12.7/22kV BS 7870-4.10 Copper MDPE Cable

What is BS 7870-4.10 Copper MDPE 12.7/22 (24)kV Cable?

The BS 7870-4.10 Copper MDPE 12.7/22 (24)kV Cable is a single-core copper conductor medium-voltage power distribution cable manufactured in strict compliance with British Standard BS 7870 Part 4 Section 10, BS EN 60228, and harmonized European document HD 620 S2 Part 10C/11C. Rated for operational voltages of 12.7/22 (24)kV, it is engineered specifically for primary power distribution systems, power supply stations, and private industrial networks requiring dependable service in underground direct burial and duct environments.

The cable incorporates a Class 2 stranded copper conductor triple-extruded with a bonded inner semi-conductive screen, dry-cured XLPE insulation, and a strippable outer semi-conductive screen that simplifies on-site jointing and termination. Moisture security is achieved through dual longitudinal waterblocking barriers: a semi-conductive waterblocking tape below the copper screen and a non-conductive waterblocking tape over it, enclosing a 35mm² metallic screen made of plain annealed copper wires bound with an open helix copper tape. Finished with an extruded black Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE) outer jacket, the cable provides UV resistance, halogen-free environmental safety (IEC 60754), and superior resistance against mechanical abrasion, moisture permeation, and soil stress.

BS 7870-4.10 Copper MDPE 12.7/22 (24)kV Cable Construction

• Conductor: Class 2 Stranded Annealed Copper conductor conforming to BS EN 60228.
• Conductor Screen: Semi-conductive extruded Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) compound (Bonded Type).
• Insulation: High-grade dry-cured Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) compound with a standardized 5.5mm nominal wall thickness.
• Insulation Screen: Semi-conductive extruded Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) compound (Strippable Type).
• Inner Longitudinal Waterblock: Semi-conductive waterblocking tape applied beneath the metallic screen.
• Metallic Screen: Concentric copper wires and an open helix copper equalizing tape (standardized at 35mm² nominal area).
• Outer Longitudinal Waterblock: Non-conductive waterblocking tape applied over the metallic screen.
• Outer Sheath: Heavy-duty, UV-resistant Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE) compound.
• Sheath Colour: Black.

Applications

BS 7870-4.10 Copper MDPE 12.7/22kV single-core cables are engineered for primary medium-voltage energy transmission across diverse utility and heavy industrial installations:

• Direct Burial in Ground: Heavy-duty subsurface trench installation directly in soil without auxiliary protective conduit, utilizing dual waterblocking tapes and the impermeable MDPE jacket.
• Power Supply & Substation Infrastructure: Primary 22kV interconnections routing power from distribution supply stations, regional substations, and step-down transformer units.
• Public & Private Utility Networks: Primary power distribution grids operated by regional distribution network operators (DNOs) and municipal utilities.
• Underground Cable Ducting: Pulled through subterranean PVC or PE pipe raceways, tunnels, and road crossings where low jacket friction and tensile endurance are critical.
• Renewable Energy Collector Grids: Medium-voltage power collection circuits linking utility-scale solar photovoltaic arrays and wind farm transformers to grid substations.

Specifications & Dimensions

Huadong Cable Group manufactures BS 7870-4.10 Copper MDPE 12.7/22 (24)kV cables across cross-sectional areas from 70mm² up to 800mm² (70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300, 400, 500, 630, and 800mm²), each built with a standardized 5.5mm nominal XLPE insulation thickness and a 35mm² copper wire/helix tape screen. Outer sheath thicknesses range from 1.51mm to 2.19mm, yielding overall nominal outer diameters spanning 32.4mm (70mm²) to 59.0mm (800mm²) and unit weights from 1,502 kg/km to 9,020 kg/km. Operating across a continuous conductor operating temperature of +90°C (conductor short-circuit thermal limit of +250°C for 1 second and an initial screen short-circuit threshold of +80°C), maximum copper conductor DC resistance at 20°C ranges from 0.268 Ω/km (70mm²) down to 0.0221 Ω/km (800mm²). In trefoil formation, continuous current carrying capacity reaches up to 1,300A in free air and 945A in ground for 800mm² cables, with conductor 1-second short-circuit current withstand up to 114.4 kA and metallic screen capacity of 4.1 kA. The installation bending radius is standardized at 20 times the overall cable diameter in strict accordance with BS 7870-4.10 and HD 620 S2 standards.

