General

Cable runs shall be installed well clear of substantial heat sources such as boilers, heated oil tanks, steam, exhaust or other heated pipes, unless it is ensured that the insulation type and current rating is adapted to the actual temperatures at such spaces. Cables and wiring serving essential, important or emergency equipment shall be routed clear of galleys ,machinery spaces and their casings and other high fire risk areas, except for cables supplying equipment in those spaces. If cables of different temperature classes are carried in the same bunch or pipe, the current ratings for all cables shall be based on the lower temperature class The braiding in a cable shall not be used as the neutral conductor. Low voltage power cables shall not be bunched together with, or run through the same pipes as, or be terminated in the same box as, cables for high voltage. High voltage cables shall be separated from low voltage cables and control cables by at least 300 mm unless mechanically separated by earthed metal partitions or pipes. Cables for control or monitoring circuits below 50 V shall not be run in the same bunch or pipe as cables for circuits emitting a high degree of electromagnetic disturbance, unless means to avoid interference has been provided.
Crossovers or installation of power cables and control cables beside each other are generally not considered a problem if signal cable is screened. A distance of 50 mm between power and unbraided or unscreened control cables on a cable tray is considered acceptable.

Special precautions for single core cables

When the use of single core cables or parallel connection of conductors of multicore cables is necessary for AC circuits with nominal current exceeding 20 A the following apply: Armour or braiding on single core cables shall be of non-magnetic type. If provided, the non-magnetic armour or braiding shall be earthed at one end, only. Single core cables belonging to the same circuit shall be contained within the same pipe, conduit or trunk. Clamps that fix them shall include all phases. The phases shall be laid as close as possible and preferably in a triangular formation. Magnetic material shall not be used between single core cables for one consumer. All phases belonging to the same circuit shall be run together in a common bulkhead penetration (MCT), unless the penetration system is of non-magnetic material. Unless installed in a triangular formation, the distance between the cables and magnetic material shall be 75 mm.

 Circuits with several single core cables for each phase (forming groups) shall follow the same route and have the same cross sectional area. The cables belonging to the same phase shall as far as practicable alternate with those of the other phases, so that an unequal division of current is avoided.

Accessible cable runs

Cable runs shall be accessible for later inspection, except cables carried in pipes. When cable runs are carried behind wall lining in accommodation spaces (except when carried in pipes), the panels shall be hinged or fixed for example by screws, so that they can be removed for inspection without damaging the cable or the bulkhead. Exceptions can be made for cables to light fittings, switches, socket outlets etc. in dry accommodation spaces, when the deck head and bulkhead constructions are made of incombustible materials. Support and fixing of cables and cable runs

Cable ladders, trays and cable pipes shall not be used for carrying water, oil or steam pipes.
Hydraulic pipes for valve control are exempted. Other exemptions may be considered in each case. Cable ladders and trays with their fixing devices shall be made of steel adequately protected against corrosion or type tested non-metallic materials with equal properties. When fixed to aluminium structures, aluminium alloy cable ladders and trays may be used. Other materials may be accepted upon special consideration. Cable trays or protective casings made of plastic materials shall be supplemented by metallic fixing and straps such that in event of a fire they, and the cable affixed, are prevented from falling and causing an injury to personnel and/or an obstruction to any escape route. The support spacing shall not be greater than manufacturer's recommendation nor in excess of spacing at the SWL test. In general the spacing shall not exceed 2 m. (IACS UR E 16).

Mechanical protection of cables and cable runs

Cables shall be so installed that they are not likely to suffer mechanical damage. If necessary, they shall be protected by providing the cable runs with covers of plates, profiles or grids, or by carrying the cables in pipes. All cables that may be exposed to mechanical damage, shall be protected by covers of steel plates, steel grids or profiles, or by being carried in steel pipes, e.g. on weather decks in cargo hold areas, and through cargo holds.

Cable bends
The internal radius of low voltage cable bends, which are not subjected to movement by expansion, shall be in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendation, but normally, not less than 6D The minimum internal bending radius for high voltage cables shall be in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations

Fixing of cables
Cables shall be fixed by clips, saddles or bands, except when carried in pipes.When cables are fixed on a tray by means of clips or straps of non metallic material, and these cables are not laid on top of horizontal cable trays or supports, metallic cable clips or saddles shall be added at regular distances (e.g. 1 to 2 m) in order to retain the cable during a fire. Flame retardant polymer material may be used for cable fixing if the material is resistant to heat and light radiation, affecting the material during the lifetime of the offshore unit. The spacing between supports or fixing shall be suitably chosen according to the type of cable and the probability of offshore unit movement and vibration at the actual point of installation, Cables shall be supported so close to an enclosure entry through a cable gland that it runs straight through the gland, and the gland does not take up any mechanical forces from the cable. When cables are installed on top of horizontal ladders or trays, the fixing distance may be 3 times larger than given in Table C3. However, when cable runs are subjected to water splashing on weather decks the maximum distance between fixings of cable and its support (cable trays or pipes) shall be 500 mm. When cable runs are installed directly on aluminium structures, fixing devices of aluminium shall be used. For mineral insulated cables with copper sheath, fixing devices in metallic contact with the sheath shall be of copper alloy.

Fixing of single core cables

In order to guard against the effects of electrodynamic forces developing on the occurrence of a short circuit or earth fault, single core cables shall be firmly fixed, using supports of strength adequate to withstand the dynamic forces corresponding to the prospective fault current at that point of the installation. The fixing clamps of the cables should not damage the cable when the forces affect the cables during a 1 s short circuit period.

Cables across expansion joints

The installation of electric cables across expansion joints in any structure shall be avoided. Where this is not practicable, a loop of electric cable of length sufficient to accommodate the expansion of the joint shall be provided. The internal radius of the loop shall be at least 12 times the external diameter of the cable. All cables shall be fastened on each side of an expansion loop, such that all relative movement between structure and cable is taken up at this point, and not in the rest of the cable run.

Cable trays along main decks

The cables shall be fixed to the tray as required by 500, and at each expansion and compression point, the cable shall have adequate room for bending and stretching. .