Complete Technical Guide to Marine & Offshore Cable Standard — Shipboard Electrical Installations, BS 6883, NEK 606, Power & Instrumentation Cables
Anhui Feichun Special Cable Co., Ltd.
安徽飞纯特种电缆有限公司
What is IEC 60092 Cable?
Complete Technical Guide to Marine & Offshore Cable Standard — Shipboard Electrical Installations, BS 6883, NEK 606, Power & Instrumentation Cables
1. Introduction to IEC 60092 Standard
IEC 60092 is the international standard for electrical installations in ships and fixed/mobile marine applications. Ship wiring is covered by various national standards such as BS 6883 (British) and NEK 606 (Norwegian), and subject to third-party accreditations including Lloyd’s Register, DNV (Det Norske Veritas), and ABS (American Bureau of Shipping). As an international standard, IEC 60092 covers power and instrumentation cables for use on ships and in mobile marine environments.
IEC 60092 cables are specifically designed for electrical installations in ships and offshore environments. These cables meet international standards, ensuring reliable power, control, and signal transmission in fixed and mobile marine applications. With robust construction and exceptional performance, IEC 60092 cables are the trusted choice for demanding marine and offshore projects.
| IEC 60092-350 | General construction and test methods for power, control, and instrumentation cables up to 18/30(36)kV |
| IEC 60092-352 | Selection and installation of cables in fixed electrical systems up to 15kV on ships |
| IEC 60092-353 | Non-radial power cables with extruded solid insulation for 1kV and 3kV (including fire resistant) |
| IEC 60092-354 | Single and three-core power cables with conductor/core screening for 6kV to 30kV |
| IEC 60092-360 | Electrical, mechanical characteristics of insulation and sheathing materials |
| IEC 60092-376 | Screened and unscreened cables for control and instrumentation circuits 150/250V |
Source: Eland Cables – IEC 60092 Standard Cable
EspañolIntroducción al Estándar IEC 60092
IEC 60092 es la norma internacional para instalaciones eléctricas en buques y aplicaciones marinas fijas/móviles. El cableado de buques está cubierto por varias normas nacionales como BS 6883 (británica) y NEK 606 (noruega), y está sujeto a acreditaciones de terceros incluyendo Lloyd’s Register, DNV y ABS. La familia de normas IEC 60092 incluye IEC 60092-350 (requisitos generales de construcción), IEC 60092-353 (cables de potencia 1kV/3kV), IEC 60092-354 (cables de potencia 6kV-30kV), e IEC 60092-376 (cables de instrumentación 150/250V). Estos cables están diseñados específicamente para resistir ambientes marinos severos incluyendo vibración, movimiento y exposición a aceites.
繁體中文IEC 60092 標準簡介
IEC 60092是船舶和固定/移動海洋應用電氣裝置的國際標準。船舶佈線由各種國家標準覆蓋，如BS 6883（英國）和NEK 606（挪威），並受Lloyd’s Register、DNV和ABS等第三方認證機構的認證。IEC 60092標準系列包括：IEC 60092-350（通用結構要求和測試方法，電壓至18/30kV）、IEC 60092-352（電纜選擇和安裝）、IEC 60092-353（1kV和3kV擠壓絕緣電力電纜，包括耐火電纜）、IEC 60092-354（6kV至30kV中高壓電力電纜）、IEC 60092-360（絕緣和護套材料特性）、IEC 60092-376（150/250V控制和儀表電纜）。這些電纜專門設計用於承受嚴苛的海洋環境，包括振動、運動和油類暴露。
2. Related Standards Comparison
IEC 60092 cables are complemented by national standards that provide additional specifications for marine and offshore applications. The main related standards are BS 6883 (British Standard for offshore), NEK 606 (Norwegian offshore standard), and BS 7917 (fire resistant cables).
| Standard | Origin | Scope | Key Features | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Standards | ||||
| IEC 60092 | International (IEC) | Ships & offshore units | Power, control, instrumentation up to 30kV | DNV, Lloyd’s, ABS |
| British Standards | ||||
| BS 6883 | UK (BSI) | Fixed offshore units, ships | EPR insulation, SW4 sheath, HOFR | Lloyd’s Register |
| BS 7917 | UK (BSI) | Fire resistant cables | Mica tape fire barrier, 120min at 750°C | Lloyd’s, DNV |
| Norwegian Standard | ||||
| NEK TS 606 | Norway (NEK) | Offshore oil & gas | MUD resistant, halogen-free, BFOU/RFOU | DNV, Lloyd’s, ABS |
Source: Batt Cables – IEC 60092 Cable
3. BS 6883 Type SW4 Marine Cables
BS 6883 is the British (and international) industry standard for the Offshore Oil and Gas, Ship Building and Marine Industries. These cables feature tinned annealed copper conductors complying with BS 6360/IEC 60228, EPR insulation complying with BS 7655, and HOFR (Heat and Oil Resistant and Flame Retardant) halogen-free sheathing.
