NUMBER E22-S01

REV. NO. 1
ENGINEERING STANDARD DATE MAR 2004
PAGE 1 OF 10

Cables, Low Voltage (NEC and IEC)

This document is issued by Engineering Standards Section, SABIC Engineering and Project Management, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The information contained in this document is the confidential property of SABIC. It can not be disclosed, copied or used for any purpose
without prior approval from SABIC. If you are not authorized to posses this document, please destroy it immediately.
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Cables, Low Voltage (NEC and IEC)
DATE MAR 2004
ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 2 OF 10

CONTENTS

1. SCOPE................................................................................................. 3
2. REFERENCES 3
3. GENERAL 3
4. OPERATION CONDITIONS................................................................. 4
4.1 Site Conditions 4
4.2 Service Conditions 4
5. LOW VOLTAGE CABLE - IEC.............................................................. 4
6. LOW VOLTAGE CABLE - ICEA 5
7. NUMBER AND SIZE OF CABLES 7
7.1 Power Cables.................................................................................. 7
7.2 Control Cables 7
7.3 Ground Conductors 7
8. AMPACITY ........................................................................................... 8
9. SINGLE CONDUCTOR CABLES 8
10. MULTICONDUCTOR CABLES 8
10.1 Non-armored Cables....................................................................... 8
10.2 Armored Cables 8
11. TESTING AND INSPECTION 9
12. IDENTIFICATION AND TAGGING ....................................................... 9
13. PREPARATION FOR SHIPMENT 10

TABLE
I Minimum Acceptable Insulation Thicknesses 5
II Minimum Acceptable Jacket Thickness for Armored and
Non-armored Multiconductor Cables ................................................... 5
III Minimum Acceptable Insulation Thicknesses 6
IV Minimum Acceptable Jacket Thicknesses for Multiconductor
Non-armored Cables 6
V Minimum Acceptable Jacket Thicknesses for Multiconductor
Armored Cables .................................................................................. 7
VI Wire and Cable Size Cross Reference Table 7
VII Minimum Acceptable Grounding Conductor Sizes 8
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DATE MAR 2004
ENGINEERING STANDARD
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1. Scope
1.1 This specification is for manufacturing, testing and shipping of low voltage power and control cables.
1.2 This specification shall be used in conjunction with SES E22-X01.

2. References
Reference is made in this specification to the following documents. The latest issues, amendments, and
supplements to these documents shall apply unless otherwise indicated.
SABIC Engineering Standards (SES)
E22-X01 Cables, Low Voltage (NEC and IEC) - Data Sheet
Z01-G04 Measurement Units for Use in SABIC Projects
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
B 3 Specification for Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
B 8 Specification for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors, Hard, Medium-Hard, or Soft
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
383 Type Test of Class 1E Electric Cables
1202 Flame Testing of Cables for Use In Cable Trays
Insulated Cable Engineers Association / National Electric Manufacturers Association (ICEA/NEMA)
ICEA S-66-524/NEMA WC-7 Cross-Linked-Thermosetting-Polyethylene-Insulated Wire and Cable for
the Transmission and Distribution of Electric Energy
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
60038 IEC Standard Voltages
60228 Conductors of Insulated Cables
60332-3 Tests on Electric Cables under Fire Conditions - Part 3: Tests on Bunched Wires or Cables
60502 Extruded Solid Dielectric Insulated Power Cables for Rated Voltages from 1 kV up to 30 kV
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
70 National Electrical Code (NEC), 1999 Edition
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL)
44 Rubber-Insulated Wires and Cable
1569 Metal Clad Cables

