PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 XLPE/CAM/LSZH Cable

What is PAS/BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 XLPE/CAM/LSZH Cable?

The PAS/BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 XLPE/CAM/LSZH cable is a low-voltage, unarmoured, collectively screened multi-element communication, instrumentation, and control cable featuring plain copper conductors, Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) insulation, an overall collective Aluminium/Polyester tape (Al/PET) electrostatic screen with a tinned copper drain wire, and a low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) outer protective sheath complying with PAS/BS 5308 and EN 60228 standards. It is designed for fixed indoor transmission of analogue, digital data, or voice signals up to 300/500V originating from transducers such as pressure transmitters, proximity switches, and microphones across process plants and petrochemical facilities.

Engineered to deliver clean signal transfer while safeguarding life and sensitive hardware during emergencies, the cable combines low-loss XLPE core insulation with zero-halogen polymer compounding. The collective Al/PET screening foil envelops the assembled core bundle to provide 100% electrostatic coverage against external electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electrical noise generated by plant machinery, while the LSZH jacket ensures zero acidic halogen gas evolution and low smoke density under fire conditions in compliance with IEC/EN 60332-1-2 and IEC/EN 60332-3-24.

PAS/BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 XLPE/CAM/LSZH Cable Construction

• Conductor: 0.5mm² and 0.75mm²: Class 5 flexible plain copper; 1.0mm²: Class 1 solid / Class 2 stranded 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 (>5 GΩ/km at 20°C).
• Bedding / Inner Layer: Concentric multi-pair, multi-triple, or quad bunched core assembly optimized for compact diameters and smooth pulling.
• Screen / Armour: Overall collective Aluminium/Polyester tape (Al/PET) screen with a continuous tinned copper drain wire providing 100% electrostatic shielding against external EMI.
• 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: Standard BS 5308 colour-coded pairs (Pair 1: Black/Blue, Pair 2: Black/Green, Pair 3: Blue/Green, extending up to 50 pairs with distinctive colour combinations).
• Sheath Colour: Blue (for intrinsically safe circuits) or Black (for general industrial process systems).

Applications

PAS/BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 XLPE/CAM/LSZH cables are specifically engineered for interconnecting measuring instruments, process transducers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and supervisory distributed control systems (DCS) where electromagnetic screening and halogen-free fire safety are mandatory. Their unarmoured, lightweight profile makes them suitable for indoor installation in dry and damp rooms, cable trays, raceways, and enclosed architectural conduits.

Typical installation environments include:

• Petrochemical Units & Refineries: Analog 4-20mA instrumentation loops and telemetry circuits in indoor process control rooms.
• Intrinsically Safe (IS) Circuits: Hazardous-area low-energy signal networks identified via the dedicated blue outer jacket.
• Commercial Infrastructure & Public Facilities: Airports, transit stations, and hospitals requiring zero halogen emissions to protect life and sensitive equipment.
• DCS Cabinets & SCADA Systems: High-density control galleries and transducer marshaling racks requiring compact routing and electrostatic noise protection.

Specifications & Dimensions

The PAS/BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 XLPE/CAM/LSZH cable series covers multi-pair (1P to 20P, with extended designs up to 50P), 1-triple (1T), and quad (Q) configurations 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 compact minimum bending radius of 6× overall diameter. Maximum conductor DC resistance values at 20°C range from 39 Ω/km (0.5mm²) down to 7.41 Ω/km (2.5mm²), with mutual capacitance values of 75 pF/m to 115 pF/m for collective screened designs (and 120 pF/m for 1.5mm²–2.5mm²), minimum insulation resistance exceeding 5 GΩ/km, and maximum L/R ratios between 25 µH/Ω and 65 µH/Ω, with all overall dimensions strictly manufactured in compliance with PAS/BS 5308 and European harmonized tolerances.

Standards

Huadong Cable Group manufactures and factory-inspects PAS/BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 XLPE/CAM/LSZH cables to guarantee complete adherence to British and European electrical, environmental, and fire safety standards:

Design Standards: PAS/BS 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) emissions protecting personnel and sensitive electronic hardware
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 main structural difference between PE/CAM/PVC and XLPE/CAM/LSZH cables in PAS BS 5308 Part 1?
A: PE/CAM/PVC uses solid polyethylene insulation and a standard PVC jacket, whereas XLPE/CAM/LSZH utilizes cross-linked polyethylene insulation paired with a halogen-free, low-smoke jacket (LSZH) that releases zero toxic acid gases and minimal smoke during fires.

Q: Can PAS/BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 XLPE/CAM/LSZH cables be directly buried in the ground?
A: No, Part 1 Type 1 cables are unarmoured and engineered specifically for indoor use, cable trays, or protected raceways where mechanical crush hazards are absent; for direct burial or heavy mechanical crush hazards, steel wire armoured (Part 1 Type 2) cables must be specified.

Q: When should the Blue outer sheath be specified instead of Black?
A: Blue outer sheaths are universally designated for intrinsically safe (IS) circuits operating in explosive hazardous atmospheres, while black sheaths are standard for non-intrinsically safe industrial process wiring.

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 contractors, system integrators, and plant infrastructure builders.

PAS/BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 – Why Choose Huadong Cable?

Huadong Cable Group manufactures PAS/BS 5308 Part 1 Type 1 XLPE/CAM/LSZH instrumentation cables in strict conformity with PAS/BS 5308 specifications and EN 60228 conductor standards, verified through rigorous IEC/EN 60332-1-2 and IEC/EN 60332-3-24 flame propagation tests. 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 exceptional dielectric endurance, low mutual capacitance, and insulation resistances exceeding 5 GΩ/km. Combined with continuous collective Al/PET screening foil, tinned copper drain wire, and a zero-halogen flame-retardant outer sheath, our cables deliver complete electrostatic noise protection and durable signal integrity across demanding industrial plants.

With more than 20 years of precision cable engineering expertise, Huadong Cable Group operates fully automated multi-pair bunching, planetary cabling, electrostatic taping, 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 process engineering builders worldwide.