Section 3 Cables and Wiring
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules and Regulations for the Construction & Classification of Submersibles & Diving Systems, July 2022 - Part 6 Electrical Installations and Control Engineering Systems - Chapter 1 Electrical Installations - Section 3 Cables and Wiring

Section 3 Cables and Wiring

3.1 General

3.1.1 Electric cables for fixed wiring are to be designed, manufactured and tested in accordance with the relevant IEC Standard stated in the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022, Pt 6, Ch 2 Electrical Engineering, Table 2.11.1 Electric cables, or an acceptable and relevant national standard.

3.1.2 Electric cables for non-fixed wiring applications are to comply with an acceptable and relevant Standard.

3.1.3 Cable insulation and sheathing materials are to be flame retardant and non-hygroscopic and of a type that emits a minimum of smoke and toxic fumes when overheated.

3.1.4 Cables are to meet, at least, the requirements of IEC 60332-1-2: Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions – Part 1-2: Test for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable – Procedure for 1 kW pre-mixed flame, or an acceptable and relevant national standard.

3.1.5 The cables are also to be of low smoke emission type when tested in accordance with IEC 61034: Measurement of Smoke Density of Cables Burning under Defined Conditions.

3.1.6 Where practicable, the cables should also be of zero halogen type when tested in accordance with IEC 60754-1: Test on Gases Evolved During Combustion of Materials from Cables.

3.1.7 Exemption from the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 1, 3.1 General 3.1.4 to Pt 6, Ch 1, 3.1 General 3.1.6 for applications such as radio frequency or digital communication systems, which require the use of particular types of cable, will be subject to special consideration.

3.1.8 Where electric cables are required to remain operational in the event of a fire, they are to be of a ‘fire resistant type’, easily distinguishable from other cables and compliant with the performance requirements of the appropriate part of IEC 60331: Tests for electric cables under fire conditions – Circuit integrity, when tested with a minimum flame application time of 90 minutes, as follows:
  1. IEC 60331-21: Procedures and requirements – Cables of rated voltage up to and including 0.6/1.0 kV;
  2. IEC 60331-23: Procedures and requirements – Electric data cables;
  3. IEC 60331-25: Procedures and requirements – Optical fiber cables; or
  4. IEC 60331-31: Procedures and requirements – Cables of rated voltage up to and including 0.6/1.0 kV, where the overall diameter of the cable exceeds 20 mm.

3.1.9 Cable routes within chambers are to be kept as short as possible and are to be adequately protected where there is a risk of mechanical damage.

3.1.10 Cables and cable glands which penetrate pressure chambers are to be type tested to demonstrate their suitability for the maximum pressure variations. See Pt 6, Ch 1, 7 Electrical Pressure Hull Penetrators and Cable Connectors.

3.1.12 Underwater cables and lines must be designed for an external hydrostatic excess pressure equal to 1,3 times the maximum operating depth. The pressure resistance is to be verified by pressure-testing each made-up length after the connectors have been fitted.

3.1.13 Electric umbilicals are to be routine tested in the manufacturer's works in the presence of a LR Surveyor.

3.1.14 In cables for winding on drums, no mechanical forces may be transmitted by electrical components of the cable.


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