3. General
3.1 This specification prescribes the general requirements for low voltage power cables. See
SES E22-X01 for specific requirements.
3.2 Low voltage power cable shall be manufactured and tested in accordance with IEC 60502 or
ICEA S-66-524, as specified on SES E22-X01.
3.3 Cable manufactured to IEC 60502 shall conform to section 5.
3.4 Cable manufactured to ICEA S-66-524 shall conform to section 6.
3.5 Units of measure associated with the cable, for example technical requirements, reel lengths, and
purchase quantities shall be in accordance with SES Z01-G04. However, the cable size shall be indicated
in the actual unit of measure (AWG or mm2), as applicable, based on the purchased cable.
3.6 Any conflict(s) between this specification, SES and industry standards, engineering drawings, and
contract documents shall be resolved at the discretion of SABIC.
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DATE MAR 2004
ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 4 OF 10

4. Operation Conditions
4.1 Site Conditions
4.1.1 Indoor Conditions
Temperature range: air-conditioned. 0 qC to 40 qC.
4.1.2 Outdoor Conditions
Ambient temperature: 1 qC to 50 qC
Metallic surface temperatures reaching 75 qC due to solar radiation
Corrosive desert atmosphere with blowing sand and dust
Relative humidity: 10 to 100 percent
4.1.3 Storage / Transport Conditions
Ambient temperature: 2 qC to 70 qC
Relative humidity: 1 to 95 percent
4.2 Service Conditions
4.2.1 The cable material and construction shall be suitable for storage, installation and operation in
climatic conditions stated in 4.1. Impact of the higher ambient temperature on ampacity will be factored in
cable selection and application during system design.
4.2.2 The cable insulation and all components shall be suitable for normal operation at 90 qC conductor
temperature, and 250 qC for short circuit conditions.
4.2.3 Cables shall be suitable for wet or dry locations.

5. Low Voltage Cable - IEC

5.1 Cable shall be manufactured and tested in accordance with IEC 60038, 60228, 60332-3, 60502.
5.2 The conductors shall be plain annealed circular stranded copper conforming to IEC 60228 Class 2.
5.3 Low voltage single conductor cables shall be insulated with cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE)
insulation extruded directly over the copper conductors or ethylene propylene rubber (EPR). The cable
construction shall be in accordance with IEC 60502. Table I lists the minimum acceptable insulation
thickness of the cables.
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Table I
Minimum Acceptable Insulation Thicknesses

CONDUCTOR SIZE INSULATION THICKNESS

mm2 mm

2.5 to 16 0.7
35 0.9
50 1.0
70 to 95 1.1
120 1.2
150 1.4
185 1.6
240 1.7
300 1.8
400 2.0
500 2.2

5.4 Multiconductor cables shall have a flame retardant and termite resistant PVC jacket. The material for
the cable jacket shall be extruded directly onto the surface to be covered. Table II lists the minimum
acceptable jacket thickness for armored and nonarmored multiconductor cables. The cable jacket shall be
continuous, homogeneous, voidless, seamless, and free of foreign material.

Table II
Minimum Acceptable Jacket Thickness for Armored
and Non-armored Multiconductor Cables

CONDUCTOR SIZE INSULATION THICKNESS

mm2 mm

1.5 to 70 1.8
95 to 150 2.0
185 to 300 2.4
400 and 500 3.0

5.5 Cable shall conform to flame retardance test in accordance with IEC 60332-3.

6. Low Voltage Cable - ICEA

6.1 Cable shall be manufactured and tested in accordance with all applicable American standards listed in
section 2, with the additional requirements of this section.
6.2 Conductor material shall be plain annealed copper in accordance with ASTM B 3. Conductors shall be
concentric lay Class B stranded in accordance with ASTM B 8.
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6.3 Low voltage single conductor cable shall be insulated with cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation
extruded directly over the copper conductors or ethylene propylene rubber (EPR). Table III lists the
minimum acceptable insulation thickness of the cables. The cable construction shall be in accordance with
UL 44.

