How to read a cable code: guides per coding system · NEN / KEMA type names (Netherlands) · Netherlands
NEN / KEMA type names (Netherlands): how to read the cable type names
Each name in NEN / KEMA type names (Netherlands) stands for a whole cable type: VG-YMvK, for example, comes with its own construction, standard and rating. The decoder knows 14 types of this system. Below: how the names are built, every type with its rating, and the sources the table names.
How a name is built
The type table splits each name into parts and records what each part means. A few names taken apart:
VG-YMvK
| V | PVC outer sheath |
| G- | Armoured (Round Or Flat Steel Wire) |
| Y | Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation |
| MvK | PVC sheath under the armour |
VG-YMvK: Dutch armoured 0,6/1 kV cable, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a PVC inner sheath, steel armour and a PVC outer sheath
YMvKas
| Y | Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation |
| MvK | PVC sheath under the armour |
| as | With Earthing Screen |
YMvKas (YMvK-as): the short name shops and makers' tables use for the braided ground cable VO-YMvKas, XLPE insulation, an earth conductor of tinned copper strands (as) under a galvanised steel wire braid, PVC sheaths
YMvK
| Y | Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation |
| MvK | PVC Sheathed Cable |
YMvK: Dutch 0,6/1 kV power and control cable for fixed installation, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a filler sheath and a grey PVC outer sheath, no armour or screen
P1MeKrvaslqwd
| P1 | P1: PP-TPE insulation (polypropylene thermoplastic elastomer; HD 620 S3 12-J Appendix D, NEN 3207 key) |
| MeK | Polyethylene (PE) Sheathed Cable |
| rv | With Radial Field (Individually Screened Cores, MV) |
| as | With Earthing Screen |
| lqwd | Longitudinally And Quasi-Radially Water-Tight |
P1MeKrvaslqwd: three-core unarmoured medium-voltage cable, solid aluminium, PP-TPE insulation, common copper wire screen, quasi radially and longitudinally watertight, red PE sheath (HD 620 S3 12-J A.3)
Every part used in the names
| Part | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| Y | Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation | YMvK YMvKmb VO-YMvKas YMvKas VG-YMvK VG-YMvKas YMz1K Z1G-YMz1Kas |
| as | With Earthing Screen | VO-YMvKas YMvKas VG-YMvKas XMvKas Z1G-YMz1Kas P1MvKrvasmb P1MeKrvaslqwd VG-P1MvKrvasmb |
| MvK | PVC sheath under the armour | VO-YMvKas YMvKas VG-YMvK VG-YMvKas XMvKas VG-P1MvKrvasmb |
| MvK | PVC Sheathed Cable | YMvK YMvKmb XMvK P1MvKrvasmb |
| V | PVC outer sheath | VO-YMvKas VG-YMvK VG-YMvKas VG-P1MvKrvasmb |
| mb | Flame Retardant | YMvKmb P1MvKrvasmb VG-P1MvKrvasmb |
| G- | Armoured (Round Or Flat Steel Wire) | VG-YMvK VG-YMvKas VG-P1MvKrvasmb |
| P1 | P1: PP-TPE insulation (polypropylene thermoplastic elastomer; HD 620 S3 12-J Appendix D, NEN 3207 key) | P1MvKrvasmb P1MeKrvaslqwd VG-P1MvKrvasmb |
| rv | With Radial Field (Individually Screened Cores, MV) | P1MvKrvasmb P1MeKrvaslqwd VG-P1MvKrvasmb |
| X | Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) Insulation | XMvK XMvKas |
| Mz1K | Low Smoke Zero Halojen Sheathed Cable | YMz1K Z1G-YMz1Kas |
| O- | Galvanized Steel Wire Braid | VO-YMvKas |
| Z1 | LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen Compund) Outersheath | Z1G-YMz1Kas |
| G- | Armour | Z1G-YMz1Kas |
| V | PVC insulation | VMvL |
| MvL | PVC Sheathed Conductor | VMvL |
| MeK | Polyethylene (PE) Sheathed Cable | P1MeKrvaslqwd |
| lqwd | Longitudinally And Quasi-Radially Water-Tight | P1MeKrvaslqwd |
Every type in NEN / KEMA type names (Netherlands)
| Type | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|
