HWA POWER & CABLE | ARMOURED HALOGEN-FREE CONSTRUCTIONS
XLPE/SWA/LSZH Cable combines cross-linked polyethylene insulation, steel wire armour and a low-smoke zero-halogen outer sheath. It is a construction family for fixed power routes where mechanical protection and specified smoke and gas performance are both important.
In enclosed power routes, smoke and combustion gases deserve attention alongside mechanical protection. Our recommendation is to treat the insulation, fillers, bedding and sheath as one material system, with the required smoke, gas and flame tests specified together. Rated voltage and metallic screens then define the electrical construction for the circuit.
Discuss an LSZH armoured cable project- Тусгаарлагч
- XLPE
- Mechanical layer
- Steel wire armour
- Гаднах бүрээс
- Low smoke, zero halogen
XLPE/SWA/LSZH layer combinations
An unscreened construction is CU/XLPE/LSZH/SWA/LSZH: copper conductor, XLPE insulation, halogen-free bedding, wire armour and halogen-free sheath. Whole-cable smoke and halogen performance depends on the bedding, fillers and other non-metallic components as well as the outer sheath.
Unscreened distribution construction
Multicore LV designs combine the insulated core assembly with bedding, SWA and an outer sheath. Equal-section cores, reduced neutrals and protective cores are separate circuit arrangements; conductor material and core count remain part of the specification.
Screened MV construction
A screened MV example is CU/XLPE/CTS/LSZH/SWA/LSZH. Semiconductive layers control the electric field, the copper tape screen performs the specified electrical duty, and steel wire armour protects the assembly mechanically. Copper-wire screening is another option.
Screened three-core cable construction
| Element | What it contributes | What the short name leaves open |
|---|---|---|
| Copper or aluminium conductor | Carries circuit current | Material, class, shape, section and neutral/earth arrangement. |
| XLPE insulation | Separates conductors electrically | Нэрлэсэн хүчдэл, insulation thickness and any field-control layers. |
| Fillers and bedding | Supports the laid-up cores and armour | Compound, tape system and their contribution to declared fire properties. |
| Steel wire armour | Mechanical protection around a multicore assembly | Wire dimensions, corrosion protection and bonding/protective-conductor assessment. |
| LSZH outer sheath | Specified smoke and halogen-related performance | Compound grade, fire tests, weather resistance and environmental limits. |
SWA is commonly used around multicore AC assemblies. Single-core AC circuits generally use non-magnetic armour, such as aluminium wire armour, to control magnetic losses and heating.
Low-smoke materials and fire-performance requirements
An LSZH cable design combines the insulation, fillers, bedding, tapes and outer sheath with the specified smoke and combustion-gas requirements. This material selection is particularly relevant to enclosed power routes and occupied buildings.
| Property | Relevant test framework | Meaning for a project |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke emission | IEC 61034-2 | Assesses smoke under defined cable-burning conditions; not a promise of zero smoke. |
| Halogen acid gas | IEC 60754-1 | Tests gases from cable materials against the specified requirements. |
| Acidity and conductivity | IEC 60754-2 | Assesses gas-related acidity/conductivity; separate from optical smoke measurement. |
| Flame spread | Applicable IEC 60332 test | Single-cable and bunched-cable tests are different scopes. |
| Circuit integrity in fire | Applicable fire-resistance specification | Requires a separately qualified design and test; it is not established by LSZH or SWA. |
The official smoke-test procedure explains how smoke emission is measured under IEC 61034-2. The project specification sets the required smoke, gas and flame-spread performance; circuit integrity during fire is a separate tested requirement.
Voltage and screens define each power-cable design
| Construction scope | Layer distinction | Technical information carried by its datasheet |
|---|---|---|
| LV armoured power cable | XLPE-insulated core assembly, halogen-free bedding, SWA and LSZH sheath | Хүчдэл, core functions, conductor class and shape, dimensions, installation limits and fire declarations. |
| MV screened armoured power cable | Additional semiconductive layers and metallic screening matched to the voltage | Screen construction and fault duty, insulation system, accessories, bonding and project installation rating. |
| Higher-voltage project request | A complete cable-system design, not an LV construction scaled up | Applicable system standard, metallic sheath/screen, losses, bonding, accessories and qualification evidence. |
The dimensions below cover a four-core 0.6/1 kV construction. Medium-voltage cable systems use additional electrical screens and voltage-specific insulation, with their own dimensions and accessories. Higher-voltage systems require a dedicated cable-system design.
