How to read a cable code: guides per coding system · SANS (South Africa) · South Africa
SANS (South Africa): how to read the cable type names
Each name in SANS (South Africa) stands for a whole cable type: SURFIX, for example, comes with its own construction, standard and rating. The decoder knows 6 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:
CABTYRE
| CABTYRE | Cabtyre: flexible cord, PVC-insulated flexible copper cores twisted together under a soft PVC sheath |
| CL5 | Copper Conductor, Many-Stranded, Flexible (Class 5) |
| PVC | PVC insulation |
| PVC | PVC sheath |
Cabtyre: flexible cord, flexible (class 5) copper cores in flexible PVC, twisted together under a soft PVC sheath
SANS 1507-3
| PVC | PVC insulation |
| SWA | Steel Wire Armour |
| PVC | PVC sheath |
PVC/SWA/PVC: PVC distribution cable, PVC-insulated stranded copper cores, PVC bedding, galvanised steel wire armour, PVC sheath
SANS 1507-4
| XLPE | Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation |
| SWA | Steel Wire Armour |
| PVC | PVC sheath |
XLPE/SWA/PVC: XLPE distribution cable, XLPE-insulated stranded copper cores, PVC bedding, galvanised steel wire armour, PVC sheath
Every part used in the names
| Part | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| PVC | PVC sheath | CABTYRE SANS 1507-3 SANS 1507-4 |
| PVC | PVC insulation | CABTYRE SANS 1507-3 |
| SWA | Steel Wire Armour | SANS 1507-3 SANS 1507-4 |
| CABTYRE | Cabtyre: flexible cord, PVC-insulated flexible copper cores twisted together under a soft PVC sheath | CABTYRE |
| CL5 | Copper Conductor, Many-Stranded, Flexible (Class 5) | CABTYRE |
| GP | General purpose (GP) house wire: one stranded copper conductor, general purpose PVC insulation | GP WIRE |
| XLPE | Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation | SANS 1507-4 |
Every type in SANS (South Africa)
| Type | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|
SURFIX | Surfix: circular surface wiring cable, PVC-insulated copper cores under an aluminium/PVC laminate foil in contact with a tinned copper earth wire, PVC sheath | 300/500 V, test 2250 V, -10 to +80 C (Alvern, Helukabel SA) |
FTE | FTE: flat twin and earth, two PVC-insulated copper cores and a bare copper earth side by side in a flat PVC sheath | 300/500 V, test 2250 V, -10 to +80 C (Helukabel SA) |
CABTYRE | Cabtyre: flexible cord, flexible (class 5) copper cores in flexible PVC, twisted together under a soft PVC sheath | 300/300 V (0.5 and 0.75 mm2), 300/500 V (1 to 2.5 mm2), 450/750 V (4 and 6 mm2); -10 to +80 C (Alvern) |
GP WIRE | GP wire: general purpose house wire, one stranded (class 2) copper conductor with general purpose PVC insulation | 600/1000 V, test 3000 V, -10 to +80 C (Alvern) |
SANS 1507-3 | PVC/SWA/PVC: PVC distribution cable, PVC-insulated stranded copper cores, PVC bedding, galvanised steel wire armour, PVC sheath | 600/1000 V (Eland Cables, Cleveland Cable) |
SANS 1507-4 | XLPE/SWA/PVC: XLPE distribution cable, XLPE-insulated stranded copper cores, PVC bedding, galvanised steel wire armour, PVC sheath | 600/1000 V (Eland Cables) |
Common questions
What is SURFIX cable?
SURFIX: Surfix: circular surface wiring cable, PVC-insulated copper cores under an aluminium/PVC laminate foil in contact with a tinned copper earth wire, PVC sheath. Rating: 300/500 V, test 2250 V, -10 to +80 C (Alvern, Helukabel SA). Standard: SANS 1507-2 (SABS 1507-2).
What is FTE cable?
FTE: flat twin and earth, two PVC-insulated copper cores and a bare copper earth side by side in a flat PVC sheath. Rating: 300/500 V, test 2250 V, -10 to +80 C (Helukabel SA). Standard: SANS 1507-2 (SABS 1507-2).
What is the difference between SANS 1507-3 and SANS 1507-4?
SANS 1507-3: PVC/SWA/PVC: PVC distribution cable, PVC-insulated stranded copper cores, PVC bedding, galvanised steel wire armour, PVC sheath, 600/1000 V (Eland Cables, Cleveland Cable). SANS 1507-4: XLPE/SWA/PVC: XLPE distribution cable, XLPE-insulated stranded copper cores, PVC bedding, galvanised steel wire armour, PVC sheath, 600/1000 V (Eland Cables). The names differ in: SANS 1507-3: PVC (PVC insulation); SANS 1507-4: XLPE (Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation).
SANS (South Africa): what does PVC mean in a cable name?
PVC has more than one meaning, depending on the type: PVC sheath (CABTYRE, SANS 1507-3, SANS 1507-4); PVC insulation (CABTYRE, SANS 1507-3).
What is CABTYRE cable?
CABTYRE: Cabtyre: flexible cord, flexible (class 5) copper cores in flexible PVC, twisted together under a soft PVC sheath. Rating: 300/300 V (0.5 and 0.75 mm2), 300/500 V (1 to 2.5 mm2), 450/750 V (4 and 6 mm2); -10 to +80 C (Alvern). Standard: SANS 1574-2 and SANS 1574-3; IEC 60227-3 (Alvern). The name reads: CABTYRE (Cabtyre: flexible cord, PVC-insulated flexible copper cores twisted together under a soft PVC sheath) + CL5 (Copper Conductor, Many-Stranded, Flexible (Class 5)) + PVC (PVC insulation) + PVC (PVC sheath).
What is GP WIRE cable?
GP WIRE: GP wire: general purpose house wire, one stranded (class 2) copper conductor with general purpose PVC insulation. Rating: 600/1000 V, test 3000 V, -10 to +80 C (Alvern). Standard: SANS 1507-2 and SANS 1507-3 (Alvern).
Sources the type table names
Standards named in the table
- SANS 1507-2 (SABS 1507-2)
- SANS 1574-2 and SANS 1574-3
- IEC 60227-3 (Alvern)
- SANS 1507-2 and SANS 1507-3 (Alvern)
- SANS 1507-3
- SANS 1507-4
Documents and pages the readings were taken from
- alverncables.co.za/download/domestic-cables/alfix-cables.pdf
- portal.segensolar.co.za/reseller/docs/Surfix Data Sheet.pdf
- portal.segen.co.uk/reseller/docs/Flat Twin and Earth_FTE Data Sheet.pdf
- alverncables.co.za/download/flexible-cables/cabtyre-cables.pdf
- alverncables.co.za/download/domestic-cables/house-wire-cables.pdf
- segensolar.co.za/product/gp-housewire-10mm2-20m-green-yellow-wire
- elandcables.com/cables/sans-1507-3-and-1507-4-swa-pvc-1kv-cables
- clevelandcable.com/en/sans-1507-3-pvc-swa-pvc-1kv-cable
- store.sabs.co.za/sans-1507-4-2022-ed-1-06.html
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 SANS (South Africa) · Decode your own designation