PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 SIL/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH Fire Resistant Cable

What is PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 SIL/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH Cable?

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 SIL/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cable is a low-voltage, fire-resistant, individually and collectively screened, and galvanised steel wire armoured (SWA) multi-element communication and instrumentation cable featuring plain copper conductors, ceramifying silicone rubber insulation, individual and collective Al/PET electrostatic tape screens with tinned copper drain wires, an extruded LSZH inner bedding sheath, SWA armour, and an LSZH outer protective jacket complying with BS/PAS 5308, EN 60228, and IEC/EN 60331-21 standards. It is designed for fixed transmission of analogue, data, or voice signals up to 300/500V from critical field transducers—such as pressure sensors, proximity switches, and microphones—in industrial and petrochemical process environments where enhanced signal security and heavy mechanical protection are essential.

Engineered to deliver clean signal transfer while withstanding hostile physical abuse and intense flame conditions, this cable utilizes ceramifying silicone rubber insulation that converts into an insulating ceramic silica shell under high-temperature exposure. The individual pair-by-pair Al/PET shielding foil completely suppresses intra-cable cross-talk between adjacent circuits carrying differing signal levels, while the collective Al/PET screen deflects external electromagnetic interference (EMI). Beneath the halogen-free outer jacket, heavy helical galvanised steel wire armour delivers high tensile strength and radial crush resistance, ensuring long-term operational integrity during direct underground burial.

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 SIL/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH Cable Construction

• Conductor: 0.5mm² and 0.75mm²: Class 5 flexible stranded plain copper; 1.0mm²: Class 1 solid / Class 2 stranded plain copper; 1.5mm² and 2.5mm²: Class 2 stranded plain annealed copper conforming to EN 60228.
• Insulation: Silicone rubber ceramic type compound engineered to form a robust insulating ceramic shell under fire conditions.
• Individual Screen: Aluminium/Polyester tape (Al/PET) with a continuous tinned copper drain wire applied over each pair to prevent circuit-to-circuit cross-talk.
• Collective Screen: Overall Aluminium/Polyester tape (Al/PET) with an integral tinned copper drain wire providing 100% electrostatic coverage against external EMI.
• Inner Sheath / Bedding: Extruded thermoplastic Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound providing a uniform protective cushion for the metallic armour.
• Armour: Galvanised Steel Wire Armour (SWA) helically applied to deliver heavy-duty mechanical crush protection, tensile capability, and direct burial suitability.
• Outer Sheath: Thermoplastic Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound, flame retardant per IEC/EN 60332-1-2 and bunched fire test IEC/EN 60332-3-22/24.
• Core Identification: Pairs and Triples identifiable via standardized British industrial colour codes and numerical markings.
• Sheath Colour: Red (for dedicated fire emergency and life-safety systems) or Black (for general industrial instrumentation).

Applications

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 SIL/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cables are specifically engineered for transmitting critical voice, data, transducer feeds, and automated emergency control signals where enhanced signal security, circuit survival during a fire, and high mechanical protection are required. Their dual-screened, steel wire armoured, and zero-halogen architecture makes them ideal for outdoor plant raceways, direct underground burial, and aggressive industrial environments.

Typical installation environments include:

• Direct Burial Applications: Underground trenches and perimeter duct runs in process plants at suitable burial depths without auxiliary conduits.
• Petrochemical Units & Refineries: Critical emergency shutdown systems (ESD), combustible gas detection loops, and intrinsically safe sensor networks.
• High-Security Transducer Marshaling: Multi-pair analog and digital transducer links requiring individual pair shielding to isolate differing voltage and frequency signals from mutual cross-talk.
• Public Infrastructure & Heavy Plant Galleries: Risers, transport tunnels, and offshore modules requiring zero halogen acid gas emissions and structural survivability during fire emergencies.

Specifications & Dimensions

The PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 SIL/ICAM/LSZH/SWA/LSZH cable series covers multi-pair (2P to 30P) and 3-pair (3P) 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 installations from -40°C to +80°C and flexed moved installation from 0°C to +50°C, maintaining a minimum bending radius of 12× overall diameter for fixed setups. Conductor DC resistance values at 20°C range from 39 Ω/km (0.5mm²) down to 7.41 Ω/km (2.5mm²), mutual capacitance values are 250 pF/m between pairs or adjacent cores and 450 pF/m between any core and screen, minimum insulation resistance exceeds 25 GΩ/km, and maximum L/R ratios span from 25 µH/Ω to 65 µH/Ω, with all overall dimensions strictly manufactured to BS/PAS 5308 and European harmonized tolerances.

Standards

Huadong Cable Group manufactures and factory-inspects PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 SIL/ICAM armoured fire resistant cables in full compliance with British and European electrical, mechanical, and safety standards:

Design & Testing Standards: BS/PAS 5308, EN 60228
Fire Resistance: IEC/EN 60331-21 (Circuit integrity under fire conditions)
Flame Retardancy: IEC/EN 60332-1-2, IEC/EN 60332-3-22, IEC/EN 60332-3-24
Halogen-Free & Smoke Emission: IEC/EN 61034-1/2 (Low Smoke Density), IEC/EN 60754-1/2 (Zero Halogen Acid Gas)
Mechanical Defense: Galvanised Steel Wire Armour (SWA) approved for direct underground burial
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 primary difference between SIL/CAM and SIL/ICAM in PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 cables?
A: SIL/CAM cables feature only an overall collective Al/PET screen over the assembled core bundle, whereas SIL/ICAM cables incorporate individual Al/PET foil screens with dedicated drain wires on each pair in addition to the collective screen, delivering complete suppression of intra-cable cross-talk between adjacent channels.

Q: How does ceramifying silicone rubber maintain electrical integrity during a fire?
A: When exposed to high fire temperatures, the silicone rubber decomposes and vitrifies into a solid, electrically insulating ceramic silica ash layer, preventing metallic contact and phase-to-ground faults to keep critical circuits running per IEC/EN 60331-21.

Q: What mechanical advantage does Galvanised Steel Wire Armour (SWA) provide for this cable?
A: SWA armour provides continuous longitudinal tensile strength and radial impact protection, shielding the internal cores from trench rock compaction, shifting ground loads, and heavy mechanical damage during direct burial.

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 procurement contractors, system integrators, and plant infrastructure builders.

PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 – Why Choose Huadong Cable?

Huadong Cable Group manufactures PAS BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 SIL/ICAM fire-resistant armoured instrumentation cables to rigorous international standards, verified through extensive IEC/EN 60331-21 fire resistance and IEC/EN 60332-3-22/24 bunched vertical flame testing. Utilizing Class 5 flexible or Class 2 stranded plain annealed copper conductors, our automated extrusion lines apply high-grade ceramifying silicone rubber insulation to maintain dielectric separation under direct flame impingement. Combined with individual and collective Al/PET screening foils, an LSZH inner bedding sheath, heavy galvanised steel wire armour (SWA), and a zero-halogen outer protective jacket, our cables deliver complete noise protection and structural survivability in hazardous processing facilities.

With more than 20 years of precision cable engineering expertise, Huadong Cable Group operates fully automated multi-pair stranding, planetary cabling, high-tensile wire armouring, and polymer compounding workshops certified to ISO 9001, CE, CPR (EN 50575), RoHS, and REACH protocols. By supplying directly from our manufacturing base, we offer competitive factory pricing, 100% routine and type test 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 industrial instrumentation builders worldwide.