How to read a cable code: guides per coding system · Norsk typebetegnelse (Norway) · Norway
Norsk typebetegnelse (Norway): how to read the cable type names
Each name in Norsk typebetegnelse (Norway) stands for a whole cable type: TSLI, for example, comes with its own construction, standard and rating. The decoder knows 8 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:
TSLI
| T | 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: XLPE insulation |
| S | 2nd letter: bedding or taping plus concentric conductor ('Fyllkappe/baandering + konsentrisk leder'), used when the 3rd letter is taken; HD 620 10-K Table 4: copper screen |
| L | 3rd letter: aluminium laminate ('Aluminiumlaminat'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: aluminium sheath |
| I | 4th letter, outer sheath: halogen-free flame retardant (HD 620 10-K Table 4) |
TSLI: single-core medium-voltage cable, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, aluminium laminate, halogen-free flame retardant sheath (an A after the section: aluminium conductor)
TSLF
| T | 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen') |
| S | 2nd letter: bedding or taping plus concentric conductor ('Fyllkappe/baandering + konsentrisk leder'), used when the 3rd letter is taken |
| L | 3rd letter: aluminium laminate ('Aluminiumlaminat') |
| F | 4th letter, outer sheath: semiconducting PE ('Halvledende PE') |
TSLF: single-core medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, aluminium laminate bonded to a PE sheath with an outer semiconducting layer (three cores laid up as 3x1x...)
TXSI
| T | 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen') |
| X | 2nd letter: no sheath or similar ('Ingen kappe e.l.') |
| S | 3rd letter: concentric conductor ('Konsentrisk leder') |
| I | 4th letter, outer sheath: other plastics, for example TPE ('Andre kunststoffer f.eks. TPE'); Nexans: fire retardant material |
TXSI: single-core medium-voltage cable, copper conductor, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, fire-retardant outer sheath
TXSE
| T | 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: XLPE insulation |
| X | 2nd letter: no sheath or similar ('Ingen kappe e.l.'); not explained in HD 620 10-K Table 4 |
| S | 3rd letter: concentric conductor ('Konsentrisk leder'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: copper screen |
| E | 4th letter, outer sheath: PE (HD 620 10-K Table 4: PE sheath) |
TXSE: single-core medium-voltage cable, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, PE sheath (an A after the section: aluminium conductor)
Every part used in the names
| Part | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| T | 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: XLPE insulation | TXSE TXSP TSLI |
| T | 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen') | TSLF TXSI |
| X | 2nd letter: no sheath or similar ('Ingen kappe e.l.'); not explained in HD 620 10-K Table 4 | TXSE TXSP |
| S | 3rd letter: concentric conductor ('Konsentrisk leder'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: copper screen | TXSE TXSP |
| F | 2nd letter, bedding or filler sheath ('F=Fyllkappe'; Kabelboka: 'Fyllkappe/ båndering') | TFXP PFXP |
| X | 3rd letter: no armour or screen ('X=Ingen armering/skjerm'; Kabelboka: 'Ingen armering e.l.') | TFXP PFXP |
| P | 4th letter, outer sheath: PVC ('P=PVC-ytterkappe') | TFXP PFXP |
| S | 2nd letter: bedding or taping plus concentric conductor ('Fyllkappe/baandering + konsentrisk leder'), used when the 3rd letter is taken | TSLF |
| L | 3rd letter: aluminium laminate ('Aluminiumlaminat') | TSLF |
| F | 4th letter, outer sheath: semiconducting PE ('Halvledende PE') | TSLF |
| X | 2nd letter: no sheath or similar ('Ingen kappe e.l.') | TXSI |
| S | 3rd letter: concentric conductor ('Konsentrisk leder') | TXSI |
| I | 4th letter, outer sheath: other plastics, for example TPE ('Andre kunststoffer f.eks. TPE'); Nexans: fire retardant material | TXSI |
| E | 4th letter, outer sheath: PE (HD 620 10-K Table 4: PE sheath) | TXSE |
| P | 4th letter, outer sheath: PVC (HD 620 10-K Table 4: PVC sheath) | TXSP |
| S | 2nd letter: bedding or taping plus concentric conductor ('Fyllkappe/baandering + konsentrisk leder'), used when the 3rd letter is taken; HD 620 10-K Table 4: copper screen | TSLI |
| L | 3rd letter: aluminium laminate ('Aluminiumlaminat'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: aluminium sheath | TSLI |
| I | 4th letter, outer sheath: halogen-free flame retardant (HD 620 10-K Table 4) | TSLI |
| T | 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('T=Pexisolert'; Kabelboka: 'Tverrbundet polyetylen - PEX') | TFXP |
| T | 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen - PEX') | TFXP-AL |
| F | 2nd letter: filler sheath or taping ('Fyllkappe/ båndering') | TFXP-AL |
| X | 3rd letter: no armour or screen ('Ingen armering e.l.') | TFXP-AL |
| P | 4th letter, outer sheath: PVC ('PVC'); the PE inner sheath is not in the code ('PE-kappen beskrives ikke i firebokstavkoden') | TFXP-AL |
| A | After the section (4G25A): aluminium conductor ('Flertrådet, glødet aluminiumsleder'; NEK: 'har aluminiumsledere') | TFXP-AL |
| AL | Written after the type name (TFXP AL): the same aluminium-conductor, green double-sheathed cable ('grønnpexen heter TFXP AL') | TFXP-AL |
| P | 1st letter, insulation: PVC ('P=Polyvinylklorid - PVC') | PFXP |
What the type table says about the names
Quoted from the notes of the type table, with the types they belong to.