| Standard | BS 6883 (Lloyd’s Register Approved) |
| Voltage Rating | 0.6/1kV (power), 150/250V (instrumentation) |
| Conductor | Tinned annealed copper, Class 2 or Class 5 per EN 60228 |
| Insulation | Halogen-free EPR (Ethylene Propylene Rubber) |
| Sheath Type | SW4 — HOFR halogen-free, flame retardant, heat/oil resistant |
| Temperature Range | -40°C to +90°C (fixed), -25°C to +90°C (flexed) |
| Fire Performance | Flame retardant IEC 60332-3-22, Low smoke IEC 61034 |
3.1 BS 6883 Cable Model Comparison
| Model | Type | Voltage | Armour | Application | Fire Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 657TQ | SW4 Power | 0.6/1kV | Unarmoured | Power, control, lighting | Flame Retardant |
| 658TQ | SW4 Power | 0.6/1kV | GSWB Armoured | Power, control (mechanical protection) | Flame Retardant |
| 6571TQ | SW4 Earth | 0.6/1kV | Unarmoured | Earth/protective conductor | Flame Retardant |
4. NEK TS 606 Offshore Cables (BFOU & RFOU)
NEK TS 606 is the Norwegian offshore industry technical specification covering a range of power, instrumentation and earth cables that are halogen-free and/or MUD resistant. The NEK 606 cable standard has been widely adopted internationally with BFOU (fire resistant) and RFOU (flame retardant) cables in common use for offshore oil and gas applications.
⚡ NEK 606 Cable Code Designation
| B | Fire resistant insulation (with mica glass tape) — maintains circuit integrity during fire |
| R / T | Flame retardant insulation — EPR (R) or XLPE (T) |
| F | Inner sheath/bedding present |
| O | Wire braid armour (tinned copper wire braid TCWB) |
| U | Outer sheath (halogen-free, MUD resistant) |
| (i) | Individual screen — each pair separately screened |
| (c) | Collective screen — single screen over all pairs |
4.1 NEK 606 Power Cable Models
| Model | Code | Voltage (U₀/U) | Type | Fire Performance | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Voltage Power Cables (0.6/1kV) | |||||
| RFOU P101 | P101 | 0.6/1kV | Flame Retardant | IEC 60332-3-22 | General power distribution |
| BFOU P105 | P105 | 0.6/1kV | Fire Resistant | IEC 60331 | Emergency systems, critical circuits |
| UX P108 | P108 | 0.6/1kV | Earth Cable | IEC 60332-1 | Earth/protective conductor |
| Medium Voltage Power Cables (3.6kV – 18/30kV) | |||||
| RFOU P102 | P102 | 3.6/6kV | Flame Retardant | IEC 60332-3-22 | MV power distribution |
| RFOU P103 | P103 | 6/10kV | Flame Retardant | IEC 60332-3-22 | MV power distribution |
| RFOU P104 | P104 | 8.7/15kV | Flame Retardant | IEC 60332-3-22 | MV power distribution |
| RFOU P112 | P112 | 12/20kV | Flame Retardant | IEC 60332-3-22 | HV power distribution |
| RFOU P113 | P113 | 18/30kV | Flame Retardant | IEC 60332-3-22 | HV power distribution |
4.2 NEK 606 Instrumentation Cable Models
| Model | Code | Voltage | Screen | Fire Performance | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instrumentation Cables (150/250V) | |||||
| RFOU(i) S101 | S101 | 150/250V | Individual | Flame Retardant | Analog signals 4-20mA |
| RFOU(c) S102 | S102 | 150/250V | Collective | Flame Retardant | Digital signals |
| BFOU(i) S103 | S103 | 150/250V | Individual | Fire Resistant | Emergency instrumentation |
| BFOU(c) S104 | S104 | 150/250V | Collective | Fire Resistant | Emergency control circuits |
5. IEC 60092 Series Cable Models
IEC 60092-353 covers power cables for 1kV and 3kV, while IEC 60092-354 covers medium to high voltage cables from 6kV to 30kV. IEC 60092-376 specifies control and instrumentation cables at 150/250V.