YMvK | YMvK: Dutch 0,6/1 kV power and control cable for fixed installation, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a filler sheath and a grey PVC outer sheath, no armour or screen | 0,6/1 kV, 90 C conductor, 250 C short circuit (Waskönig), test voltage 3,5 kV (TKF) |
YMvKmb | YMvKmb: YMvK with a flame-retardant sheath (mb), 0,6/1 kV, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a common covering and a grey PVC outer sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
VO-YMvKas | VO-YMvKas: Dutch braided 0,6/1 kV ground cable, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a PVC inner sheath, an earth conductor of tinned copper strands under a galvanised steel wire braid, and a grey PVC outer sheath | 0,6/1 kV, 90 C conductor, test voltage 3,5 kV (TKF) |
YMvKas | YMvKas (YMvK-as): the short name shops and makers' tables use for the braided ground cable VO-YMvKas, XLPE insulation, an earth conductor of tinned copper strands (as) under a galvanised steel wire braid, PVC sheaths | 0,6/1 kV |
VG-YMvK | VG-YMvK: Dutch armoured 0,6/1 kV cable, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a PVC inner sheath, steel armour and a PVC outer sheath | 0,6/1 kV (rated voltage of the VG-YMvKas sibling, Waskönig) |
VG-YMvKas | VG-YMvKas: Dutch armoured 0,6/1 kV ground cable, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a PVC inner sheath, one concentric layer of steel armour wires and copper earth wires (as), and a grey PVC outer sheath | 0,6/1 kV, 90 C conductor, 250 C short circuit (Waskönig) |
XMvK | XMvK: Dutch light installation cable, 450/750 V, solid copper conductors in cross-linked polyolefin (XLPE) insulation, a filler and a grey PVC sheath | 450/750 V, 90 C conductor, 250 C short circuit (Waskönig) |
XMvKas | XMvKas (XMvK-as, VO-XMvKas): Dutch light braided ground cable, 450/750 V, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a PVC inner sheath, an earth litz under a galvanised steel braid and a grey PVC sheath | 450/750 V |
YMz1K | YMz1K: Dutch halogen-free cable, copper conductors in XLPE insulation under a low smoke zero halogen (LS0H) sheath | rated voltage not found in the sources read |
Z1G-YMz1Kas | Z1G-YMz1Kas: Dutch armoured halogen-free 0,6/1 kV ground cable, stranded copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a halogen-free inner sheath, an earth conductor, armour and a grey halogen-free outer sheath | 0,6/1 kV (TKF) |
VMvL | VMvL: Dutch flexible PVC cord, sold as H05VV-F: fine-stranded (class 5) copper cores in PVC insulation under a PVC sheath | 300/500 V (as H05VV-F) |
P1MvKrvasmb | P1MvKrvasmb: single-core medium-voltage cable, PP-TPE insulation, copper wire screen with a copper tape counter spiral, red flame retardant PVC sheath (HD 620 S3 12-J A.2) | 6/10 and 8,7/15 kV, industrial systems and power stations; insulation 3,4 and 4,5 mm (Table A.2) (HD 620 S3 12-J); PP-TPE insulation, 90 C conductor (HD 620 S3 Part 1 2.1.1) |
P1MeKrvaslqwd | P1MeKrvaslqwd: three-core unarmoured medium-voltage cable, solid aluminium, PP-TPE insulation, common copper wire screen, quasi radially and longitudinally watertight, red PE sheath (HD 620 S3 12-J A.3) | 10 and 20 kV underground systems; 6/10 kV 3,4 mm and 12/20 kV 5,5 mm insulation (Table A.3) (HD 620 S3 12-J); PP-TPE insulation, 90 C conductor (HD 620 S3 Part 1 2.1.1) |
VG-P1MvKrvasmb | VG-P1MvKrvasmb: three-core armoured medium-voltage cable, copper, PP-TPE insulation, screened cores, PVC sheath under a steel armour and a flame retardant PVC outer sheath (HD 620 S3 12-J A.4) | 10 and 15 kV industrial systems and power stations (A.4) (HD 620 S3 12-J); PP-TPE insulation, 90 C conductor (HD 620 S3 Part 1 2.1.1) |
Common questions
What is VG-YMvK cable?
