Ratings & Approvals

The 331HF fire resistant cable has earned certification from the world’s leading maritime and offshore classification societies, ensuring compliance with the most stringent international standards for fire safety and electrical performance in hazardous environments.

90°C
Temperature RatingContinuous Operation
ABS
American Bureau of ShippingMarine Certification
IEEE
NRTL Classified IEEE 1580Construction & Performance
TC
Transport CanadaMarine Equipment
DNV
Det Norske Veritas (DNV-GL)Type Approval
LRS
Lloyd’s Register of ShippingMarine Approval

Standards Compliance Matrix

Comprehensive compliance with international fire safety, flame retardancy, and marine cable construction standards ensures the 331HF meets requirements for critical offshore and wind turbine installations worldwide.

StandardSpecificationRequirement331HF Performance
IEC 60331Fire Resistance TestingCircuit integrity at 750°C for 90 min✓ Maintains functionality during fire
IEC 60332-3 Cat AFlame Propagation (Bunched)Vertical flame spread ≤2.5m✓ Self-extinguishing
IEEE 1202Flame Testing Procedures70,000 BTU vertical tray✓ Category A compliant
IEEE 1580Marine Cable ConstructionType LSE/LSX insulation✓ NRTL certified
UL 1309 / CSA 245Shipboard CableMarine grade construction✓ Dual certified
CSA C22.2 No.03Cold Bend/Impact Test-40°C bend / -35°C impact✓ Exceeds requirements
IEC 60092-350Shipboard Cables GeneralGeneral construction requirements✓ Enhanced flexibility design

Application & Design Purpose

The 331HF cable is specifically engineered for critical circuits in offshore facilities worldwide where circuit integrity must be maintained even during fire conditions. The cable addresses the demanding requirements of wind turbine installations and maritime environments where personnel safety depends on continued electrical function.

🚨

Emergency Systems

Critical circuits for emergency lighting, fire detection and suppression systems, alarms, and personnel egress pathways that must remain operational during fire events.

🌊

Offshore Platforms

Designed for the demanding environments of offshore oil and gas facilities, FPSOs, drilling rigs, and fixed platforms requiring marine classification society approvals.

💨

Wind Turbines

Extremely flexible construction with high strand count conductors facilitates installation in wind turbine nacelles, towers, and loop cable applications requiring torsional resistance.

⚡

Hazardous Areas

Suitable for Class I, Division 1 and Zone 1 environments when installed with appropriate armor and sheath configurations per IEEE 1580 requirements.

Technical Features & Characteristics

✓

Fire Resistant (IEC 60331): Maintains circuit integrity when exposed to flames at 750°C for minimum 90 minutes, ensuring critical systems remain operational.

✓

Flame Retardant: Self-extinguishing per IEC 60332-3 Category A and IEEE 1202 vertical tray flame test (70,000 BTU/hr for 20 minutes).

✓

Low Smoke Halogen-Free: GEXOL®-HF insulation produces minimal smoke and no toxic halogen gases during combustion, protecting personnel evacuation routes.

✓

Superior Flexibility: High strand count tinned copper conductors per IEEE 1580 Table 11 provide significantly improved flexibility versus IEC 60092-350 series cables.

✓

Extreme Cold Performance: Exceeds CSA cold bend/cold impact requirements at -40°C/-35°C for installations in arctic and cold climate environments.

✓

Hazardous Location Rated: Suitable for Class I, Division 1 and Zone 1 explosive atmosphere environments when armored and sheathed.

✓

Optional Armor: Basket weave wire armor available in bronze (standard), aluminum, or tinned copper per IEEE 1580 and UL 1309/CSA 245.

✓

Cross-Linked Insulation: GEXOL®-HF cross-linked polyolefin insulation provides excellent dielectric properties with 2000V/IEC 1000V voltage rating.

Cable Construction

Layer-by-Layer Construction Details

1

Conductor

Soft annealed flexible stranded tinned copper per IEEE 1580 Table 11. High strand count design maximizes flexibility and vibration resistance.

2

Fire Resistant Tape

Mica-based fire barrier tape provides circuit integrity per IEC 60331 at temperatures up to 750°C for 90+ minutes.

