How to read a cable code: guides per coding system · NP 665 (Portugal) · Portugal (E-REDES distribution cables and the Portuguese makers)
NP 665 (Portugal): how to read the cable type names
Each name in NP 665 (Portugal) stands for a whole cable type: VV, for example, comes with its own construction, standard and rating. The decoder knows 28 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:
VV
| V | PVC insulation |
| V | PVC sheath |
VV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, copper conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath
LVV
| L | L: aluminium conductor, class 2 (stranded) |
| V | PVC insulation |
| V | PVC sheath |
LVV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, stranded aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath
LSVV
| LS | LS: solid aluminium conductor, class 1 (in Portuguese names LS is not 'low smoke') |
| V | PVC insulation |
| V | PVC sheath |
LSVV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, solid aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath
VAV
| V | PVC insulation |
| A | A: armour of steel tapes (the Spanish UNE letter F) |
| V | PVC sheath |
VAV: steel tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, copper conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath
Every part used in the names
| Part | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| X | Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation | XV LXV XAV LXAV LSXAV LX1AV X1AV LXHIOV XHIV XHIZ1 XHIOV XHIOZ1 LXHIV LXHIZ1 LXHIVS LXHIES LXHIXS LXHIOZ1 LXHIOVS LXHIOES LXHIOXS |
| V | PVC sheath | VV LVV LSVV VAV LVAV LSVAV XV LXV XAV LXAV LSXAV LV1AV LX1AV X1AV LXHIOV XHIV XHIOV LXHIV LXHIVS LXHIOVS |
| L | L: aluminium conductor, class 2 (stranded) | LVV LVAV LXV LXAV LV1AV LX1AV LXHIOV LXHIV LXHIZ1 LXHIVS LXHIES LXHIXS LXHIOZ1 LXHIOVS LXHIOES LXHIOXS |
| V | PVC insulation | VV LVV LSVV VAV LVAV LSVAV LV1AV |
| HIO | HIO: radial-field cable, a copper wire screen over each core | LXHIOV XHIOV XHIOZ1 LXHIOZ1 LXHIOVS LXHIOES LXHIOXS |
| HI | HI: radial-field cable, a copper tape screen over each core (HD 620 S3 10-L No. 14) | XHIV XHIZ1 LXHIV LXHIZ1 LXHIVS LXHIES LXHIXS |
| A | A: armour of steel tapes (the Spanish UNE letter F) | VAV LVAV LSVAV XAV LXAV LSXAV |
| S | S: three pre-assembled cables laid up round a messenger, for aerial installation (HD 620 S3 10-L, Type 10L-2) | LXHIVS LXHIES LXHIXS LXHIOVS LXHIOES LXHIOXS |
| Z1 | Z1: polyolefin (PO) sheath, compound DMZ1; DMZ2 with (flr) or (frt) (HD 620 S3 10-L, Types 10L-3 to 10L-5) | XHIZ1 XHIOZ1 LXHIZ1 LXHIOZ1 |
| LS | LS: solid aluminium conductor, class 1 (in Portuguese names LS is not 'low smoke') | LSVV LSVAV LSXAV |
| 1A | 1A: armour of aluminium tapes (the Spanish UNE letters FA) | LV1AV LX1AV X1AV |
| E | Polyethylene (PE) Sheath | LXHIES LXHIOES |
| X | X (sheath): XLPE sheath, compound DCX1 (HD 620 S3 10-L, Type 10L-2) | LXHIXS LXHIOXS |
Every type in NP 665 (Portugal)
| Type | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|
VV | VV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, copper conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LVV | LVV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, stranded aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LSVV | LSVV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, solid aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
VAV | VAV: steel tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, copper conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LVAV | LVAV: steel tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, stranded aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LSVAV | LSVAV: steel tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, solid aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
XV | XV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, copper conductors, XLPE insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LXV | LXV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, stranded aluminium conductors, XLPE insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
XAV | XAV: steel tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, copper conductors, XLPE insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LXAV | LXAV: steel tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, stranded aluminium conductors, XLPE insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LSXAV | LSXAV: steel tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, solid aluminium conductors, XLPE insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LV1AV | LV1AV: aluminium tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, stranded aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LX1AV | LX1AV: aluminium tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, stranded aluminium conductors, XLPE insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
X1AV | X1AV: aluminium tape armoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, copper conductors, XLPE insulation, PVC sheath | 0,6/1 kV |
LXHIOV | LXHIOV: medium voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper wire screen on each core, PVC sheath | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
XHIV | XHIV: medium-voltage cable, copper conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper tape screen on each core, PVC sheath (HD 620 type 10L-1) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
XHIZ1 | XHIZ1: medium-voltage cable, copper conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper tape screen on each core, polyolefin (DMZ1) sheath (HD 620 type 10L-3) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
XHIOV | XHIOV: medium-voltage cable, copper conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper wire screen on each core, PVC sheath (HD 620 type 10L-1) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
