CU/XLPE/STA/LSZH Armoured Cable – Fire Resistant, Low Smoke Zero Halogen
A fire inside a tunnel, a cable riser, or a data hall destroys circuits long before flames spread. Toxic halogen gas corrodes switchgear. Dense black smoke blocks escape routes. The CU/XLPE/STA/LSZH armoured cable is designed to remove that chain of failure. Its integral mica glass barrier keeps emergency power running at 750°C. The low-smoke zero-halogen sheath nearly eliminates acid gas, protecting both life-safety systems and the equipment that relies on them. For procurement teams managing high-occupancy buildings, substations, or underground networks, that translates into lower compliance risk and fewer passive fire-protection add-ons.
Why Engineers Write This Cable Into the Project Spec
Integral mica tape fire barrier + XLPE insulation
Maintains circuit integrity at 750°C for 90 minutes under IEC 60331-21 and meets BS 6387 CWZ when required. → Fire pumps, pressurisation fans, and evacuation signage stay energised during a fire; the facility remains code-compliant without routing through expensive fire-rated conduit.
Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) compound throughout
Halogen acid gas emission below 0.5% (IEC 60754-1) and smoke transmittance exceeding 60% (IEC 61034). → Eliminates the corrosion hazard that voids PLCs, server racks, and HVAC controls. In a fire, escape lighting remains visible — a non-negotiable for public venues and underground stations.
Galvanised steel tape armour (STA)
High radial crush resistance, applied helically over a bedding layer. → The cable can be direct-buried in soil or embedded in concrete without separate mechanical protection. Installation footage stays flat; project pulling accessories and labour costs shrink.
Copper conductor, 90°C continuous
Class 2 stranded copper with cross-linked polyethylene insulation rated for 600/1000V. → Delivers higher ampacity per cross-section than PVC-insulated equivalents. Voltage drop over long cable runs shrinks, cutting the conductor cross-section — and the conductor bill-of-materials — on feeder lines.
UV and oil-stabilised outer sheath
LSZH jacket formulated for outdoor exposure and occasional hydrocarbon contact. → Extends service life on exposed solar farm troughs, refinery pipe racks, and wind turbine yaw decks. Rewiring intervals stretch, reducing whole-life asset cost.
Electrical, Mechanical & Fire Performance Data
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Conductor | Plain annealed copper, stranded Class 2 to IEC 60228 |
| Fire barrier | Mica glass tape, applied directly over the conductor |
| Insulation | Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), GP8 type |
| Bedding | Low Smoke Zero Halogen bedding compound |
| Armour | Galvanised steel tape (STA), helical lay |
| Outer sheath | LSZH, black (UV-stabilised); other colours on request |
| Rated voltage (Uo/U) | 600/1000 V |
| Test voltage | 3.5 kV AC for 5 minutes |
| Operating temperature range | -15°C to +90°C (conductor) |
| Short-circuit temperature | +250°C |
| Minimum bending radius | 15 × overall cable diameter |
| Fire resistance | IEC 60331-21 (750°C / 90 min); BS 6387 CWZ (optional) |
| Smoke density | IEC 61034-1/2 — light transmittance ≥ 60% |
| Halogen acid gas content | IEC 60754-1 — ≤ 0.5% |
Conductor cross-sections from 1.5 mm² to 500 mm², core counts and screened variants are available on project order. Ask for the full dimensional datasheet and pulling tension guidelines.
Validated in Demanding Environments
- Hospital atria, airport terminals, high‑rise dwellings – Maintains power to life-safety circuits where thousands of occupants depend on clear smoke extraction and phased evacuation alarms. LSZH keeps smoke density low enough for ceiling-level beacon visibility.
- Underground metro and rail tunnels – STA armour withstands permanent static load from backfill and ground movement. The halogen-free jacket prevents corrosive film build-up on signalling cables, rail fastenings, and rolling stock components.
- Data centre power distribution – In a smouldering incident, zero‑halogen chemistry shields densely packed servers from air‑borne acid, while the fire barrier keeps emergency shutdown and electronic‑door release circuits online.
- Oil and gas process areas – Oil‑resistant LSZH sheath combined with steel tape armour handles occasional hydrocarbon splash and contaminated soil. Fire‑resistant integrity lets remote shutdown valves and fire‑water jockey pumps operate long enough for safe isolation.
- Wind farms and utility‑scale solar – Direct‑bury STA design eliminates cable ducts across hundreds of meters of trenching. A 90°C continuous rating matches inverter and transformer load profiles, and the UV‑stabilised jacket weathers open‑air cable tray exposure.
Certifications & Conformity
- ✅ Fire resistance under flame: IEC 60331‑21 (750°C, 90 minutes)
- ✅ Fire, water spray & mechanical shock: BS 6387 Category CWZ (optional, testing available)
- ✅ Smoke density: IEC 61034‑1/2
- ✅ Halogen gas emission: IEC 60754‑1
- ✅ Low toxicity index: comparable to NES 02‑713 requirements
- ✅ Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011: Declaration of Performance available (typical Euroclass Dca‑s2,d2,a1; higher class upon request)
- ✅ Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS 2011/65/EU) compliant
- ✅ Factory quality management: ISO 9001:2015
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between STA and SWA armouring, and which one works for direct burial?
A: STA (steel tape armour) provides excellent radial crush resistance. It is rated for direct earth burial, concrete encasement, and under‑slab installations. SWA (steel wire armour) manages higher tensile loads — long vertical pulls, suspended cable trays, and deep shafts. If your route contains extended pulls beyond the cable’s safe tension limit, specify SWA. For common horizontal direct‑burial feeders, STA is the weight‑ and cost‑optimised choice.
Q: How do I verify the fire resistance performance for my installation’s sign‑off pack?
A: We supply a 3.1 type‑test certificate per EN 10204 upon request. The cable is batch‑tested to IEC 60331‑21 (750°C for 90 min) or to the specific BS 6387 category your specification demands. All reports are issued by an accredited third‑party laboratory. When you submit an RFQ, mention the exact standard and duration your authority‑having‑jurisdiction requires — that ensures the correct test regime is locked into the quality plan.
Q: Can the same cable serve fire‑fighting lifts that must run under hose stream impact?
A: A standard CU/XLPE/STA/LSZH cable already meets flame resistance. For combined thermal, mechanical shock, and water spray requirements (BS 6387 category W/Z), we add supplementary fire‑proofing layers and run a composite test. These multi‑stressor cables are built to order. Share your duty cycle and the applicable local fire‑code clause with our application engineering team — the rating is only as strong as the complete test assembly.
To receive a full dimensional datasheet, core‑and‑colour configuration form, or current lead time, speak with a cable engineer directly. Send your project specification to our technical desk — we reply within one working day with a quotation, test‑report package, and installation recommendations.