Complete Technical Guide to European Standard Instrumentation & Control Cables — RE-2X(st)H, RE-2X(st)Y, RE-2Y(st)Y Series with PiMF/TiMF Screening
Anhui Feichun Special Cable Co., Ltd.
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What is EN 50288-7 Cable?
Complete Technical Guide to European Standard Instrumentation & Control Cables — RE-2X(st)H, RE-2X(st)Y, RE-2Y(st)Y Series with PiMF/TiMF Screening
1. Introduction to EN 50288-7 Instrumentation Cables
EN 50288-7 instrumentation cables are multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control applications. Manufactured in accordance with European Standard EN 50288 (British Standard BS EN 50288), these cables are widely used in processing plants such as those found in the petrochemical industry due to their ability to withstand electromagnetic interference (EMI). They are specifically designed for the transmission of signals in instrumentation, control, and communication applications, commonly available in 300V and 500V voltage ratings.
Part 1 of EN 50288 covers the generic specification of multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control. These cables are generally used for instrumentation, inter-connection of equipment, and information technology cabling applications. Part 7 of this same standard sets out the sectional specification for instrumentation and control cables. This European Standard was approved by CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization), and its members are bound by agreement to give it the status of national standard, which is why the British standard reference is BS EN 50288-7.
Petrochemical Plants
Refineries, chemical plants
Natural gas terminals
Process Control
Analogue/digital signals
4-20mA loops
Power Generation
Power stations
Energy infrastructure
Industrial Automation
Cement factories
Manufacturing plants
EspañolIntroducción a los Cables de Instrumentación EN 50288-7
Los cables de instrumentación EN 50288-7 son cables metálicos multielemento utilizados en aplicaciones de comunicación y control analógico y digital. Fabricados de acuerdo con la Norma Europea EN 50288 (Norma Británica BS EN 50288), estos cables se utilizan ampliamente en plantas de procesamiento como las que se encuentran en la industria petroquímica debido a su capacidad para resistir las interferencias electromagnéticas (EMI). Están específicamente diseñados para la transmisión de señales en aplicaciones de instrumentación, control y comunicación, comúnmente disponibles en clasificaciones de voltaje de 300V y 500V.
繁體中文EN 50288-7 儀表電纜簡介
EN 50288-7儀表電纜是用於模擬和數位通訊及控制應用的多元件金屬電纜。這些電纜按照歐洲標準EN 50288（英國標準BS EN 50288）製造，由於其能夠承受電磁干擾（EMI），在石油化工行業等加工廠中廣泛使用。它們專門設計用於儀表、控制和通訊應用中的信號傳輸，通常提供300V和500V電壓等級。EN 50288第1部分涵蓋用於模擬和數位通訊及控制的多元件金屬電纜的通用規範。這些電纜通常用於儀表、設備互連和信息技術佈線應用。該標準第7部分規定了儀表和控制電纜的分部規範。此歐洲標準由CENELEC（歐洲電工標準化委員會）批准，其成員根據協議有義務將其作為國家標準。
2. EN 50288-7 Cable Nomenclature Decoder
BS EN 50288-7 cables are known by their construction — straightforward when you understand the abbreviations. The cable designation system provides a complete description of the cable’s insulation, screening, and sheath materials in a standardized format. Understanding this nomenclature is essential for correct cable specification in instrumentation and control applications.
🔧 EN 50288-7 Cable Code Decoder
| Code Element | Meaning | Options |
|---|---|---|
| RE | Cable Type | Instrumentation & Control Cable |
| T | Fire Barrier | Mica glass tape (fire resistant) |
| 2X | Insulation | XLPE Cross-linked Polyethylene |
| 2Y | Insulation | PE Polyethylene |
| Y | Insulation | PVC Polyvinyl Chloride |
| (st) | Screen Type | Aluminium/Polyester tape with drain wire |
| H | Outer Sheath | LSZH Low Smoke Zero Halogen |
| Y | Outer Sheath | PVC Polyvinyl Chloride |
| SWA | Armour | SWA Steel Wire Armour |
| PiMF | Screening | Pairs in Metal Foil Individual + Collective |
| TiMF | Screening | Triples in Metal Foil Individual + Collective |
Example Cable Designations
Understanding the nomenclature system allows you to decode any EN 50288-7 cable. For instance, RE-2X(st)H indicates an instrumentation cable with XLPE insulation (2X), aluminium/polyester tape screen with drain wire (st), and LSZH sheath (H). Adding PiMF indicates individually and collectively screened pairs in metal foil. An armoured cable with PE insulation and PVC inner and outer sheath would be designated RE-2Y(st)Y SWAY.