XHIOZ1 | XHIOZ1: medium-voltage cable, copper conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper wire screen on each core, polyolefin (DMZ1) sheath (HD 620 type 10L-3) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
LXHIV | LXHIV: medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper tape screen on each core, PVC sheath (HD 620 type 10L-1) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
LXHIZ1 | LXHIZ1: medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper tape screen on each core, polyolefin (DMZ1) sheath (HD 620 type 10L-3) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
LXHIVS | LXHIVS: medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper tape screen on each core, PVC sheath, three cables laid up round a messenger for aerial lines (HD 620 type 10L-2) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
LXHIES | LXHIES: medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper tape screen on each core, PE sheath, three cables laid up round a messenger for aerial lines (HD 620 type 10L-2) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
LXHIXS | LXHIXS: medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper tape screen on each core, XLPE sheath, three cables laid up round a messenger for aerial lines (HD 620 type 10L-2) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
LXHIOZ1 | LXHIOZ1: medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper wire screen on each core, polyolefin (DMZ1) sheath (HD 620 type 10L-3) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
LXHIOVS | LXHIOVS: medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper wire screen on each core, PVC sheath, three cables laid up round a messenger for aerial lines (HD 620 type 10L-2) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
LXHIOES | LXHIOES: medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper wire screen on each core, PE sheath, three cables laid up round a messenger for aerial lines (HD 620 type 10L-2) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
LXHIOXS | LXHIOXS: medium-voltage cable, aluminium conductor, XLPE insulation, radial field with a copper wire screen on each core, XLPE sheath, three cables laid up round a messenger for aerial lines (HD 620 type 10L-2) | 6/10 (12) to 18/30 (36) kV; 90 C conductor, 120 C short duration overload, 250 C short circuit (5 s) (HD 620 S3 10-L 1) |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| (flr) | (flr): Type 10L-4, DMZ2 polyolefin sheath, reaction to fire at least Eca (HD 620 S3 10-L No. 13, 14) | FLR |
| (frt) | (frt): Type 10L-5, DMZ2 polyolefin sheath, reaction to fire at least Cca-s1b,d2,a1 (HD 620 S3 10-L No. 13, 14) | FRT |
| (cbe) | (cbe): longitudinally watertight conductor and metallic screen (HD 620 S3 10-L No. 14) | CBE |
| (ce) | (ce): longitudinally watertight conductor (HD 620 S3 10-L No. 14) | CE |
| (be) | (be): longitudinally watertight metallic screen (HD 620 S3 10-L No. 14) | BE |
Common questions
What is VV cable?
VV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, copper conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath. Rating: 0,6/1 kV. Standard: NP 665 designation; IEC 60502-1 (E-REDES DMA-C33-200/N). The name reads: V (PVC insulation) + V (PVC sheath).
What is LVV cable?
LVV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, stranded aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath. Rating: 0,6/1 kV. Standard: NP 665 designation; IEC 60502-1 (E-REDES DMA-C33-200/N). The name reads: L (L: aluminium conductor, class 2 (stranded)) + V (PVC insulation) + V (PVC sheath).
What is the difference between VV and LVV?
VV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, copper conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath, 0,6/1 kV. LVV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, stranded aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath, 0,6/1 kV. The names differ in: LVV: L (L: aluminium conductor, class 2 (stranded)).
NP 665 (Portugal): what does X mean in a cable name?
X has more than one meaning, depending on the type: Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation (XV, LXV, XAV, LXAV +17); X (sheath): XLPE sheath, compound DCX1 (HD 620 S3 10-L, Type 10L-2) (LXHIXS, LXHIOXS).
NP 665 (Portugal): what does (flr) mean next to a cable name?
(flr): (flr): Type 10L-4, DMZ2 polyolefin sheath, reaction to fire at least Eca (HD 620 S3 10-L No. 13, 14). Written as FLR.
What is LSVV cable?
LSVV: unarmoured 0,6/1 kV power cable, solid aluminium conductors, PVC insulation, PVC sheath. Rating: 0,6/1 kV. Standard: NP 665 designation; IEC 60502-1 (E-REDES DMA-C33-200/N). The name reads: LS (LS: solid aluminium conductor, class 1 (in Portuguese names LS is not 'low smoke')) + V (PVC insulation) + V (PVC sheath).
Sources the type table names
Standards named in the table
- NP 665 designation
- IEC 60502-1 (E-REDES DMA-C33-200/N)
- HD 620 S3:2023 section 10-L, No. 14 code designation (p. 10-L-11), Type 10L-1
- XLPE DIX 13 (1, p. 10-L-3). Owner's copy, read 2026-10-31, seen: standard
- NP 665 letters (Celcat 2007)
- NP 665 letters
- HD 620 S3:2023 section 10-L, No. 14 code designation (p. 10-L-11), Type 10L-3
- HD 620 S3:2023 section 10-L, No. 14 code designation (p. 10-L-11), Type 10L-2
Documents and pages the readings were taken from
- e-redes.pt/sites/edd/files/normative_docs/DMA-C33-200N.pdf
- content.voltimum.com/pt/16557/cabos-electricos.pdf
- pt.prysmian.com/sites/pt.prysmian.com/files/media/documents/165_VV_DMA_…
- research/standards-local/hd620/VALUES.md (HD 620 S3:2023 10-L No. 13, 14, pp. 10-L-10, 10-L-11)
- research/standards-local/hd620/VALUES.md (HD 620 S3:2023 10-L No. 13, 14, pp. 10-L-10, 10-L-11; scope 1, p. 10-L-3)
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 NP 665 (Portugal) · Decode your own designation