Standards

Design & Material Standards: BS 7870-4.10, BS EN 60228 Class 2, HD 620 S2 Part 10C/11C
Halogen Content: Halogen-free according to IEC 60754
Environmental & Weathering: UV Resistant; impermeable MDPE outer jacket
Electrical & Voltage Ratings: Voltage Rating Uo/U (Um): 12.7/22 (24)kV
Thermal Ratings: Maximum conductor operating temp: +90°C; Maximum conductor short-circuit temp (1s): +250°C; Initial screen short-circuit temp: +80°C
Mechanical Bending: Minimum Bending Radius: 20 × overall diameter
Regulatory Compliance: RoHS Directive 2015/65/EU, REACH Regulation EC 1907/2006, CE Marked

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the primary difference between the copper and aluminium versions of BS 7870-4.10 cables?
A: The copper version (Product Group E9X) uses Class 2 stranded copper conductors providing higher electrical conductivity, higher current-carrying capacity, and lower DC resistance (0.268 down to 0.0221 Ω/km) compared to the aluminium version (Product Group E9XA), allowing for smaller cable dimensions for equivalent ampacity ratings.

Q: What is the benefit of using dual semi-conductive and non-conductive waterblocking tapes?
A: The inner semi-conductive waterblocking tape beneath the copper screen ensures electrical field continuity while swelling to arrest moisture travel along the screen interface, whereas the outer non-conductive waterblocking tape prevents moisture traveling beneath the MDPE sheath, delivering complete longitudinal watertightness.

Q: Why is an extruded strippable insulation screen specified?
A: A strippable outer semi-conductive screen allows clean, fast, and smooth peeling from the XLPE insulation during field termination and jointing, preventing score marks on the primary dielectric and reducing installation time.

Q: What commercial payment terms does Huadong Cable accept for international project orders?
A: We accept standard international commercial payment terms, primarily Telegraphic Transfer (T/T, with 30% advance deposit and 70% against shipping documents) and 100% Irrevocable Letter of Credit (L/C) at sight.

BS 7870-4.10 Copper MDPE 12.7/22 (24)kV – Why Choose Huadong Cable?

Huadong Cable Group manufactures BS 7870-4.10 Copper MDPE 12.7/22 (24)kV medium-voltage cables in strict compliance with British Standard BS 7870-4.10 and BS EN 60228 specifications. Utilizing high-purity electrolytic copper rod, our precision stranding machinery produces Class 2 stranded conductors that ensure tight dimensional tolerance, optimal compaction density, and minimum DC resistance. On our triple-extrusion catenary continuous vulcanization (CCV) lines, the bonded semi-conductive conductor screen, high-cleanliness XLPE insulation, and strippable semi-conductive insulation screen are applied simultaneously under pressurized dry nitrogen vulcanization, eliminating microscopic voids and keeping partial discharge levels well below standard limits.

Backed by more than 20 years of precision cable engineering expertise, Huadong Cable Group operates testing laboratories accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 and quality management systems certified to ISO 9001 and CE frameworks. Direct factory manufacturing eliminates middleman trading markups, allowing us to provide competitive factory pricing, 100% routine electrical and spark testing verified by certified Mill Test Certificates (MTC), continuous drum cuts packaged on heavy-duty ISPM 15 heat-treated export wooden reels, and dependable logistics for international electric utilities, renewable EPCs, and regional distribution networks worldwide.