BS EN 50290-2-24:2021

This standard BS EN 50290-2-24:2021 Communication cables is classified in these ICS categories:

• 29.035.20 Plastics and rubber insulating materials
• 33.120.01 Components and accessories in general

This document gives specific requirements for polyethylene sheathing compounds, as given in Table 1, for use in inner and outer sheathing of communication cables including fibre optic cables.

It is expected to be read in conjunction with EN 50290-2-20, the product standards EN 50407 series, EN 50117 series, EN 60794 series and other applicable product standards.

Using raw material and type test data as outlined in this document, the raw material supplier will have sufficient data to demonstrate compliance and warrant that the material is suitable for the specified application.

There are several routes used for manufacture of polyethylene and as a consequence a number of different types of polyethylene are defined as given in Table 1.

Table 1 — Polyethylene materials (informative)

Abbreviation	Material type	Reactor process	Polymer structure	Maximum operating temperaturea °C
LDPEb	Low density polyethylene	High pressure/ temperature radical reaction	Long chain branched	+70
LLDPE	Linear low density polyethylene	Low pressure/ temperature catalytic reaction	Significant short chain branching	+80
MDPE	Medium density polyethylene	Low pressure/ temperature catalytic reaction	Short chain branched	+80
HDPE	High density polyethylene	Low pressure/ temperature catalytic reaction	Limited short chain branching	+80

^aFurther guidance on operating temperature is contained in EN 50290-2-20

^bUpper process capability for density 0,930 g/ml. Normally density range 0,917–0,925 g/ml