5.1 IEC 60092-353 Power Cables (0.6/1kV – 1.8/3kV)
| Model | Standard | Voltage | Armour | Fire Performance | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XI 0.6/1kV | IEC 60092-353 | 0.6/1kV | Unarmoured | Flame Retardant | Power distribution |
| XAI 0.6/1kV | IEC 60092-353 | 0.6/1kV | Armoured | Flame Retardant | Mechanical protection areas |
| XAI 331 0.6/1kV | IEC 60092-353 | 0.6/1kV | Armoured + Fire Barrier | Fire Resistant | Emergency circuits |
5.2 IEC 60092-354 Medium/High Voltage Power Cables
| Model | Standard | Voltage (U₀/U) | Um (kV) | Construction | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAI 3.6/6kV | IEC 60092-354 | 3.6/6kV | 7.2 | Conductor + core screen, armoured | MV power |
| XAI 6/10kV | IEC 60092-354 | 6/10kV | 12 | Conductor + core screen, armoured | MV power |
| XAI 8.7/15kV | IEC 60092-354 | 8.7/15kV | 17.5 | Conductor + core screen, armoured | MV power |
| XAI 12/20kV | IEC 60092-354 | 12/20kV | 24 | Conductor + core screen, armoured | HV power |
| XAI 18/30kV | IEC 60092-354 | 18/30kV | 36 | Conductor + core screen, armoured | HV power |
5.3 IEC 60092-376 Instrumentation Cables (150/250V)
| Model | Voltage | Screen | Armour | Fire Performance | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XI(i) 150/250V | 150/250V | Individual | Unarmoured | Flame Retardant | Instrumentation |
| XI(c) 150/250V | 150/250V | Collective | Unarmoured | Flame Retardant | Control circuits |
| XAI(i) 150/250V | 150/250V | Individual | Armoured | Flame Retardant | Instrumentation (protected) |
| XAI(c) 150/250V | 150/250V | Collective | Armoured | Flame Retardant | Control (protected) |
| XAI(i) 331 150/250V | 150/250V | Individual | Armoured + Mica | Fire Resistant | Emergency instrumentation |
| XAI(c) 331 150/250V | 150/250V | Collective | Armoured + Mica | Fire Resistant | Emergency control |
Source: GlobalSpec – IEC 60092-353
6. BS 7917 Fire Resistant Cables
BS 7917 covers fire resistant cables with enhanced circuit integrity. These cables use mica glass tape (MGT) as a fire barrier over the conductor, enabling the cable to maintain circuit integrity for at least 120 minutes at 750°C according to IEC 60331.
| Model | Voltage | Screen | Armour | Fire Rating | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCu/MGT/EPR/IS/ZH/GSWB/ZH | 150/250V | Individual | GSWB | 120min @ 750°C | Emergency instrumentation |
| TCu/MGT/EPR/CS/ZH/GSWB/ZH | 150/250V | Collective | GSWB | 120min @ 750°C | Emergency control |
| TCu/MGT/EPR/ZH/GSWB/ZH SW4 | 0.6/1kV | — | GSWB | 120min @ 750°C | Emergency power |
Construction Key: TCu = Tinned Copper, MGT = Mica Glass Tape fire barrier, EPR = Ethylene Propylene Rubber insulation, IS = Individual Screen, CS = Collective Screen, ZH = Zero Halogen sheath, GSWB = Galvanized Steel Wire Braid armour.
7. Fire Performance Comparison
| Property | BFOU (Fire Resistant) | RFOU (Flame Retardant) |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Barrier | Mica glass tape (MGT) | None |
| Circuit Integrity | Maintained during fire (2-3 hours) | NOT maintained during fire |
| Test Standard | IEC 60331-21 | IEC 60332-3-22 |
| Fire Temperature | 750-830°C sustained | Self-extinguishing only |
| Application | Emergency systems, fire alarms, evacuation | General power, non-critical circuits |
| Cost | Higher (mica tape layer) | Standard |
⚠️ Emergency systems, fire detection, emergency lighting, and life safety circuits MUST use fire resistant (BFOU) cables!