VG-YMvK: Dutch armoured 0,6/1 kV cable, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a PVC inner sheath, steel armour and a PVC outer sheath. Rating: 0,6/1 kV (rated voltage of the VG-YMvKas sibling, Waskönig). Standard: NEN 3207 letters (HD 620 S3 10-J Appendix D); no maker sheet of this exact name read. The name reads: V (PVC outer sheath) + G- (Armoured (Round Or Flat Steel Wire)) + Y (Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation) + MvK (PVC sheath under the armour).
What is YMvKas cable?
YMvKas: YMvKas (YMvK-as): the short name shops and makers' tables use for the braided ground cable VO-YMvKas, XLPE insulation, an earth conductor of tinned copper strands (as) under a galvanised steel wire braid, PVC sheaths. Rating: 0,6/1 kV. Standard: as VO-YMvKas: HD 604 Part 4 Section D; KEMA-KEUR. The name reads: Y (Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation) + MvK (PVC sheath under the armour) + as (With Earthing Screen).
What is the difference between YMvK and YMz1K?
YMvK: Dutch 0,6/1 kV power and control cable for fixed installation, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a filler sheath and a grey PVC outer sheath, no armour or screen, 0,6/1 kV, 90 C conductor, 250 C short circuit (Waskönig), test voltage 3,5 kV (TKF). YMz1K: Dutch halogen-free cable, copper conductors in XLPE insulation under a low smoke zero halogen (LS0H) sheath, rated voltage not found in the sources read. The names differ in: YMvK: MvK (PVC Sheathed Cable); YMz1K: Mz1K (Low Smoke Zero Halojen Sheathed Cable).
NEN / KEMA type names (Netherlands): what does MvK mean in a cable name?
MvK has more than one meaning, depending on the type: PVC sheath under the armour (VO-YMvKas, YMvKas, VG-YMvK, VG-YMvKas +2); PVC Sheathed Cable (YMvK, YMvKmb, XMvK, P1MvKrvasmb).
What is YMvK cable?
YMvK: Dutch 0,6/1 kV power and control cable for fixed installation, copper conductors in XLPE insulation, a filler sheath and a grey PVC outer sheath, no armour or screen. Rating: 0,6/1 kV, 90 C conductor, 250 C short circuit (Waskönig), test voltage 3,5 kV (TKF). Standard: HD 604 Part 4 Section D; KEMA 42 C-1-4-D (Nexans Nederland); KEMA-KEUR, installed to NEN 1010. The name reads: Y (Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation) + MvK (PVC Sheathed Cable).
What is P1MeKrvaslqwd cable?
P1MeKrvaslqwd: three-core unarmoured medium-voltage cable, solid aluminium, PP-TPE insulation, common copper wire screen, quasi radially and longitudinally watertight, red PE sheath (HD 620 S3 12-J A.3). Rating: 10 and 20 kV underground systems; 6/10 kV 3,4 mm and 12/20 kV 5,5 mm insulation (Table A.3) (HD 620 S3 12-J); PP-TPE insulation, 90 C conductor (HD 620 S3 Part 1 2.1.1). Standard: HD 620 S3:2023 section 12-J, Appendix A.3 (p. 12-J-42) code designation and Appendix D NEN 3207 key (p. 12-J-47). seen: standard. The name reads: P1 (P1: PP-TPE insulation (polypropylene thermoplastic elastomer; HD 620 S3 12-J Appendix D, NEN 3207 key)) + MeK (Polyethylene (PE) Sheathed Cable) + rv (With Radial Field (Individually Screened Cores, MV)) + as (With Earthing Screen) + lqwd (Longitudinally And Quasi-Radially Water-Tight).