Large-section reference: four-core copper, 0.6/1 кВ
Recommended Reference Data: four equal-section class 2 copper cores, XLPE insulation, LSZH bedding, SWA and LSZH sheath. These published reference dimensions support preliminary planning; final supply dimensions follow the agreed XWA datasheet.
| Cores × section (mm²) | Max. DC resistance at 20°C (Ω/km) | Тусгаарлагч (mm) | Гаднах бүрээс (mm) | Overall diameter (mm) | Approx. mass (kg/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 50 | 0.387 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 34.5 | 3400 |
| 4 × 70 | 0.268 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 39.6 | 4727 |
| 4 × 95 | 0.193 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 44.0 | 6567 |
| 4 × 120 | 0.153 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 49.9 | 7748 |
| 4 × 150 | 0.124 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 54.3 | 9609 |
| 4 × 240 | 0.0754 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 66.1 | 14496 |
Insulation and sheath thicknesses are nominal in this reference. Other conductor shapes, bedding compounds and armour dimensions produce different overall diameters and weights even at the same nominal section. Three-core, five-core and reduced-neutral designs need their own rows.
Current rating is calculated for the installation method, loaded cores, орчны температур, grouping and soil conditions. The project datasheet and route calculation establish the circuit rating.
Finished diameter determines gland entry and termination space. Bedding, sheath and armour dimensions also affect mass and bending behaviour, so accessory selection follows the finished cable dimensions.
Mechanical protection on routes with smoke and gas requirements
This construction is used for fixed power distribution in industrial facilities, transport infrastructure, plant rooms and building-service routes where mechanical protection and specified smoke and gas performance are required.
Indoor-to-outdoor routes combine fire-performance requirements with exposure conditions. Sheath compound selection addresses UV, moisture, hydrocarbons, chemicals and installation temperature for the actual route.
For wet routes, dedicated water-blocking layers can be specified alongside mechanical armour. Moving, suspended and subsea applications require constructions designed for those mechanical and environmental duties.
XWA cable manufacturing and project supply
XWA хүч & Cable manufactures power cables in Henan, Хятад. Conductor processing, insulation extrusion, armouring and sheathing are part of our cable factory operations.
XWA supports cable manufacturing to project drawings and cable schedules. The agreed LSZH design brings together the electrical rating, non-metallic materials and specified smoke, halogen and flame tests.
Delivery length is part of the configuration. The finished diameter and mass establish a starting point for drum dimensions, handling equipment and route pulling arrangements; gross drum weight includes more than cable conductor weight.
Questions about the LSZH armoured structure
What does XLPE/SWA/LSZH mean?
XLPE identifies the insulation, SWA the steel wire armour and LSZH the low-smoke zero-halogen outer-sheath family. Кондуктор, bedding, screens, voltage and test requirements complete the specification.
Is CU/XLPE/LSZH/SWA/LSZH a separate model name?
It describes the layers from the centre outwards: copper conductor, XLPE insulation, LSZH bedding, steel wire armour and LSZH outer sheath.
Can this structure be used for medium voltage?
Тиймээ. Screened MV constructions combine XLPE insulation, voltage-appropriate semiconductive layers, a metallic screen, armour and an LSZH sheath system. Screen fault duty, dimensions and accessories are selected for the voltage rating.
Does an LSZH outer sheath make PVC bedding halogen-free?
PVC bedding contains halogen. A whole-cable halogen-free specification addresses the fillers, bedding, tapes and sheath together, with the corresponding material and test requirements.
Is XLPE/SWA/LSZH cable fire-resistant?
LSZH describes smoke and halogen-related properties. Continued circuit operation during fire requires a fire-resistant construction and a corresponding circuit-integrity test.
Can steel wire armour replace a copper screen?
Steel wire armour provides mechanical protection; a copper screen performs the specified electrical duty. A screened MV armoured cable contains both layers.
Request an XLPE/SWA/LSZH cable quotation
Discuss your LSZH cable requirement with XWA. Email a cable schedule, or tell us the voltage, core size and length, together with any specified fire-performance requirements.