A Short Guide to Armoured Cables
Whilst the weight and rigidity of armoured cables can make them hard to handle and time-consuming to terminate, they are essential in applications where unarmoured cables may be prone to damage and require containment protection, i.e.: conduit or trunking
What is armoured cable?
As the name suggests, armoured cables act as bodyguards for electrical circuits. An armoured cable, also known as steel wire armoured (SWA) cable, or booklet armoured cable, is a low voltage (LV) power cable or control cable that is designed for use in mains supply at a maximum 600/1000 V.
Indoor armoured cables can be used in places such as plantrooms, where cables may be susceptible to damage from heavy machinery. Outdoor armoured cables also need to withstand temperatures, harsh weather conditions, mechanical stresses, and third-party damage.
Where should you use armoured cables?
Armoured cables are the ideal solution for any electric circuit that may be subject to physical damage.
In this context, armoured cables are most often used for fixed power installations in industrial applications, such as power distribution in a plantroom, where cables may be damaged by maintenance operations, for example.
Clause 522.8.10 in BS7671 requires that cables buried in the ground shall incorporate an earthed armour. When the ground is opened again for maintenance, an unarmoured cable might be hit by excavation plant or even a spade, and damaged, and without any earthed protection, could lead to an electric shock.
Are there different types of cable armour?
Single core power cables for AC voltages will incorporate a layer of protective aluminium armour (AWA), never steel. This is because a magnetic field is produced by the current in a single core cable which induces an electric current in any ferromagnetic armour material, such as steel, which could lead to the cable overheating. If this were to happen, the 'magnetic losses' would be prohibitive and massively de-rate the cable. The cores will also physically repel each other. (You can read more about this in section 521.5.2 of the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations, BS 7671:2018.)
For multi-core cables, galvanized steel wire armour (SWA) is used. Magnetic fields are not an issue in multi-core cables as the currents in a cable with two or more cores will exert opposite magnetic forces which have a cancelling effect on each other, so that no magnetic flux is produced in the cable’s steel armour.
Prysmian's XLPE insulated, PVC sheathed SWA and AWA cables are manufactured in accordance with BS5467. Typically, SWA cables are constructed with class 2 stranded plain annealed copper wire conductors to comply with BS EN 60228. These are covered by an extruded layer of cross-linked polyethylene insulation. The insulated conductors are then ‘laid-up’ or helically wrapped together and a bedding layer extruded on top. The whole assembly is then enclosed in a layer of armour to provide mechanical protection. A PVC outer sheath provides additional protection from sunlight and water.
Prysmian's LSOH Cable is manufactured to BS 6724. This cable can be used as a direct replacement for PVC sheathed standard BS 5467 armoured cables for applications where low smoke, zero halogen performance and improved flame propagation is required. FP600S features conductors wrapped in mica-glass fire resistant tape in addition to XLPE insulation to maintain circuit integrity and/or operation during a fire.
Terminating an armoured cable
Armoured cables can be particularly tricky to terminate. It is time consuming operation to strip back all the different layer as well as the armour. Specialist tools can help speed the process, but otherwise it’s necessary to remove the cable sheath and cut through every single armour wire encasing the cable.
Once the armoured layer has been removed, the bedding layer is carefully cut back so as not do damage the cable cores, and the insulation can be stripped from the cable cores to allow the cable to be terminated.
Cutting the bedding layer can be a fiddly task if the cable is poorly made or if the bedding layer has become stuck to the cores’ insulation. Insulation can be damaged by removing bonded bedding, through excessive use of tools in tight spaces.
It’s important to seal the termination of an armoured cable against the ingress of airborne particles, moisture or even gas, with a metal gland. BW-type glands are used for indoor applications, while CW-type glands are suitable for outdoor applications. Particular care needs to be exercised when specifying glands for use on cables in hazardous areas. Finally, it’s also important to earth a metallic gland as this will earth the armour.