Sources the type table names
Standards named in the table
- HD 604 Part 4 Section D
- KEMA 42 C-1-4-D (Nexans Nederland)
- KEMA-KEUR, installed to NEN 1010
- KEMA K42C-1-4-D (Kabelwerk Eupen)
- HD 308 core colours
- HD 604 Part 4 Section D (Waskönig)
- as VO-YMvKas: HD 604 Part 4 Section D
- KEMA-KEUR
- NEN 3207 letters (HD 620 S3 10-J Appendix D)
- no maker sheet of this exact name read
- HD 604 Part 4 Section D (Waskönig, "based upon")
- KEMA K42-C 07-1,2,3 (Waskönig XMvK-G)
- NEN 1010
- name in the Draka Nederland KEMA price list
- no maker sheet read
- KEMA-KEUR, installed to NEN 1010 (TKF)
- sold as H05VV-F (EN 50525-2-11)
- HD 620 S3:2023 section 12-J, Appendix A.2 (p. 12-J-41) code designation and Appendix D NEN 3207 key (p. 12-J-47). seen: standard
- HD 620 S3:2023 section 12-J, Appendix A.3 (p. 12-J-42) code designation and Appendix D NEN 3207 key (p. 12-J-47). seen: standard
- HD 620 S3:2023 section 12-J, Appendix A.4 (p. 12-J-43) code designation and Appendix D NEN 3207 key (p. 12-J-47). seen: standard
Documents and pages the readings were taken from
- images.vanegmond.nl/b0f8dc02-c353-402c-91bc-d052e33f0097/4809880
- waskoenig.de/download/0146
- tkf.nl/download/catalog
- docs.vekto.nl/media/eupen/ymvk.pdf
- w3.cebeo.eu/images/kabelcatalogus/4_Cable_dinstallation.pdf
- HD 620 S3:2023 10-J Appendix D, NEN 3207 key, p. 10-J-47
- tkf.nl/download/catalog
- waskoenig.de/download/0134
- docs.vekto.nl/media/eupen/vo-ymvkas.pdf
- cdn.estg.eu/p/7/c/9/c/7c9c3823839ae7f67c2fd8d0974e80af1787039f_DataShee…
- wegenenverkeer.be/sites/default/files/uploads/documenten/Hoofdstuk46_Le…
- gamma.nl/assortiment/handson-grondkabel-xmvk-as-3-x-2-5-mm2-10-m/p/B622…
- elektramat.nl/ymvk-as-grondkabel-4x10-per-rol-100-meter
- waskoenig.de/download/0130
- waskoenig.de/download/0191
- waskoenig.de/download/0140
- eupen.com/cable/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/EUPEN_XMvK_Eca_450-750V.pdf
- elektramat.nl/xmvk-as-2x2-5-per-rol-100-meter
- tkf.nl/download/catalog
- elektramat.nl/helukabel-vmvl-h05vv-f-kabel-2x1mm2-zwart-per-meter
- HD 620 S3:2023 12-J Appendix A.2, p. 12-J-41; Appendix D, p. 12-J-47; Part 1 Table 2.1.1, PP-TPE
- HD 620 S3:2023 12-J Appendix A.3, p. 12-J-42; Appendix D, p. 12-J-47; Part 1 Table 2.1.1, PP-TPE
- HD 620 S3:2023 12-J Appendix A.4, p. 12-J-43; Appendix D, p. 12-J-47; Part 1 Table 2.1.1, PP-TPE
Taken from the type table of this site, with the sources named above. Check the manufacturer's datasheet before you specify a cable.
Every type in NEN / KEMA type names (Netherlands) · Decode your own designation