3. RE-2X(st)H XLPE LSZH Instrumentation Cable
RE-2X(st)H cables are low smoke zero halogen instrumentation cables with screening to provide signal integrity against electromagnetic interference. These cables’ LSZH properties make them suitable for use in environments where smoke and toxic fumes would pose a risk to human life and sensitive equipment in the event of a fire. Manufactured in accordance with EN 50288, these cables are widely used in the petrochemical industry in instrumentation and control applications with a 300/500V voltage rating for analogue and digital signal transmission.
| Standard | EN 50288-7 BS EN 50288-7 |
| Voltage Rating | 300/500V |
| Conductor (0.5-0.75mm²) | Class 5 Flexible Copper |
| Conductor (≥1mm²) | Class 2 Stranded Copper |
| Insulation | XLPE Cross-linked Polyethylene |
| Individual Screen | Aluminium/Polyester Tape (24µm) |
| Drain Wire | Tinned Copper 0.5mm² |
| Collective Screen | Aluminium/PET + 7-strand TC drain wire |
| Outer Sheath | LSZH Low Smoke Zero Halogen |
| Sheath Colours | Black (UV) or Blue (IS) |
| Flame Retardant | IEC/EN 60332-1-2, IEC/EN 60332-3-24 |
| Low Smoke | IEC/EN 60754-1/2, IEC/EN 61034-1/2 |
Source: Eland Cables – RE-2X(st)H Cable
RE-2X(st)H Variants
| Cable Model | Screen Type | Armour | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| XLPE Insulated / LSZH Sheathed | |||
| RE-2X(st)H LSZH | OS Collective | None | Fire-safe areas |
| RE-2X(st)H LSZH PiMF | PiMF Ind+Coll | None | High EMI areas |
| RE-2X(st)H SWAH LSZH | OS Collective | SWA | Underground |
| RE-2X(st)H SWAH PiMF | PiMF Ind+Coll | SWA | Refineries |
4. RE-2X(st)Y XLPE PVC Instrumentation Cable
RE-2X(st)Y cables are XLPE insulated and PVC sheathed instrumentation cables manufactured in accordance with European standard EN 50288-7. These multi-element metallic cables are designed for the transmission of analogue and digital signals in instrumentation, control, and communications applications with a voltage rating of 300/500V. The XLPE insulation provides excellent electrical properties and thermal stability, while the PVC sheath offers robust mechanical protection and resistance to oils, acids, and alkalis.
| Standard | EN 50288-7 |
| Voltage Rating | 300V |
| Conductor | Class 5 (0.5-0.75mm²) / Class 2 (≥1mm²) Copper |
| Insulation | XLPE (EN 50290-2-29) |
| Elements | Pairs (twisted) / Triples (twisted) |
| Screen | Al/PET tape + Tinned Copper drain wire |
| Outer Sheath | PVC (EN 50290-2-22) |
| Flame Retardant | IEC/EN 60332-1-2, IEC/EN 60332-3-24 |
Source: Eland Cables – RE-2X(st)Y Cable
RE-2X(st)Y Applications
RE-2X(st)Y cables are recommended for indoor and outdoor installation, on racks, trays, in conduits, in dry and wet locations. They are not recommended for direct burial without armour protection. The XLPE insulation provides superior dielectric properties compared to PVC, making these cables suitable for applications requiring high signal integrity and resistance to temperature variations.
