12. Construction of Cables

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12.1 Electrical cables and flexible cords for lighting, power, propulsion and communication circuits for marine installations shall be constructed and tested by a certifying authority to one of the most recent editions of the following standards:

12.2 Cables and flexible cords for lighting, power, propulsion and communication circuits in marine installations shall have stranded copper conductors and, where necessary for compatibility with the insulation shall be tinned or alloy-coated.

12.3 Marine cables shall be of the “flame-retardant” type, except for final circuits where installed in metallic conduit; the “flame-retardant” tests shall be conducted in accordance with the most recent edition of:

1. IEEE Standard 45 1998; and be in accordance with IEEE Std . 1202-1991 or
2. where cables have been constructed to an IEC Publication be in accordance with IEC Publication 332 Part 3 Category A/AF Flame Test; or
3. Cables constructed to UL 1309/ CSA 22.2 No. 245 CSA 22.2 No. 3 FT4
4. specialised cable for communication, data and information transmission shall be in accordance with CSA Standard 22.2 No. 3 FT 4; or
   1. installed in accordance with Section 13.44.

12.4 Where cables are required to be fire resistant, the tests shall be conducted in accordance with the most recent edition of IEC Publication 60331.

12.5 All marine cables shall have a impervious non-metallic jacket, which shall be compatible with the insulation and; be in accordance with subsections 12.3 and 12.6; if an armour is provided it shall be a basket weave bronze braid type; other materials for the armour may be aluminum alloy, galvanized wire, or tinned coated copper.

12.6 The use of a protective covering of steel wire armour, steel tape armour, metal braid armour marine cables for use in circuits where the nominal voltage exceeds 1000 volts, shall be optional only where cable is not installed in hazardous locations.

12.7 In addition to subsection 12.1 marine cables for power, propulsion, lighting and control shall include a low temperature performance rating measured by impact at –35° C and bending tests at –40° C in accordance with the most recent C.S.A. Standard C22.2 number 0.3.

12.8 Marine cables shall be provided with a durable printing or embossing on the jacket or a marker under the cable jacket in accordance with IEEE Standard 45 1998 Clause 8.8, UL 1309/ CSA C22.2 No 245 Clause 5, or IEC 92-3.

12.9 The current carrying capacities of the various marine cable types shall be in accordance with the following:

1. for cables constructed to IEEE Std -45 1998, current carrying capacity shall be in accordance with the Table IEEE Std 45 9-1; or
2. for cables constructed to IEC Standard 350 series or IEC 60092-3, current carrying capacity shall be assigned in accordance with the table contained in the respective standard; or
3. for cables constructed to UL 1309/ CSA 22.2 No. 245, current carrying capacity shall be assigned in accordance with the table contained in Table 12.1; or
4. for marine cable installations where the current carrying capacities of either (a) or (b) are not available the values assigned by Table 12-1 may be used.

12.10 Fiber Optic cables shall be constructed and tested in accordance with a recognized certifying authority.

12.11 Fiber Optic cables shall be flame retardant type with tests conducted in accordance with subsection (3), where this is not possible installation shall be in accordance with Section 13.44.

12.12 The construction of fiber optic cable that may pass through or enter a hazardous zone shall be such that escape of gases to a safe area is not possible through the cable.

12.13 Conductor colour coding shall be identified by either coloured conductor insulation, tapes or by printing the colour nomenclature on the insulation or covering; coloured conductors of distribution systems shall be identified by the following;

* If a conductor is being used as a grounding conductor (normally not a current carrying conductor) in a distribution system it must be coloured green.

12.13.1 The use of a numbering system printed on the insulation would be an acceptable alternative to colour coding provided the ground conductor is identified as above.

12.14 Portable cables employed on travelling cranes and similar installations shall be C.S.A. certified extra hard usage in accordance with Table 11 of CSA 22.2 Part 1.

12.15 Branch circuit feeders shall not have conductors less than # 14 AWG (1.5 mm² ) wire.

12.16 Where the allowable current carrying capacity of the conductor does not correspond with a standard rating or setting of fuses or circuit breakers the next higher rating or setting may be selected provided it does not exceed 150 % of the allowable current carrying capacity of the conductor and the ambient operating temperature differs from 45° C , Table 12-1 (5) shall be considered with the exception of section 10.3 steering gear circuits and branch circuits section 11.25.

12.17 The cross sectional area of conductors shall be not less than the following:

1. 1.5 mm² (14 AWG ) for power, lighting and branch feeders;
2. 1.0 mm² (18 AWG ) for control and, essential or emergency signalling or communication cables, except those cables assembled by the equipment manufacturer; and
3. those in accordance with Section 9.3.9.

Table 12-1 : Maximum Current Carrying Capacity for Insulated Copper Wires and Cables (Single or Double Banked)

Values in amperes

45° C Ambient

750 Volts or Less ( AC or DC )

Notes:

T1-1. The values given above have been calculated for an ambient of 45° C and assume that a conductor temperature equal to the maximum rated temperature of the insulation is reached and maintained continuously in the case of a group of four cables bunched together and laid in free air.

T1-2. The current rating values given in Table 1 (and those derived there from) may be considered applicable, without correction factors for cables double banked on cable trays, in cable conduits or cable pipes, except as noted in NOTE 3.

T1-3. When more than six cables which may be expected to operate simultaneously at their full rated capacity are laid close together in a cable bunch in such a way that there is an absence of free air circulation around them, a correction factor of 0.85 is to be applied to the current ratings obtained from table 1.

T1-4. These current ratings are applicable for both armored and unarmored cables.

T1-5. If ambient temperature differs from 45° C , the values in Table 1 are to be multiplied by the following factors:

T1-6. Where the numbers of conductors in a cable exceeds, as in control cables, the maximum current carrying capacity of each conductor is to be reduced as in the following table.

T1-7. When mineral cable is installed in such a location that its copper sheath is liable to be touched when in service, the current is to be multiplied by the correction factor 0.80 in order that sheath temperature does not exceed 70° C .

* A maximum conductor temperature of 250° C is permissible for special applications and standard end fittings may be used provided the temperature does not exceed 85° C at the end fittings, however, when the temperature at the end fitting is higher than 85° C special consideration will be given to an appropriate end fitting.

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