8. Complete Cable Model Summary
| Standard | Model | Voltage | Type | Armour | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BS 6883 Type SW4 | |||||
| BS 6883 | 657TQ | 0.6/1kV | Power | No | FR |
| BS 6883 | 658TQ | 0.6/1kV | Power | GSWB | FR |
| BS 6883 | 6571TQ | 0.6/1kV | Earth | No | FR |
| NEK 606 Power Cables | |||||
| NEK 606 | RFOU P101 | 0.6/1kV | Power | TCWB | FR |
| NEK 606 | BFOU P105 | 0.6/1kV | Power | TCWB | Fire Res |
| NEK 606 | UX P108 | 0.6/1kV | Earth | No | FR |
| NEK 606 | RFOU P102 | 3.6/6kV | Power | TCWB | FR |
| NEK 606 | RFOU P103 | 6/10kV | Power | TCWB | FR |
| NEK 606 | RFOU P104 | 8.7/15kV | Power | TCWB | FR |
| NEK 606 | RFOU P112 | 12/20kV | Power | TCWB | FR |
| NEK 606 | RFOU P113 | 18/30kV | Power | TCWB | FR |
| NEK 606 Instrumentation Cables | |||||
| NEK 606 | RFOU(i) S101 | 150/250V | Inst (i) | TCWB | FR |
| NEK 606 | RFOU(c) S102 | 150/250V | Inst (c) | TCWB | FR |
| NEK 606 | BFOU(i) S103 | 150/250V | Inst (i) | TCWB | Fire Res |
| NEK 606 | BFOU(c) S104 | 150/250V | Inst (c) | TCWB | Fire Res |
| IEC 60092-353 Power Cables | |||||
| IEC 60092-353 | XI 0.6/1kV | 0.6/1kV | Power | No | FR |
| IEC 60092-353 | XAI 0.6/1kV | 0.6/1kV | Power | Yes | FR |
| IEC 60092-353 | XAI 331 0.6/1kV | 0.6/1kV | Power | Yes+MGT | Fire Res |
| IEC 60092-354 MV/HV Power Cables | |||||
| IEC 60092-354 | XAI 3.6/6kV | 3.6/6kV | Power | Yes | FR |
| IEC 60092-354 | XAI 6/10kV | 6/10kV | Power | Yes | FR |
| IEC 60092-354 | XAI 8.7/15kV | 8.7/15kV | Power | Yes | FR |
| IEC 60092-354 | XAI 12/20kV | 12/20kV | Power | Yes | FR |
| IEC 60092-354 | XAI 18/30kV | 18/30kV | Power | Yes | FR |
| IEC 60092-376 Instrumentation Cables | |||||
| IEC 60092-376 | XI(i) 150/250V | 150/250V | Inst (i) | No | FR |
| IEC 60092-376 | XI(c) 150/250V | 150/250V | Inst (c) | No | FR |
| IEC 60092-376 | XAI(i) 150/250V | 150/250V | Inst (i) | Yes | FR |
| IEC 60092-376 | XAI(c) 150/250V | 150/250V | Inst (c) | Yes | FR |
| IEC 60092-376 | XAI(i) 331 | 150/250V | Inst (i) | Yes+MGT | Fire Res |
| IEC 60092-376 | XAI(c) 331 | 150/250V | Inst (c) | Yes+MGT | Fire Res |
Legend: FR = Flame Retardant (IEC 60332), Fire Res = Fire Resistant (IEC 60331), (i) = Individual screen, (c) = Collective screen, GSWB = Galvanized Steel Wire Braid, TCWB = Tinned Copper Wire Braid, MGT = Mica Glass Tape
9. Key Technical Parameters
Voltage Range
Conductor
Temp Range
Fire Test
Insulation
Sheath
Authoritative External References
https://www.elandcables.com/…/iec60092-cable
https://www.elandcables.com/…/nek-606-cable
https://www.elandcables.com/cables/bfou-and-rfou-cables
https://www.elandcables.com/…/bs-6883-sw4
https://standards.globalspec.com/…/IEC60092-353
https://standards.globalspec.com/…/IEC60092-376
https://webstore.iec.ch/…/72868
https://battcables.com/…/iec-60092-cable
https://www.habia.com/…/bfou-and-rfou-cables
https://nl.prysmian.com/…/nek606
Contact Feichun Cable
For technical support with IEC 60092 marine cables, NEK 606 offshore cables, BS 6883 shipwiring, or BFOU/RFOU applications, please contact our engineering team.