Table III
Minimum Acceptable Insulation Thicknesses

INSULATION THICKNESS
CONDUCTOR SIZE
mm

14 to 10 AWG 0.76
8 to 2 AWG 1.1
1 to 4/0 AWG 1.4
250 to 500 MCM 1.6
750 to 1000 MCM 2.0

6.4 Multiconductor cables shall have an overall PVC jacket consisting of an extruded layer of black PVC
suitable for the operating temperature of the cable. Tables IV and V list the minimum acceptable jacket
thickness. The cable jacket shall be continuous, homogeneous, voidless, seamless, and free of foreign
material. The PVC jacket shall be flame retardant and termite resistant.

Table IV
Minimum Acceptable Jacket Thicknesses for
Multiconductor Non-armored Cables

INSULATION THICKNESS
CONDUCTOR SIZE
mm

14 to 10 AWG 1.14
8 to 4 AWG 1.52
2 to 4/0 AWG 2.03
250 to 750 MCM 2.79
1000 MCM 3.56
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DATE MAR 2004
ENGINEERING STANDARD
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Table V
Minimum Acceptable Jacket Thicknesses for
Multiconductor Armored Cables

INSULATION THICKNESS
CONDUCTOR SIZE
mm

14 to 2/0 AWG 1.27

4/0 AWG to 350 MCM 1.52
500 MCM to 750 MCM 1.9
1000 MCM 2.16

7. Number and Size of Cables

7.1 Power Cables
Insulated conductors shall be supplied in the following standard sizes: 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1/0, 2/0, and 4/0
AWG; 250, 350, 500 and 750 MCM or the standard metric equivalent. Multiconductor power cable shall
contain 2 or more power circuit conductors plus ground wire(s) and may also contain insulated control
wires in sizes 14 or 12 AWG. Table VI defines the acceptable US to Metric cross reference.

Table VI
Wire and Cable Size Cross Reference Table

AWG mm2 AWG mm2 MCM mm2

16 1.5 4 25.0 250 150

14 2.5 3 35.0 300, 350 185
12 4.0 1 50.0 400, 500 240
10 6.0 1/0, 2/0 70.0 500 300
8 10.0 3/0 95.0 750 400
6 16.0 4/0 120.0 1000 630

7.2 Control Cables

Conductors shall be 14, 12 or 10 AWG or the standard metric equivalent. The number of conductors
should in general be 5, 12, 19 or 37.
7.3 Ground Conductors
Ground conductors shall conform to NFPA 70. See Table VII for minimum acceptable grounding
conductor sizes.
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Table VII
Minimum Acceptable Grounding Conductor Sizes

SIZE OF CIRCUIT
MINIMUM GROUNDING CONDUCTOR SIZE
CONDUCTOR

NEC NEC IEC

Copper Copper Copper

14 AWG 14 AWG 2.5 mm
12 12 4
10-8 10 6
6 8 10
1 6 16
1/0 4 25
2/0 AWG-250 MCM 2 35
350-600 1/0 50
750 2-0 70

8. Ampacity
The base current carrying capacity of cables shall be in accordance with NFPA 70, Tables 310-16 to
310-20. SABIC will reduce the ampacity in accordance with the appropriate requirements of the NEC,
based on installation method and site conditions.

9. Single Conductor Cables

Insulated conductor of single conductor cable shall have PVC jacket unless otherwise specified in
SES E22-X01.

10. Multiconductor Cables

10.1 Non-armored Cables
Insulated conductors of the multiconductor cable shall be assembled with grounding conductors and
non-hygroscopic filler material in the interstices. Assembly shall be bound with a binder tape or other
suitable material, where necessary. PVC outer jacket shall be extruded over the bound assembly.
10.2 Armored Cables
10.2.1 Armored cable shall conform to UL 1569. Armor material may be galvanized steel or aluminum.
Armor may be interlocking metal tapes; a continuous corrugated sheath; or a single layer of round wires.
10.2.2 Insulated conductors shall be assembled with grounding conductors and non-hygroscopic filler
material in the interstices. The assembly shall be bound with a binder tape or other suitable material, where
necessary. An extruded layer of flame retardant PVC compound shall be applied over the core assembly to
form a circular cable and to serve as bedding for the armor. The armor shall then be applied using
additional bedding material if required. If a layer of round wire armor is used, a galvanized steel tape may
be applied over the wire armor as binder in open helix.
10.2.3 Cables shall have an overall PVC jacket applied over the armor, consisting of an extruded layer of
black PVC suitable for the operating temperature of the cable. PVC jacket shall be flame retardant and
termite resistant.
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DATE MAR 2004
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11. Testing and Inspection

