Cheat Sheet:

Instrumentation Cables

INTRODUCTION
Instrumentation and Control cables are designed to carry signals from instrumentation and control equipment.
The cables comply with one of the following standards:
- BS5308 / PAS5308 Part 1 or 2 - British standard
- EN 50288-7 - European standard
- NF M87-202 - French standard

BS 5308 AND PAS 5308

British Standard BS 5308 has actually been withdrawn and superseded by the European standard EN 50288-7 but is still
commonly specified, and is often supplied under the Publicly Available Standard (PAS) equivalent.
The standard is split into two parts and then at least 2 Types (there is also a Type 3 with a Lead Sheath);
Part 1 covers Polyethylene and Cross-linked Polyethylene insulated cables
Part 2 covers PVC insulated cables
Type 1 covers cables both screened and unscreened
Type 2 covers cables that include a Steel Wire Armour (SWA)
Why do people still use PAS5308? The European standard BS EN 50288-7 doesn't necessarily adequately cover certain
constructions, higher voltage ranges, and dimensions. It should be noted that a PAS does not hold the same weight as a BS though.
The cables are suitable for operation at 300/500V and have Class 2 stranded or Class 5 flexible stranded Copper conductors. They're
not designed for direct connection to a low impedance source, such as the public electricity supply.

Identification colour coding

Constructions of up to 50 Pairs are either colour-coded as per the table from Annex C of the standard (on page 4 of this document) or
black/white or black/blue and numbered. Triples are not included in the BS5308 standard so colour coding is not defined (although is
often black/white/red numbered).

EN 50288-7
This European Standard was first published in 2005 and superseded BS5308 and other national types to harmonise instrumentation
cable standards. The Scope is defined as: ‘... multi-element cables suitable for connecting instruments and control systems for analogue
or digital signal transmission. They may or may not be screened and optionally may incorporate armouring and/or moisture or
environmental protection layers.’. The standard specifies the requirements for the various elements that make up the cables but does not
prescribe particular construction types. Cables covered by this standard have maximum rated voltages of 90V, 300V and 500V a.c.

Naming Convention
EN 50288-7 cables are often referred to by the following coding:
RE: Designation for instrumentation cables PSCR: Pairs screened M: Lead sheath
Ym: PVC high temperature OSCR: Over all screened Mz: Lead alloy sheath
Yo: PVC sheath with improved oil resistance PIMF: Pairs in metal foil (L)2Y: Multilayer sheath
2Y: Polyethylene (PE) TIMF: Triples in metal foil (L)2Y4Y: ALNYC sheath
2X: Cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) C: Copper wire braid (fl): Increased fire resistance
T or MGT: Mica glass tape Q: Steel wire braid CI: Circuit integrity
H: Low smoke zero halogen SWA: Steel wire armour
2G: Silicone rubber B: Flat steel tape armour
St: Overall screen FG: Flat steel wire helix

For example: RE-2X(st)Y SWAY PiMF are instrumentation cables with XLPE insulation, Overall screen, PVC inner sheath, SWA
armour, PVC outer sheath. The pairs are also individually screened in metal foil (underneath the overall screen).

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 Cheat Sheet:
Instrumentation Cables

Identification colour coding

Unless otherwise specified (e.g. by means of numbered cores or tapes), the coding for identification shall correspond with the standard
colours shown in HD 402 S2. Coloured or numbered non-hygroscopic binder tapes may be applied over screened cabling elements as
identification.

NF M 87-202 PETROLEUM INDUSTRY, INSTRUMENTATION CABLES

French National Standard cable for armoured or unarmoured instrumentation cables in pairs, three core, four core, multiple pairs and
multiple three core (multiple pairs are used for multiple four core cables). Coloured or numbered non-hygroscopic binder tapes may be
applied over screened cabling elements as identification. These cables are used in extra-low voltage applications in petroleum and
petrochemical units for the transmission of a.c and d.c analogue signals.

Construction
Class 1 solid or Class 2 stranded Copper conductors (unlike EN 50288-7 which offers Class 5 flexible stranded as well), with PVC
insultion, although other materials such as XLPE or Silicone Rubber may be agreed. The major difference is in the armouring, which uses
a dual layer of steel tape (STA) as opposed to SWA, a waxed crepe paper separator, and the use of a PVC sheathing that is of a type
resistant to the aromatic hydrocarbons found in the petrochemical industry.

Cable type coding system for cables to NF M87-202 uses a 10 character alpha numeric system. The characters are in
pairs or series of two, see table below:
CODE MEANING OF CODE

1st series - Numbers of pairs, three cores, four cores

Pairs: 01, 03, 07, 12, 19 and 27
Two figures Three cores: 01, 07, and 12
Four core: 01

2nd Series - Type/Use

Paired series copper IP
Two letters Three core series: copper IT
Four core series: copper IQ

3rd series - composition of conductors

Two figures Single core pair, three core, four core: (7x 0.40 - cross sectional area 0.88mm2) 09
Multiple pairs and three cores: (1 x 0.8mm-cross sectional area 0.5mm2) 05

4th series - screen (Screening)

General screen EG
Two letters Indervidual screen and general screen EI
Indervidual screen per half cable + general screen EP

5th series - Mechanical protection

No strip - limited mechanical protection, delivery at stage of PVC sheathing which is resistant to aliphatic
hydrocarbons, = SF
Two letters Steel Strip - mechanical protection and PVC sheath for resistance with lead and PVC sheathing for
resistance to aromatic hydrocarbons = PF
Special sheath and steel strip for mechanical and chemical resistnance to Aromatic hydrocarbons without lead, = TF

(1) If multiple pairs or multiple three cores cables are connected to equipment subject to heavy vibration, more flexible cables should be used.

