrical integrity. On Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units, which combine production, processing, and storage functions, these cables support the complex electrical networks required for operations. Similarly, mobile offshore drilling platforms rely on these cables to provide consistent power and control capabilities despite regular movement and environmental stresses.

Environmental Suitability

What distinguishes these cables is their design specifically for extreme environments. These cables maintain performance despite direct or indirect exposure to saltwater, which would quickly degrade standard cables. Their construction accounts for continuous mechanical stress from platform movement, vibration from machinery, and exposure to hydraulic fluids and lubricating oils. This environmental resilience ensures consistent electrical performance even under the most challenging conditions.

Safety-Critical Zones

In enclosed spaces like those found on ships and offshore platforms, fire safety becomes paramount. This cable series addresses this concern through low smoke emission properties, which improve visibility during evacuations. Their halogen-free composition prevents the release of corrosive and toxic gases during fires, protecting both personnel and sensitive equipment. The flame-retardant characteristics of these cables help contain fires, contributing significantly to overall safety in these high-risk environments.

Electrical and Mechanical Specifications

Voltage Rating

This cable series operates in the medium voltage range, with ratings of 1.9/3.3kV and 3.3/3.3kV. These ratings indicate the phase-to-ground/phase-to-phase voltage handling capacity, making these cables suitable for primary power distribution systems in marine and offshore applications. This voltage range strikes an optimal balance between power transmission capability and practical installation requirements in confined spaces.

Conductor

At the core of these cables are stranded tinned copper wires manufactured to BS 6360 and IEC 60228 Class 2 standards. The stranded construction provides enhanced flexibility compared to solid conductors, facilitating installation in tight and complex routing scenarios. Additionally, the tinning process applies a thin layer of tin to the copper strands, providing excellent corrosion resistance—a critical feature in saltwater environments where untreated copper would rapidly deteriorate.

Insulation

The HF-EPR (Halogen-Free Ethylene Propylene Rubber) insulation, compliant with BS 7655 1.2 standard (GP5 grade), represents a significant advancement over traditional materials. This specialized rubber compound delivers exceptional electrical properties with a high dielectric strength that maintains consistent performance even at elevated temperatures. The thermal stability of HF-EPR allows continuous operation at higher temperatures than many alternative insulation materials, while its inherent elasticity provides superior mechanical durability and resistance to cracking under bending and vibration.

Armouring

Mechanical protection is provided through specialized armouring systems tailored to the specific cable configuration. Multi-core cables utilize galvanized steel wire braid, offering excellent tensile strength and crush resistance without compromising flexibility. For single-core applications where electromagnetic considerations are paramount, tinned bronze wire braid provides mechanical protection while minimizing magnetic losses that would occur with ferrous metals. This armouring protects the cable from physical damage during installation and operation, significantly extending service life in demanding environments.

Sheathing

The outer protective layer consists of either SW4 (a halogen-free thermosetting compound) or SW2 (a reduced halogen formulation) sheathing. These advanced materials provide the final barrier against environmental factors while contributing significantly to the cable's safety profile. SW4 sheathing offers superior performance in terms of halogen content elimination, while SW2 represents a balanced approach with reduced halogen content. Both materials deliver excellent resistance to oils, fuels, UV radiation, and saltwater while maintaining their structural integrity across a wide temperature range.

Temperature Range

These cables are engineered to operate reliably across an exceptional temperature spectrum, from -40°C to +90°C. This wide operational range makes them suitable for deployments from arctic environments to hot engine rooms without compromising electrical or mechanical properties. For applications requiring enhanced cold-weather performance, specialized versions with superior cold bend and impact resistance are available, ensuring installation and operation even in extreme cold conditions.

Bending Radius

To ensure mechanical integrity during installation and operation, these cables specify a minimum bending radius of 6 times the overall diameter. This conservative specification prevents internal structural damage that could compromise electrical performance or mechanical durability. Proper adherence to this bending radius requirement during installation ensures the cable maintains its designed performance characteristics throughout its operational life.

Compliance & Safety Standards

Flame Retardant

This cable series meets the rigorous flame retardancy requirements of IEC 60332-3A, which tests vertical flame spread characteristics on vertically mounted bunched cables. This certification ensures that even when multiple cables are installed together, flame propagation remains limited. This property is crucial in preventing small, localized fires from spreading throughout cable systems, potentially affecting critical safety and operational systems.

Low Smoke & Gas Emissions

In fire situations, these cables demonstrate superior safety performance by complying with IEC 61034-2 for smoke emission and IEC 60754-1/2 for corrosive gas emission. The low smoke density helps maintain visibility during evacuations, facilitating safer escape and firefighting operations. Additionally, the minimal emission of corrosive gases protects both personnel and sensitive electronic equipment from damage during fire events, contributing to overall system resilience.

Optional Certifications

For applications requiring compliance with North American standards, these cables can be manufactured to meet CSA C22.2 No. 38-95 specifications. This optional certification expands the geographical and regulatory contexts in which these cables can be deployed, allowing for standardized cable solutions across international projects and fleets operating in multiple jurisdictions.