- The handbook's 2nd column S is only used when the 3rd letter is taken, as here by L. (TSLF)
- The name carries no metal letter: the bare name is copper (NEK Kabel MR Flex, where MR = class 5 copper is the product suffix, not part of the name); aluminium is written after the section (4G25A) or as TFXP AL (TFXP-AL). (TFXP)
Every type in Norsk typebetegnelse (Norway)
| Type | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|
TSLF | TSLF: single-core medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, aluminium laminate bonded to a PE sheath with an outer semiconducting layer (three cores laid up as 3x1x...) | 12/20 (24) kV and 18/30 (36) kV on the pages read (also 12 kV and up to 145 kV in the handbook) |
TXSI | TXSI: single-core medium-voltage cable, copper conductor, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, fire-retardant outer sheath | 24 kV (Nexans page) |
TXSE | TXSE: single-core medium-voltage cable, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, PE sheath (an A after the section: aluminium conductor) | 12 kV (Um) in the Table 4 example; HD 620 10-K covers Um 12, 24 and 36 kV |
TXSP | TXSP: single-core medium-voltage cable, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, PVC sheath (an A after the section: aluminium conductor) | 12 kV (Um) in the Table 4 example; HD 620 10-K covers Um 12, 24 and 36 kV |
TSLI | TSLI: single-core medium-voltage cable, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, aluminium laminate, halogen-free flame retardant sheath (an A after the section: aluminium conductor) | 12 kV (Um) in the Table 4 example; HD 620 10-K covers Um 12, 24 and 36 kV |
TFXP | TFXP: PEX-insulated, filler-sheathed, unarmoured, PVC-sheathed power and installation cable; the NEK Kabel MR Flex type has a flexible copper conductor, the A / AL type (separate entry) an aluminium one | 0,6/1 kV (NEK Kabel: 'Driftsspenning 0,6/1 [kV]', test 3,5 kV), 90 C conductor |
TFXP-AL | TFXP with aluminium conductor ('grønn-pex', Nexans TFXP 1 kV 4G25A): PEX core insulation, filler, inner PE sheath, green outer PVC sheath, 1 kV, for mains intake cable | 1 kV (Kabelboka heading 'TFXP 1kV'; Nexans web page read via search: 0,6/1 kV, 90 C) |
PFXP | PFXP: PVC-insulated, filler-sheathed, unarmoured, PVC-sheathed installation cable with stranded copper cores, 300/500 V | 300/500 V, 70 C conductor (Nexans) |
Marks written next to the name
Words and marks the decoder reads next to a type name of this system: each adds a property to whatever type it is written with.
| Mark | Meaning | Written as |
|---|---|---|
| -OJ | Optical tube and earth conductor (Nexans Kabelboka contents: TSLF-OJ) | -OJ |
| -J | With earth conductor (Nexans Kabelboka contents: TSLF-J) | -J |
| -O | With an optical tube (Nexans Kabelboka contents: TSLF-O) | -O |
| MP | Searchable marking tape (Nexans Kabelboka contents, TSLF 24kV 3x1x95A MP) | -MP MP |
Common questions
What is TSLI cable?
TSLI: single-core medium-voltage cable, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, aluminium laminate, halogen-free flame retardant sheath (an A after the section: aluminium conductor). Rating: 12 kV (Um) in the Table 4 example; HD 620 10-K covers Um 12, 24 and 36 kV. Standard: HD 620 S3:2023 Part 10 Section K, Table 4 'Code designation (provisional)', p. 10-K-22: T XLPE insulation, S copper screen, P PVC sheath, E PE sheath, L aluminium sheath, I halogen-free flame retardant sheath, A after the section aluminium conductor (no letter: copper); letter positions as tabled in the Nexans Kabelboka. The name reads: T (1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: XLPE insulation) + S (2nd letter: bedding or taping plus concentric conductor ('Fyllkappe/baandering + konsentrisk leder'), used when the 3rd letter is taken; HD 620 10-K Table 4: copper screen) + L (3rd letter: aluminium laminate ('Aluminiumlaminat'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: aluminium sheath) + I (4th letter, outer sheath: halogen-free flame retardant (HD 620 10-K Table 4)).