11.1 Prior to start of fabrication, manufacturer shall submit for SABIC approval a complete listing of all
routine and type tests to be performed and certified, in accordance with IEEE 383 and 1202. The listing
shall clearly specify the method and sampling.
11.2 Test results in conformance with this specification shall be submitted to SABIC by the manufacturer
prior to shipment of cable.
11.3 SABIC may inspect cable at manufacturer’s site at its discretion.
11.4 The following routine tests shall be performed:
a. DC conductor resistance test
b. Partial discharge test
c. Insulation resistance (Hi Pot) test
d. Meggar test
11.5 Any special tests shown in SES E22-X01 shall be performed on the completed cables in accordance
with the applicable procedure.
11.6 SABIC reserves the right to witness all tests. Manufacturer shall provide written notification to SABIC
at least two (2) weeks in advance of the test date. The notice shall include an outline of the procedures
used in performance of the tests.
11.7 Manufacturer shall not proceed with witness tests in the absence of SABIC until he has received
written notification that SABIC has elected to waive a particular test.
11.8 Material and workmanship shall be subject to SABIC inspection and testing after delivery to the site.
In case any cables are found to be defective in material or workmanship, or otherwise not in conformance
with the requirements of this specification.

12. Identification and Tagging

12.1 The individual wires in multiconductor control cables shall be color coded in accordance with
ICEA S-66-524, Method 1.
12.2 Power cable shall have the following core (color) designations:
a. Single core: Black
b. 2 cores: Black, White
c. 3 cores: Yellow, Red, Blue
d. 4 cores: Black, Red, Blue, Yellow
e. Ground Conductor: Insulated Green, with insulation
12.3 Finished cable shall be identified by embossing the following identifications on cable external surface
at less than 1 m intervals longitudinally:
Manufacturer’s name or trademark
Year of manufacture
Number of cores and size
Rated voltage and cable description
UL or other accredited testing laboratory label
Conductor material
Size of ground conductor
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Conductor temperature rating

Insulation type and thickness
Oil resistance I or oil resistance II
12.4 A weatherproof tag suitable for 2 years of outdoor storage shall be affixed to each reel, visible without
removal of packing material, with the following information:
a. Name and kind of cable
b. Number of cores and size
c. Length
d. Net weight and gross weight
e. Direction of winding of cable
f. Indicator of cable end position
g. Manufacturer’s name or trademark
h. Year and month of manufacture
g. Drum number and color identification, if specified in purchase order
h. Purchase order number
i. Manufacturer’s item code number
j. Manufacturer’s reel number

13. Preparation for Shipment

13.1 Cables shall be shipped on non-returnable wooden reels. Manufacturer shall indicate in proposal the
maximum reel size and longest possible shipping length for each size of cable. SABIC shall specify
shipment in cut lengths, in one continuous length without splice, or bulk standardized reel lengths. Cable
length tolerance shall be from minus 3 percent to plus three percent of the specified length.
13.2 Cable ends shall be sealed using heat shrinkable, self-sealing end caps to prevent the entrance of
moisture into the cable prior to installation. Cable ends shall be secured to reel in a way that no damage to
the wire will be incurred. Nailing or stapling of cable to side reel shall not be acceptable. Both ends shall be
available for testing while the cable is on the reel without removing the cable reel impact protection.
13.3 Impact protection for cable on each reel shall be provided by wood lagging over the reel
circumference.