NF M87-202 EIFA Armoured Cable

What is NF M87-202 EIFA Cable?

The NF M87-202 EIFA cable is a low-voltage, individually and collectively screened, double steel tape armoured (DSTA) multi-element instrumentation cable featuring Class 1 solid or Class 2 stranded copper conductors, PVC insulation, individual PET tape, individual AL/PET screening, individual PVC sheaths, overall PET tape, collective AL/PET screening, an extruded PVC inner bedding sheath, double steel tape armour, and a light blue PVC outer jacket complying with NF M 87-202 and UTE C 32-014 standards.

Engineered for mission-critical signal telemetry in harsh petroleum and chemical process environments, this cable incorporates an advanced multi-stage shielding and mechanical defense structure. Each paired or tripled circuit is independently wrapped with an AL/PET screen and protected by its own intermediate PVC jacket to prevent internal circuit-to-circuit cross-talk, while the collective AL/PET screen deflects external electromagnetic interference (EMI). Beneath the hydrocarbon-resistant outer sheath, two continuous helical steel tapes create a heavy-duty metallic barrier that provides superior radial crush resistance and impact durability, allowing safe direct burial in petrochemical processing facilities.

NF M87-202 EIFA Cable Construction

• Conductor: Class 1 solid copper conductor (0.5mm² and 1.5mm²) or Class 2 stranded copper conductor (0.88mm²) per NF M 87-202 standards.
• Insulation: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) compound engineered for dependable dielectric strength and thermal endurance up to +90°C.
• Individual Unit Binder & Screen: Individual Polyester (PET) binder tape followed by an individual Aluminium/Polyester (AL/PET) screen applied over each pair or triple.
• Individual Sheath: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) compound extruded over each individually screened element for mechanical and electrical isolation.
• Overall Binder & Collective Screen: Collective Polyester (PET) binder tape wrapped around the assembled core bundle, shielded by an overall Aluminium/Polyester (AL/PET) tape screen.
• Inner Sheath: Extruded Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) bedding layer providing a uniform protective cushion for the metallic armour.
• Armour: Double steel tape (DSTA) helically wound to provide robust mechanical protection against physical crush loads and ground subsidence.
• Outer Sheath: Flame-retardant Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) compound resistant to sunlight, mineral oils, and aliphatic hydrocarbons.
• Core Identification: Pairs: White and Red cores with numbered printing; Triples: Blue, White, and Red cores with numbered printing.
• Sheath Colour: Light Blue.

Applications

NF M87-202 EIFA cables are specifically engineered for interconnecting critical measuring instruments, flowmeters, pressure transmitters, temperature sensors, and distributed control systems (DCS) across petroleum refineries and chemical processing units where aliphatic hydrocarbon resistance and heavy mechanical protection are required. Their fully screened and armoured architecture makes them suitable for direct underground burial, cable trenches, and harsh industrial environments.

Typical installation environments include:

• Petroleum Refineries & Hydrocarbon Processing Units: AC and DC analogue sensor networks exposed to hydrocarbon vapors, aliphatic chemicals, and mineral oils.
• Direct Burial Applications: Underground cabling in plant raceways and trenches requiring double steel tape reinforcement against crushing forces and stone impact.
• Intrinsically Safe Circuits: Hazardous-area process automation loops designated by the standardized light blue outer jacket.
• High-Density Industrial Plant Telemetry: Multi-channel telemetry links requiring individual pair shielding to eliminate cross-talk between high-level and low-level signals.

Specifications & Dimensions

The NF M87-202 EIFA cable portfolio covers multi-pair (1P, 2P quad, 3P, 7P, 12P, 19P, 27P) and multi-triple (1T, 2T, 3T, 7T, 12T, 19T, 27T) configurations across conductor cross-sections of 0.5mm² (Class 1), 0.88mm² (Class 2), and 1.5mm² (Class 1). Operating at a rated voltage of 300/500V, the cable supports continuous operating temperatures up to +90°C and installation temperatures from +5°C to +50°C. Conductor DC resistance values at 20°C are 37.9 Ω/km for 0.5mm², 21.6 Ω/km for 0.88mm², and 12.5 Ω/km for 1.5mm², while maximum mutual capacitance values range from 145 pF/m to 230 pF/m depending on core cross-section and screening geometry, with all overall cable diameters strictly manufactured to NF M 87-202 and UTE C 32-014 tolerances.

Standards

Huadong Cable Group manufactures and factory-inspects NF M87-202 EIFA instrumentation cables in full compliance with French and international petroleum engineering standards:

Design Standards: NF M 87-202, UTE C 32-014
Flame Retardancy: IEC/EN 60332-1-2 (Single cable vertical test), IEC/EN 60332-3-24 (Bunched cable vertical test)
Environmental & Chemical Resistance: Resistant to sunlight, mineral oil, and aliphatic hydrocarbons; approved for direct burial
Voltage Rating (Uo/U): 300/500V
Temperature Spectrum: Operating Temperature: Up to +90°C; Installation Temperature: +5°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 main structural difference between NF M 87-202 EGFA and EIFA cables?
A: While both cables feature double steel tape armour (DSTA) for direct burial, EGFA has a collective screen only, whereas EIFA features both individual and collective AL/PET screens with individual PVC jackets on each element to eliminate cross-talk between channels.

Q: Why does the cable feature a Light Blue outer sheath?
A: Light blue outer jacketing is the internationally recognized color code for intrinsically safe (IS) circuits operating in potentially explosive atmospheres, allowing operators and safety inspectors to easily differentiate low-energy signal paths from primary power feeds.

Q: What mechanical protection does the Double Steel Tape Armour (DSTA) provide?
A: Double steel tape armour provides a continuous, overlapping metallic barrier that delivers vastly superior resistance against radial crushing loads, heavy compression, and stone penetration encountered during direct ground burial.

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 procurement contractors, petroleum refineries, and petrochemical facility integrators.

NF M87-202 EIFA – Why Choose Huadong Cable?

Huadong Cable Group manufactures NF M87-202 EIFA double steel tape armoured instrumentation cables in strict compliance with NF M 87-202 and UTE C 32-014 standards, backed by certified IEC/EN 60332-1-2 and IEC/EN 60332-3-24 flame propagation validation. Utilizing high-purity plain copper conductors—calibrated as Class 1 solid for 0.5mm² and 1.5mm² or Class 2 stranded for 0.88mm²—our automated extrusion lines apply precision PVC insulation and intermediate sheaths to ensure exceptional dielectric endurance and long-term transmission stability. Combined with individual and collective AL/PET screening tapes, double steel tape armouring (DSTA), and a specially formulated aliphatic hydrocarbon-resistant light blue PVC outer jacket, our cables deliver complete noise isolation, physical crush resistance, and thermal durability up to +90°C in demanding oil and gas facilities.

With more than 20 years of precision cable engineering expertise, Huadong Cable Group operates fully automated multi-pair bunching, electrostatic taping, steel tape armouring, and specialized PVC compounding facilities certified to ISO 9001, CE, CPR (EN 50575), RoHS, and REACH protocols. By supplying directly from our manufacturing base, we offer competitive direct factory pricing, 100% 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 refinery developers worldwide.