3

Insulation (GEXOL®-HF)

Low smoke halogen-free flame retardant cross-linked polyolefin meeting IEEE 1580 Type LSE or LSX requirements.

4

Jacket

Black low smoke halogen-free flame retardant polyolefin jacket meeting IEEE 1580. Provides mechanical protection and chemical resistance.

5

Armor (Optional)

Basket weave wire armor per IEEE 1580 and UL 1309/CSA 245. Bronze standard; tinned copper available by request.

6

Sheath (Optional)

Black low smoke halogen-free flame retardant polyolefin outer sheath meeting IEEE 1580 for armored constructions.

Electrical & Dimensional Specifications

Complete technical data for unarmored and armored 331HF configurations. All specifications per IEEE 1580 with ±5% manufacturing tolerance on nominal dimensions. Ampacity ratings based on 45°C ambient temperature per IEEE 45 methodology.

Unarmored Configuration

Size
AWG/kcmil
Size
mm²
Part No.
37-104-
UnarmoredReactance
Ω/1000ft
Voltage Drop
V/A/1000ft
DC Resist.
@25°C Ω/kft
AC Resist.
@90°C Ω/kft
Ampacity (Free Air)
OD (in)Weight (lb/Mft)90°C90°C75°C60°C
18 AWG1.01010.287450.06012.7907.2109.1961815139
16 AWG1.31020.296500.0568.0384.5205.76525211813
14 AWG2.11050.317590.0535.0862.8503.63540342821
12 AWG3.31060.333710.0493.2101.7902.28351433526
10 AWG5.21080.357890.0462.0421.1301.44164544533
8 AWG7.61090.4111210.0471.2730.6940.88580685641
6 AWG12.51100.4501610.0430.8140.4360.556104887353
4 AWG211120.5302370.0380.5590.2860.3761391189772
2 AWG341140.5963310.0350.3550.1750.23018415612995
1 AWG431150.6353920.0350.2900.1400.184212180150109
1/0 AWG541160.6854760.0340.2390.1110.147244207174125
2/0 AWG701170.7575970.0330.1970.0890.117282240202145
3/0 AWG861180.8207470.0330.1640.0700.094327278231168
4/0 AWG1091190.9199030.0330.1380.0560.075381324271196
262 kcmil1321201.01310910.0320.1200.0460.063445378314229
313 kcmil1591211.06713100.0310.1060.0380.053498423351256
373 kcmil1891221.12914790.0310.0940.0320.045558474393287
444 kcmil2271231.19317300.0300.0850.0270.039642546453331
535 kcmil2731241.31420770.0300.0760.0220.033681579485351
646 kcmil3261261.39724300.0290.0690.0190.028789671557407
777 kcmil3941271.49428840.0290.0640.0150.025888755627458
1111 kcmil5621291.83843380.0280.0530.0110.0171108942767571

Armored (B) and Armored & Sheathed (BS) Configurations

Size
AWG/kcmil
Armored (B)Armored & Sheathed (BS)Reactance
Ω/1000ft
Voltage Drop
V/A/1000ft
OD (in)Weight (lb/Mft)OD (in)Weight (lb/Mft)
18 AWG0.337910.4951530.07112.801
16 AWG0.3471500.5051610.0678.049
14 AWG0.3671100.5251760.0645.098
12 AWG0.3841250.5421930.0603.222
10 AWG0.4081460.5662170.0562.053
8 AWG0.4622610.6203430.0551.283
6 AWG0.5022240.6603190.0510.823
4 AWG0.5803230.7384200.0450.566
2 AWG0.6464270.8045330.0420.361
1 AWG0.6854920.8856450.0410.296
1/0 AWG0.7365840.9367420.0410.246
2/0 AWG0.8087201.0088910.0390.203
3/0 AWG0.8618641.06110460.0380.170
4/0 AWG0.96910491.16912510.0380.144
262 kcmil1.06312541.26014730.0370.125
313 kcmil1.11714811.31717100.0360.110
373 kcmil1.17916601.37919020.0350.098
444 kcmil1.24319221.44321750.0340.089
535 kcmil1.36522881.56525640.0340.080
646 kcmil1.44826541.64829550.0340.074
777 kcmil1.54531241.80335360.0330.068
1111 kcmil1.88846352.14751320.0320.057

Note: Cable diameters shown as nominal are subject to ±5% manufacturing tolerance. Ampacity based on 45°C ambient temperature per IEEE 45 Table 25 methodology.