What is TSLF cable?
TSLF: single-core medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, aluminium laminate bonded to a PE sheath with an outer semiconducting layer (three cores laid up as 3x1x...). Rating: 12/20 (24) kV and 18/30 (36) kV on the pages read (also 12 kV and up to 145 kV in the handbook). Standard: Norwegian type designation as tabled in the Nexans Kabelboka (part 2, 'Norske typebetegnelser for kabler'); construction HD 620.10K. The name reads: T (1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen')) + S (2nd letter: bedding or taping plus concentric conductor ('Fyllkappe/baandering + konsentrisk leder'), used when the 3rd letter is taken) + L (3rd letter: aluminium laminate ('Aluminiumlaminat')) + F (4th letter, outer sheath: semiconducting PE ('Halvledende PE')).
What is the difference between TXSE and TXSP?
TXSE: single-core medium-voltage cable, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, PE sheath (an A after the section: aluminium conductor), 12 kV (Um) in the Table 4 example; HD 620 10-K covers Um 12, 24 and 36 kV. TXSP: single-core medium-voltage cable, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, PVC sheath (an A after the section: aluminium conductor), 12 kV (Um) in the Table 4 example; HD 620 10-K covers Um 12, 24 and 36 kV. The names differ in: TXSE: E (4th letter, outer sheath: PE (HD 620 10-K Table 4: PE sheath)); TXSP: P (4th letter, outer sheath: PVC (HD 620 10-K Table 4: PVC sheath)).
Norsk typebetegnelse (Norway): what does T mean in a cable name?
T has more than one meaning, depending on the type: 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen'); HD 620 10-K Table 4: XLPE insulation (TXSE, TXSP, TSLI); 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen') (TSLF, TXSI); 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('T=Pexisolert'; Kabelboka: 'Tverrbundet polyetylen - PEX') (TFXP); 1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen - PEX') (TFXP-AL).
Norsk typebetegnelse (Norway): what does -OJ mean next to a cable name?
-OJ: Optical tube and earth conductor (Nexans Kabelboka contents: TSLF-OJ). Written as -OJ.
What is TXSI cable?
TXSI: single-core medium-voltage cable, copper conductor, XLPE insulation, copper wire screen, fire-retardant outer sheath. Rating: 24 kV (Nexans page). Standard: Norwegian type designation as tabled in the Nexans Kabelboka (part 2, 'Norske typebetegnelser for kabler'). The name reads: T (1st letter, insulation: cross-linked polyethylene, PEX ('Tverrbundet polyetylen')) + X (2nd letter: no sheath or similar ('Ingen kappe e.l.')) + S (3rd letter: concentric conductor ('Konsentrisk leder')) + I (4th letter, outer sheath: other plastics, for example TPE ('Andre kunststoffer f.eks. TPE'); Nexans: fire retardant material).
Sources the type table names
Standards named in the table
- Norwegian type designation as tabled in the Nexans Kabelboka (part 2, 'Norske typebetegnelser for kabler')
- construction HD 620.10K
- HD 620 S3:2023 Part 10 Section K, Table 4 'Code designation (provisional)', p. 10-K-22: T XLPE insulation, S copper screen, P PVC sheath, E PE sheath, L aluminium sheath, I halogen-free flame retardant sheath, A after the section aluminium conductor (no letter: copper)
- letter positions as tabled in the Nexans Kabelboka
- HD 604-5D / HD 603-1 / IEC 60502-1 (NEK Kabel MR Flex sheet p. 5)
- HD 603-5M and NEK 536 (Nexans Kabelboka p. 13, 14)
- CENELEC HD 603-5M (Nexans Kabelboka p. 13)
- NEK Kabel names the type 'TFXP AL' (MR Flex sheet p. 19)
- NEK 535 (Nexans Norway PFXP 300/500 V)
Documents and pages the readings were taken from
- nexans.no/no/dam/jcr:67e3c663-3435-4b57-b5fd-963b1b8e0e72/Kabelboka Nex…
- nexans.no/en/products/Utility-and-Power-cables/24---36-kV-Distribution-…
- nexans.no/.rest/catalog/v1/product/pdf/10547786
- nexans.no/en/products/Utility-and-Power-cables/24---36-kV-Distribution-…
- files.expub.net/Content/Archive/342/TFXP-MR-Flex-produktinfo-227621.pdf
- admin.expub.net/Content/Archive/342/Typebetegnelser-og-Firebokstavkoden…
- nexans.no/en/products/Building-Wires-and-Cables/Standard-wires-and-cabl…
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 Norsk typebetegnelse (Norway) · Decode your own designation