BS EN 50290-2-29:2016

This standard BS EN 50290-2-29:2016 Communication cables is classified in these ICS categories:

• 33.120.10 Coaxial cables. Waveguides
• 29.035.20 Plastics and rubber insulating materials

This Part 2-29 of EN 50290 gives specific requirements for Crosslinked Polyethylene (XLPE) compounds to be used for the insulation of instrumentation, control and field bus cables. There are several routes used for manufacture of XLPE insulated cables and as a consequence a number of different types of polyethylene compound may be specified. The compounds required for the different manufacturing processes are described (Table 1). The unstabilised materials require antioxidant to be added during the cable extrusion process.

Table 1 — XLPE Materials

Material	Stabilisation	Manufacturing process
PE	None	Base polymer for irradiation/one step silane
PE-S	Yes	Stabilised compound for irradiation/one step silane
SXPE	None	Silane grafted compound or copolymer for two step process
SXPE-S	Yes	Stabilised silane grafted compound or copolymer for two step process

It is essential to read this European Standard in conjunction with Part 2-20 of EN 50290, the product standards EN 50288-7 and EN 61158 and other applicable product standards.

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