AL/XLPE/CWS/PVC

AL/XLPE/CWS/PVC is a Layer-list designation (CU/XLPE/SWA/PVC style, IEC and BS practice) cable designation: AL = Aluminium Conductor; XLPE = Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE); CWS = Copper Wire Screen (concentric copper wires); PVC = Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).

1 coding system recognises this code

Layer-list designation (CU/XLPE/SWA/PVC style, IEC and BS practice)

Symbol	Meaning
`AL`	Aluminium Conductor
`XLPE`	Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE)
`CWS`	Copper Wire Screen (concentric copper wires)
`PVC`	Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

How to read a Layer-list designation (CU/XLPE/SWA/PVC style, IEC and BS practice) cable code

A Layer-list designation (CU/XLPE/SWA/PVC style, IEC and BS practice) designation (UK / International) is a row of letter groups, and each group stands for one part of the cable: conductor, insulation, screen, armour, sheath, or the standard it follows. The decoder knows 117 symbols for this system.

What does AL mean in a Layer-list designation (CU/XLPE/SWA/PVC style, IEC and BS practice) cable code? AL means Aluminium Conductor.

What does XLPE mean in a Layer-list designation (CU/XLPE/SWA/PVC style, IEC and BS practice) cable code? XLPE means Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE).

What does CWS mean in a Layer-list designation (CU/XLPE/SWA/PVC style, IEC and BS practice) cable code? CWS means Copper Wire Screen (concentric copper wires).

What does PVC mean in a Layer-list designation (CU/XLPE/SWA/PVC style, IEC and BS practice) cable code? PVC means Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).

Fire behaviour (EU CPR)

PVC sheath (PVC).
Typically targeted, as declared by makers for this kind of construction in the examples this site checked (not the class of this cable):
- Eca N1XV-R, Ahlsell (seller)
- Cca-s3,d1,a3 FG16OR16, Nexans (La Triveneta Cavi)
- Eca U1000 R2V, Nexans (La Triveneta Cavi)
- Eca N2XSY, Waskönig+Walter (10 kV datasheet)
Listed as sources, alphabetically by maker. No maker pays to appear here.

A CPR class is declared by the maker in its Declaration of Performance and printed on the sheath (EN 50575 cl 7). This decoder does not assign one. What the CPR classes mean →

Sources: EN 13501-6 draft and FprEN 50575:2014 final draft (drafts, not the published texts); IEC 60332-3-24:2000+A1:2008; EN 13501-3 draft A2.

AL/XLPE/CWS/PVC: equivalents in other countries

Shown for 3x95/25 12/20 kV. Each country's rules are applied to this build, keeping the conductor, section, cores, voltage, screen, armour and sheath.

Country	Standard	Name in that country	Verdict	Differences
Denmark	HD 620 S3 10-D	no letters for this build	Equivalent	every value the same
Norway	HD 620 S3 10-K	no letters for this build	Equivalent	every value the same
Sweden	HD 620 S3 10-M	AXCKJ 3x95/25 12/20 (24) kV (NKT writes a near build without the C (AXLJ))	Close	Insulation screen (semicon) 0.8 → 0.6 mm; Overall diameter 63.31 → 62.45 mm; this cable as built misses 1 of its rules
Netherlands	HD 620 S3 10-J	YMvKrvas 12/20 kV 3x95 Al rs +as35 (key read from a maker (Nedkab), the NEN text not seen)	Close	screen 25 → 35 mm² (HD 620 10-J Table A.3); this cable as built misses 1 of its rules
India	IS 7098 (Part 2)	A2XY 3x95 12.7/22 kV	Close	rated 12.7/22 kV (same Um 24 kV); Insulation 5.5 → 6 mm; Inner covering / bedding material semicon → PVC; Inner covering / bedding 0.6 → 0.7 mm; this cable as built misses 2 of its rules

No equivalent in: HD 620 S3 10-C (DIN VDE 0276-620) (no three-core cable at this voltage); BS 6622 (armoured cables only, asks a screen on each core); HD 620 S3 10-E1 (the size, cores or voltage would change); HD 620 S3 10-E2 (the size, cores or voltage would change); HD 620 S3 10-I1 (the size, cores or voltage would change); HD 620 S3 10-I2 (the size, cores or voltage would change); HD 620 S3 10-I3 (the size, cores or voltage would change).

Nominal values computed by each standard's rules, not manufacturer data. This is not a statement that two cables are interchangeable: the buyer's specification and the maker's type test decide.

AL/XLPE/CWS/PVC as the cable designer builds it, 3x95/25 12/20 kV

Overall diameter 63.3 mm, about 3,610 kg/km. Nominal values from the standard's tables for this size, computed, not a maker's data.

Layer	Material	Thickness, mm	Over the layer, mm
Conductor screen (semicon)	Semiconducting	0.60	12.7
Insulation	XLPE	5.5	23.7
Insulation screen (semicon)	Semiconducting	0.80	25.3
Filler	Semiconducting		54.5
Inner covering / bedding	Semiconducting	0.60	55.7
Wire screen	Copper	65 × 0.70	57.3
Sheath	PVC	3.0	63.3

AL/XLPE/CWS/PVC on a drum

The smallest drum that passes every check, for 63.3 mm and about 3,610 kg/km as the cable designer builds it. Drums as their makers print them; lengths are estimates within a few per cent of the cable makers' own tables: whole layers, wound diameter 1.05 × OD, 66 mm freeboard under the flange rim.

Length	Drum size (its makers)	Layers	Gross weight
500 m	KTG 28 (2800 mm flange), wood KTG drums (Europe), Bayka, KTG	5 of 6	2,980–3,045 kg
1,000 m	No single drum in KTG drums (Europe) takes it: the drum calculator splits it over several.

Barrel at least 20 × OD = 1,266 mm for a cable of this kind (Medium voltage, multi-core): KTG table, the cable's datasheet wins. A load rating is the drum maker's own.

Other lengths, drums and weights: the cable drum calculator

Load it on a truck: 1000 m on its drum in the loading planner

Laying, sizes and datasheet: AL/XLPE/CWS/PVC

AL/XLPE/CWS/PVC belongs to the family Medium voltage cables: the lowest laying temperature, bending radius, pulling, depth, drum handling and the test after laying, every rule with its sources. Laying and handling guide: Medium voltage cables

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