How to Choose BS Standard Cable?

British Standards are documents outlining minimum or maximum constructional requirements, technical specifications and criteria to be used as guidelines and to provide definitions. They establish benchmarks for the manufacturing and supply of goods and services.

British Standard cables (also known as BS cables) are electrical cables manufactured in accordance with and compliant to a specific British Standard. Electrical cable manufacturers demonstrate they have followed the steps to fulfil British Standard requirements by putting a BS mark on their cables' sheath.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website.

British Standard Cable Portfolio

Eland Cables supplies cables manufactured in accordance with a wide range of British Standards (BS) and European Standards (EN). These include:

BS - Instrumentation cables
BS - Thermosetting insulated armoured cables 600/V
BS - Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) cables 450/750V for power and lighting
BS-1 - Fire resistant LSZH cables 300/500V
BS - Thermosetting insulated armoured LSZH cables 3.8/6.6kV to 19/33kV
BS - Thermosetting insulated armoured LSZH cables 600/V
BS - Low Voltage (LV) and Medium Voltage (MV) polymeric insulated cables
BS - Elastomer insulated fire resistant cables for fixed wiring
BS - Flexible industrial cables 450/750V for equipment and appliances
BS - LSZH multi-core 300/500V cables for wall partitions
BS EN  - multi-element metallic cables for analogue and digital communication
BS EN  - LV cables 450/750V

As a leading UK-based cable supplier, Eland Cables has one of the most comprehensive ranges of cables manufactured to British Standards.

The Cable Lab®, our in-house specialist cable testing laboratory, ensures the compliance of our cables with the relevant British Standards and our technical team has vast experience in advising on the specification and selection of British Standard Cables.

The cable tray size is described in two dimensions: width and height. Calculating the size of a cable tray means calculating its width.

The final size of a cable tray depends on the following:

1- The number of cables on the cable tray

2- The size and overall diameter of each cable

3- The future expansion

The general rule for sizing the cable tray is that all the cables must be installed in a single layer, and there must be a space between each two cables:

1- The space between two multi core cables equals the diameter of bigger cable.

2- The space between three single core cables in trefoil formation and other trefoil cables equals the double of the diameter of the bigger cable.

Then, we measure the overall width of the previous arrangement to find the initial cable tray width, then add the future expansion.

Final cable tray width= initial cable tray width*(1+expantion percentage)

We round the final cable width to the nearest biggest standard width, which equals 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 mm (Can be different according to the manufacturer).

Example:

Find the cable tray size which will carry the following cables. Consider future expansion = 20%.

4x25mm2 CU/XLPE/PVC cable, diameter= 22.0 mm

4x120mm2 CU/XLPE/PVC cable, diameter= 39.9 mm

4x35mm2 CU/XLPE/PVC cable, diameter= 25.4 mm

4x50mm2 CU/XLPE/PVC cable, diameter= 28.3 mm

4x70mm2 CU/XLPE/PVC cable, diameter= 32.1 mm

Initial cable tray size= 310 mm

Final cable tray size= 310*1.2= 372 mm

We round this value to the nearest bigger cable tray standard value = 400 mm

For more information, please visit Mingda.

Example:

Find the cable tray which will carry the following cables. Consider future expansion = 20%.

4No. of 3(1x240) mm2 CU/XLPE/PVC cable, diameter= 31.9

Initial cable tray size= 510 mm

Final cable tray size= 510 x 1.2= 612 mm

We round this value to the nearest bigger cable tray standard value = 700 mm

What about separate neutral and earthing conductors?

Because neutral and earthing conductors normally don't carry current, we don't put these conductors into consideration when sizing cable trays. When laying, they will be laid beside the main cable.

Why do we add space between cables?

Grouping the cables without adding space on cable trays is possible, but when calculating the maximum carrying current capacity for the cables, you have to take into account the derating factor for cables when touching on the cable tray.

With reference to the tables below in BS* standard (There are similar tables in IEC** standard), we can find the derating factors for both cases; cables are touched and cables are spaced.

When the cables are touched, the derating factors range from 0.85 to 0.6 depending on the number of cables. Which means that the size of the cables could be nearly doubled. That will lead to an increase in the cost of cables.

But, if we look at the rating factors when cables are spaced, we find that they have a range between 1 and 0.9, which has little effect on maximum carrying current capacity.

*BS &#; Table 4C4 and Table 4C5

 **IEC -5-52 &#; Table B.52.20 and Table B.52.21

________________________________________________________________

Need a hand in producing electrical shop drawings

I am accepting electrical shop drawing (electrical drafting) freelance projects.

Check this post: https://bit.ly/37bbSLS

If you need any help, please contact me through &#;DM&#;s or by &#;:

Contact us to discuss your requirements of BS Standard Cable. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.