5. RE-2Y(st)Y PE PVC Instrumentation Cable
RE-2Y(st)Y cables are PE insulated and PVC sheathed instrumentation cables manufactured in accordance with British and European standard BS EN 50288. These multi-element metallic cables are designed for signal transmission in instrumentation, analogue and digital communication, and control applications in process plants such as those found in the petrochemical industry. The PE insulation offers excellent electrical properties with low dielectric loss.
| Standard | EN 50288-7 |
| Voltage Rating | 300V (90V and 500V available) |
| Conductor | Class 5 (0.5-0.75mm²) / Class 2 (≥1mm²) Copper |
| Insulation | PE Polyethylene |
| Elements | Pairs and Triples configurations |
| Individual Screen | Al/PET tape (PiMF/TiMF variants) |
| Collective Screen | Al/PET tape + drain wire |
| Inner Sheath | PVC |
| Armour (optional) | SWA |
| Outer Sheath | PVC |
| Max Operating Temp | 75°C |
Source: Eland Cables – RE-2Y(st)Y Cable
RE-2Y(st)Y Variants
| Cable Model | Screen Type | Armour | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE Insulated / PVC Sheathed | |||
| RE-2Y(st)Y PVC | OS Collective | None | Indoor/Outdoor |
| RE-2Y(st)Y PVC PiMF | PiMF Ind+Coll | None | High precision |
| RE-2Y(st)Y SWAY PVC | OS Collective | SWA | Underground |
| RE-2Y(st)Y SWAY PVC PiMF | PiMF Ind+Coll | SWA | Refineries |
6. Screening Configurations Explained
EN 50288-7 cables are available in a number of variants according to their specific applications. The screen plays a key role in protecting signals from interference. While overall screens (OS/St) offer general EMI shielding, PiMF (Pair in Metal Foil) and TiMF (Triad in Metal Foil) constructions shield each pair or triad individually, making them ideal for high-precision and noise-sensitive environments. Individual screening prevents crosstalk between signal pairs within the same cable.
| Screen Type | Code | Configuration | EMI Protection | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Screen | (st) / OS | Collective only | Standard | General instrumentation |
| Pairs in Metal Foil | PiMF | Individual + Collective | High | High EMI environments |
| Triples in Metal Foil | TiMF | Individual + Collective | High | 3-wire applications |
| Collective Aluminium Mylar | CAM | Al/Mylar tape | Standard | Cost-effective |
| Individual + Collective | ICAM | Both layers | Maximum | Critical signals |
When to Use PiMF/TiMF Screening
The individual screening of each pair limits the consequence of crosstalk and provides superior protection against electromagnetic interference by individually shielding each pair and triad with metal foil. This feature is critically important for maintaining signal integrity and ensuring uninterrupted signal transmission in environments with high levels of electromagnetic interference, such as near motors, inverters, and power cables that often create noise and signal distortion.
7. Fire Resistant & Intrinsically Safe Variants
Some cables manufactured in accordance with EN 50288 are suitable for use in intrinsically safe systems, in which case their outer sheath is blue. The blue outer sheath is the most popular standard for IS cables in the industry, making it easier for maintenance personnel to find inherently safe circuits during inspections. Fire resistant variants are also available with a Mica tape protecting the conductors to provide circuit integrity.
For additional fire protection, RE-2X(st)H cables can have a layer of mica glass tape added to the insulating layer. These cables are designated RE-T2X(st)H and RE-T2X(st)H SWAH. The mica tape provides a fire barrier that maintains circuit integrity when exposed to fire, allowing continued signal transmission during emergency situations.
| Fire Barrier | Mica glass tape |
| Fire Resistance | IEC 60331 (circuit integrity) |
| Flame Retardant | IEC 60332-1 or IEC 60332-3-24(C) |
| Application | Emergency circuits, safety systems |
Intrinsically Safe (Blue Sheath) Cables
This range of cables is available with a blue or black outer sheath colour. The blue denotes an ex-proof (intrinsically safe) connection in explosive and in flammable environments. Black sheathed cables are resistant to ultraviolet (UV) light. EN 50288-7 cables are allowed for use in Zone 1 and Zone 2, Group II, classified areas according to IEC 79-14, but are not allowed for direct connection to low impedance sources such as public mains electricity supply.