Coding system
A star to be used where cross linked polyethylene is used instead of PVC by agreement with Purchaser.

Identification colour coding

Single pair cable: Natural, Red ( or Blue or Yellow)
Single three core cable: Natural, Red, Blue
Single quad core cable: Natural, Red, Blue, Yellow
Multipair and multi three core cables;
The individual pairs: Natural, Red
The individual three core cables are: Natural, Red, Blue

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 Cheat Sheet:
Instrumentation Cables
Identification between pairs and three core cables shall be obtained by numbering with the numbers printed in
accordance with NF C 30-201 either:
- On the natural member or
- On the PVC sheath of each pair or each three core cable

Some common materials used in instrumentation cables (and why)

PVC: Polyvinylchloride is used as either an insulation material or as a sheathing material. PVC is a highly versatile material which
has traditionally been used extensively across the cable industry. It is flame retardant and self-extinguishing. It can be modified for a
variety of applications including indoor and outdoor use, in wet and dry conditions, in conduit or direct burial and for both high and low
temperature application. PVC also has resistance to a wide range of chemicals including some oils and solvents. PVC is replaced in
certain applications by low smoke, halogen free materials, where there is a substantial risk to life and equipment in a fire situation.
PE: Polyethylene is used as either an insulation or sheathing material. It has excellent chemical resistance, including oils and extremely
low water absorption. It also has superior mechanical strengths and good low temperature resistance. PE cables tend to be somewhat
more rigid due to the hardness of the PE material and are not flame retardant. Due to the flammability the PE sheathing is generally used
with cables for outdoor applications or for direct burial.

XLPE: Cross-linking PE improves the performance of the cable, increasing the temperature and chemical resistance. This material is
used mainly as an insulation material.

LSZH: Low smoke zero halogen materials are used in place of PVC materials where there is a significant risk to life and equipment
in fire situations. These cables do not produce halogen acid gases when they burn and do not release the significant levels of dense
black smoke that the PVC equivalent materials would in the event of a fire. Various additives can be added to these materials to improve
resistance to chemicals including oils and solvents.

Silicone rubber is used in applications where there is a need for extended temperature ranges, suitable for applications from -90°C to
180°C. Silicone rubber is also used widely where cables are required to maintain circuit integrity under fire conditions.

Mica Tape: Glass backed mica tape is extensively used in fire resistant cables due to its exceptional performance as an insulation
material in a fire situation.

SWA: Steel wire armouring is used to offer a significant degree of resistance to mechanical impact. It is composed of either round steel
galvanised wires or flat steel galvanised wires helically wound around the bedding covering the insulated conductors.

Single or double layer of metal tape. Metal tape of either steel of brass is longitudinally wrapped around the bedding covering the
insulated cores. This cable whilst offering a tough tight covering seal over the cores is also somewhat less flexible than the SWA version.
Tapes offer the most complete covering. The steel tapes provide the best inductive protection whereas the brass tapes are most
frequently used as rodent protection.

Metal Braid: The braid is either galvanised steel or plain or tinned copper wires. Braiding these fine wires makes the cable more flexible
and lightweight than the other means of mechanical protection, SWA and metal tapes.

Lead or Lead alloy sheath: Lead sheathing offers the best protection against oils and chemicals and essential where there is constant
exposure in heavily polluted mud with hydrocarbon content. Lead alloy is a lighter alternative to the chemical barrier offered by lead, it is
frequently used in areas of high vibration

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 Cheat Sheet:
Instrumentation Cables

Annex C - BS5308 / PAS5308

Table C.1 Identification of cable pairs other than two-pair cables without individual pair screens (quads)
NO. OF PAIRS A-WIRE B-WIRE NO. OF PAIRS A-WIRE B-WIRE

1 Black Blue 26 White Yellow

2 Black Green 27 Red Yellow
3 Blue Green 28 Orange Yellow
4 Black Brown 29 Black Grey
5 Blue Brown 30 Blue Grey
6 Green Brown 31 Green Grey
7 Black White 32 Brown Grey
8 Blue White 33 White Grey
9 Green White 34 Red Grey
10 Brown White 35 Orange Grey
11 Black Red 36 Yellow Grey
12 Blue Red 37 Black Voilet
13 Green Red 38 Blue Voilet
14 Brown Red 39 Green Voilet
15 White Red 40 Brown Voilet
16 Black Orange 41 White Voilet
17 Blue Orange 42 Red Voilet
18 Green Orange 43 Orange Voilet
19 Brown Orange 44 Yellow Voilet
20 White Orange 45 Grey Voilet
21 Red Orange 46 Black Turquoise
22 Black Yellow 47 Blue Turquoise
23 Blue Yellow 48 Green Turquoise
24 Green Yellow 49 Brown Turquoise
25 Brown Yellow 50 White Turquoise

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