Halogen-Free Properties

The halogen-free composition of these cables represents a significant safety advancement. Traditional cable materials containing halogens release hydrogen chloride and other toxic gases when burned, creating highly corrosive and potentially lethal environments. By eliminating or significantly reducing halogen content, these cables minimize these hazards, protecting both personnel during evacuation and sensitive equipment from corrosive damage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use HF-EPR insulation instead of traditional PVC or XLPE?

HF-EPR insulation offers several significant advantages over traditional materials like PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) or XLPE (Cross-linked Polyethylene) in offshore and marine environments. Its superior thermal stability allows consistent operation at high temperatures without degradation of electrical properties. The material retains greater flexibility throughout its service life, making it less prone to cracking under the constant movement experienced in marine applications. Perhaps most importantly, HF-EPR demonstrates exceptional aging resistance when exposed to the combination of saltwater, UV radiation, and ozone typically found in marine environments, maintaining its insulation properties longer than alternative materials.

Q2: What's the benefit of SW2 or SW4 sheathing in offshore cables?

SW2 and SW4 sheathing compounds provide critical safety enhancements in confined spaces like those found on ships and offshore platforms. Their reduced or eliminated halogen content means that during fire events, they produce significantly less toxic and corrosive gas compared to conventional materials. This characteristic protects both personnel who may need to evacuate through smoke-filled areas and prevents damage to sensitive electronic systems from corrosive combustion products. Additionally, these compounds maintain their mechanical integrity under flame conditions longer than many alternatives, helping to preserve circuit integrity for critical systems during emergencies.

Q3: Can these cables be used in sub-zero climates?

Yes, the standard specification for these cables includes operation down to -40°C, making them suitable for Arctic and sub-Arctic deployments. At these low temperatures, the specifically formulated compounds retain sufficient flexibility to withstand normal handling without cracking or internal damage. For applications requiring installation or frequent movement at very low temperatures, enhanced cold-bend and cold-impact resistant versions can be specified. These specialized formulations maintain workable flexibility even at extreme low temperatures, allowing for safe installation and operation in the world's coldest marine environments.

Q4: What kind of armouring is used, and why?

The armouring system employed depends on the specific cable configuration and application requirements. Multi-core cables typically utilize galvanized steel wire braid, which provides excellent mechanical protection against crushing, tensile stress, and impact damage without significantly reducing flexibility. For single-core applications, particularly in higher current installations, tinned bronze wire braid is preferred as it provides necessary mechanical protection without the magnetic losses that would occur with ferrous metals. This distinction is crucial for maintaining efficiency in high-current applications while still providing the mechanical robustness required in offshore environments.

Q5: Are these cables suitable for mining applications?

While primarily engineered for marine and offshore environments, these cables share many performance requirements with those used in mining applications. Both environments feature challenges like vibration, mechanical stress, and the need for enhanced fire safety. However, mining applications often involve additional specific hazards and regulatory requirements covered by standards like BS 6708 or IEC 60228 Part 3. Before deploying these cables in mining operations, a detailed assessment should compare the specific mining environment requirements with the cable specifications, potentially requiring supplemental certifications or testing to ensure full compliance with mining-specific standards.

Conclusion

The BS 6883 & BS 7917 1.9/3.3kV and 3.3/3.3kV offshore & marine cables represent specialized solutions for medium voltage power and control applications in some of the world's most challenging environments. Their comprehensive feature set—including flame retardance, halogen-free composition, and exceptional environmental durability—makes them ideally suited for critical infrastructure where reliability directly impacts both operational continuity and personnel safety.

These cables' compliance with rigorous international standards ensures they meet or exceed the regulatory requirements governing marine and offshore installations worldwide. The specialized construction techniques and materials employed provide exceptional resistance to the combined effects of saltwater exposure, mechanical stress, temperature extremes, and chemical contamination—all while maintaining superior electrical performance characteristics.

When selecting cables for marine and offshore applications, engineers must consider not only the immediate electrical requirements but also the comprehensive environmental risk profile of the installation location. This cable series provides a robust solution that addresses these multifaceted challenges, delivering reliable power and control capabilities even under the most demanding conditions that marine and offshore environments can present.

What Are BS 6883 & BS 7917 3.3kV Offshore & Marine Armoured Flame Retardant Cables?

Introduction

In the challenging environments of offshore platforms and marine vessels, reliable electrical systems form the backbone of safe and efficient operations. Among the most critical components of these systems are the cables that transmit power and control signals throughout these structures. The BS 6883 and BS 7917 standards represent comprehensive British specifications that govern cables designed specifically for marine and offshore applications, ensuring they meet the rigorous demands of these harsh environments.

The British Standards BS 6883 and BS 7917 cover electrical cables for ships and offshore applications, with detailed requirements for construction, performance, and safety characteristics. These standards ensure cables can withstand the unique challenges present in marine environments, including exposure to saltwater, extreme temperatures, mechanical stress, and the need for enhanced fire safety properties.

These offshore & marine cables represent a specialized solution within this framework, specifically engineered for medium voltage applications in marine and offshore environments. These 1.9/3.3kV and 3.3/3.3kV rated cables combine advanced insulation technology, robust mechanical protection, and superior fire performance characteristics to deliver reliable power and control capabilities in some of the world's most demanding industrial settings.

Selected models shown for reference only.