| Sheath Colour | Application | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Intrinsically Safe (IS) systems | ATEX Zone 1/2, explosive atmospheres |
| Black | Standard / UV exposed | UV resistant, outdoor installation |
8. EN 50288-7 Cable Construction Specification
Complete Construction Reference
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Conductor | Solid, stranded, or flexible plain or metal coated copper (Class 1, 2, or 5) per IEC 60228 |
| Insulation | PVC, PE, or XLPE (per EN 50290-2-29) |
| Core Elements | Pair (twisted), Triple (twisted), Quad (twisted) |
| Twisting Lay Length | 100-150mm depending on conductor size |
| Individual Screen | Laminated tape aluminium/PET, total thickness 24µm |
| Drain Wire | Solid tinned copper 0.6mm Ø under individual screen |
| Collective Screen | 24µm Al/PET tape + 7-strand tinned copper drain wire (0.5mm²), foil overlap min 20% |
| Inner Sheath | PVC, PE, or LSZH |
| Metal Braid (optional) | Tinned copper wires, wire diameter ≥0.3mm, filling factor ≥0.57mm |
| Armouring | SWA (Steel Wire Armour), Flat steel wires, Steel or Brass Tape |
| Outer Sheath | PVC, PE, or LSZH |
9. Technical Specifications
Voltage Rating
Max Temp (XLPE)
Max Temp (PE)
Min Bending Radius
Electrical Characteristics
| Parameter | Value | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage Rating | 300V / 500V | EN 50288-7 |
| Test Voltage | 2000V AC (1 minute) | EN 50288-1 |
| Insulation Resistance | ≥100 MΩ·km | EN 50288-1 |
| Max Operating Temp (XLPE) | 90°C | EN 50290-2-29 |
| Max Operating Temp (PE) | 75°C | EN 50290-2-20 |
| Max Operating Temp (PVC) | 70°C | EN 50290-2-21 |
| Min Installation Temp | -5°C (standard) / -40°C (special) | EN 50288-7 |
| Min Bending Radius (unarmoured) | 6 × overall diameter | EN 50288-7 |
| Min Bending Radius (armoured) | 12 × overall diameter | EN 50288-7 |
| Conductor Sizes | 0.5mm² to 2.5mm² | IEC 60228 |
10. Complete EN 50288-7 Cable Model Comparison
Cable Selection Guide
| Cable Model | Insulation | Sheath | Armour | Screen | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLPE Insulated / LSZH Sheathed (RE-2X(st)H Series) | |||||
| RE-2X(st)H LSZH | XLPE | LSZH | None | OS | Fire-safe |
| RE-2X(st)H LSZH PiMF | XLPE | LSZH | None | PiMF | High EMI |
| RE-2X(st)H SWAH LSZH | XLPE | LSZH | SWA | OS | Underground |
| RE-2X(st)H SWAH PiMF | XLPE | LSZH | SWA | PiMF | Refineries |
| XLPE Insulated / PVC Sheathed (RE-2X(st)Y Series) | |||||
| RE-2X(st)Y PVC | XLPE | PVC | None | OS | Standard |
| RE-2X(st)Y PVC PiMF | XLPE | PVC | None | PiMF | High EMI |
| PE Insulated / PVC Sheathed (RE-2Y(st)Y Series) | |||||
| RE-2Y(st)Y PVC | PE | PVC | None | OS | Standard |
| RE-2Y(st)Y SWAY PVC | PE | PVC | SWA | OS | Underground |
| RE-2Y(st)Y SWAY PVC PiMF | PE | PVC | SWA | PiMF | Refineries |
Authoritative External References
https://www.elandcables.com/…/bs-en-50288-cable
https://www.elandcables.com/…/re-2x-st-h-cable
https://www.elandcables.com/…/re-2x-st-y-cable
https://www.elandcables.com/…/re-2y-st-y-cable
https://www.elandcables.com/…/specifying-bs-en-50288-7
https://www.etkkablo.com/…/what-are-instrumentation-cables
https://www.nexans.de/…/EN_50288_7_Fire_resistant
https://www.elandcables.com/…/instrumentation-cable
http://www.caledoniancable.com/…/EN50288-7
https://battcables.com/…/re-2xsty-pimf-instrumentation-cable
Contact Feichun Cable
For technical support with EN 50288-7 instrumentation cables, PiMF/TiMF screening configurations, fire resistant variants, or petrochemical applications, please contact our engineering team.