Performance Comparison Analysis

331HF vs Standard IEC 60092-350 Series Cables

40%
More Flexible (High Strand Count)
750°C
Fire Resistance Temperature
90 min
Circuit Integrity Duration
-40°C
Cold Bend Performance

Fire Safety Performance Ratings

Fire Resistance (IEC 60331) 95%
Flame Retardancy (IEC 60332-3) 92%
Smoke Emission (Low Smoke) 90%
Cold Temperature Performance 88%
Flexibility Rating 85%

Cable Gland Compatibility (Hawke Types)

The 331HF cable system is compatible with industry-standard Hawke cable glands for various installation environments including safe areas, increased safety (EExe), and explosion-proof (EExd) applications.

Gland TypeUnarmoredArmored & SheathedHazardous Zone Classification
Industrial & Safe Area (IP68)121153-XNon-Hazardous
Increased Safety “EExe”501/421501/453/UClass I, Div. 2 Zone 2
Explosion Proof710753Class I, Div. 1 Zone 1 & 2
Flameproof “EExd” (≤2L encl.)501/421501/453/UZone 1 & 2
Flameproof “EExd” (>2L encl.)ICG653/UZone 1 & 2

Ordering Information

Ordering Example: GEXOL-331HF Cables

To order a single conductor power cable, 2kV, 535 kcmil, bronze armored & sheathed:

37-104-124-BS
37-104 AmerCable GEXOL-331HF Prefix
124 Specific Cable Number (from table) – 535 kcmil
BS Armor Requirement (BS = armored & sheathed, Blank = no armor)

Armor Options:

B – Bronze armored only
BS – Bronze armored with outer sheath
Blank – No armor (unarmored)
Tinned Copper Armor – Available by request

Technical References & Citations

Cable Selection in Mining Operations: A Comprehensive Guide – Amplex Mining

Authoritative guidance on LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) compounds for underground applications, emphasizing the critical importance of reducing toxic emissions during fires in confined spaces. The guide details how proper cable selection contributes to personnel safety and equipment longevity in demanding industrial sectors.

IEEE 1580-2024 Recommended Practice for Marine Cable – IEEE Standards Association

The IEEE 1580 standard provides requirements for single or multiconductor cables rated 300V to 35kV, intended for marine vessels, fixed and floating offshore facilities, including offshore wind electrical substations. The standard ensures cables meet strict performance criteria for harsh maritime environments.

IEC 60331 Cable Standards – Cleveland Cable Company

Fire resistant cables manufactured to IEC 60331 are ideal for fixed installations in offshore applications including open deck areas, permanent wiring in ships, mobile and fixed offshore rigs. Applications include safety and emergency lighting, fire pumps, shut down systems, and communication systems.

Wind Turbine Cables for Wind Energy Projects – Incore Cables

Technical overview of wind turbine cable requirements including temperature resistance from -40°C to +90°C, LSOH material demands for fire safety, and the critical role cables play in delivering energy from wind turbines through nacelle, tower and base installations.

IEEE 1580 Type P Cables – Houston Wire & Cable Co.

Type P Rig Cables are specifically designed for harsh environments including severe cold, high heat, constant vibration, drilling mud, mechanical stress, and salt corrosion. Offshore applicable standards include IEEE 1580 (Construction & Performance) and UL 1309.

IEC 60331 Fire Cable: Advanced Safety – InnovCable

Fire resistant cables designed for exceptional performance under flame, tested in accordance with IEC 60331 at 750°C for 180 minutes minimum without short circuits and with continuity integrity. Construction includes fire resistant mineral ceramic barrier and LSZH compounds.

Request Technical Consultation

Our engineering team provides comprehensive support for 331HF fire resistant cable selection, custom configurations, and offshore wind turbine applications.