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1.

CABLES

1.1

General

1.1.1

All main and sub-circuit cables shall be installed in conduits,

trunking, trays and ladders as appropriate. All the mains, sub-mains
and final sub-circuits shall include insulated earthing conductor
sized in accordance with SS CP 5. Earthing conductors shall be of
flame retardant, low smoke zero halogen (LSOH) and anti-termite
type.

1.1.2

Armour circuits cables shall be used for all circuits installed within
tunnels.

1.1.3

The current carrying capacities and voltage drops of cables shall be

in accordance with SS CP5, with ratings adjusted to suit local
conditions.

1.1.4

The minimum size of cables to be used for general shall be as

specified herein, unless otherwise specified:
Lighting (10A) circuit
Small Power
Control
Underground cables

1.1.5

:
:
:
:

2.5sq.mm
2.5sq.mm
1.5sq.mm or 2.5sq.mm
4sq.mm

The minimum size of cables to be used in Tunnel shall be as

specified herein, unless otherwise specified:
Lighting (10A) circuit
Small Power
Control
Underground cables

:
:
:
:

4sq.mm
4sq.mm
1.5sq.mm or 2.5sq.mm
4sq.mm

1.1.6

Normal, essential and control cables shall be installed in separate

cable containments.

1.1.7

General Requirements for ECS

1.1.7.1

The type of cables to be supplied and installed by the Contractor

shall be in accordance with the Drawings.

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1.1.7.2

All cables shall be fire retardant type except for those serving
essential equipment such as fans for tunnel exit staircases and
tunnel jet fans, and their associated automatic damper assemblies,
where fire resistant cables shall be used.

1.1.7.3

All cables running inside the tunnels shall be armoured for

mechanical protection.

1.1.8

Type of Cables for FPS

1.1.8.1

Cables from the manual call points, flow switches, heat detectors,
smoke detectors, pumps and electrically-supervised gate valve
switches to MAPs and control panels, shall be fire resistant, low
smoke and halogen free. The cabling for the Fire Alarm System
devices shall be of twisted pair screened cables to prevent
electromagnetic interference.

1.1.8.2

The Colour Coding of cable core colour shall comply with the latest
SS CP5 requirements.

1.2

600/1000 Va.c. Cables

1.2.1

All normal circuits cabling shall be of non-armoured flame retardant,

LSOH and anti-termite type within the Facility Building.

1.2.2

All circuit serving essential equipment required to operate under fire

conditions shall be of the fire resistant type, LSOH and anti-termite
type.

1.2.3

All circuit cabling originating from essential switchboards and its

sub-boards thereof shall be of the non-armoured, fire resistant,
LSOH and anti-termite type.

1.2.4

All circuit cabling for tunnels shall be of the armoured, LSOH and
anti-termite type.

1.2.5

All electrical cables within the tunnel shall be of the same size
throughout the installation. Reduction is cable size is not permitted
unless proven and agreed by Superintending Officer.

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1.2.6

Fire resistant,
requirements:

LSOH

materials

shall

meet

the

following

(a)

IEC 61034 and BS EN 50268-2 Measurement of Smoke

Density of Cables burning under defined conditions.

(b)

IEC 60331 Tests for Electric Cables under fire conditions

circuit integrity.

(c)

Limiting Oxygen Index of at least 30, to ASTM D-2863

(d)

Temperature Index of 260oC, to ASTM D-2863

(e)

All insulation is to be moisture and heat resistant, with

temperature ratings appropriate to the application conditions
and in no case lower than 90oC

(f)

When a sample of cable is subjected to the combustion test

for the determination of the amount of halogen acid gases
(other than hydrofluoric acid) as set out in IEC 60754-1 and
the amount of halogen acid evolved is less than 5mg/g, the
cable shall be regarded as zero halogen.

(g)

BS 6387 Fire and Mechanical Test Categories C, W, Z

1.2.7

Steel wire armouring for the cabling shall comply with BS EN

10257-1 and the entire assembly shall meet the requirements of BS
5467.

1.2.8

Flame retardant, LSOH materials shall meet the requirements of the

following:

1.2.9

(a)

IEC 60332 Tests on Electric and Optical Fibre Cables under

fire conditions.

(b)

The flame propagating criteria of US IEEE Standard 383,

with a minimum test short-circuit time of five minutes, in the
IEEE Standard 383 test.

The above requirements shall be met without compromising the

anti-termite (to comply with NEA regulations), mechanical and

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electrical properties of the cables, both during and after installation,

to meet the other requirements of the specification.
1.2.10

Armoured cables shall be used for underground cables.

1.2.11

PVC cables shall not permit for electrical installation within facility
building. All cables shall be 600/1000V grade. The conductor shall
be of stranded conductor of plain annealed copper wire complying
with IEC 60228 Class 2.

1.3

Colour Coding

1.3.1

The cable core colour code shall comply with the latest Singapore
Standard CP5 requirements.

1.3.2

The outer sheath of the cables shall be an extruded layer of either

flame retardant or fire resistant material in accordance with Clause
1.2.6. The colour of the outer sheath shall be either black or other
colour accepted by the Superintending Officer.

1.4

Armoured Cable

1.4.1

12.4.1 All cables installed in the tunnels shall be insulated, wire

armoured, sheathed and rated 600/1000V.

1.4.2

All multi-core armoured shall be single galvanised steel wire type.

The armoured cables shall comply with BS 6346 for PVC insulated
type and BS 5467 for XLPE insulated type. Single core armoured
cables shall of non-magnetic type.

1.4.3

Compression glands shall comply with BS 6121 and shall be

designed for the termination and clamping of armour wires and shall
be fitted with an earth bond terminal attachment. The function of the
gland shall be to secure the armour wires and provide electrical
continuity between the armour and the threaded fixing component
of the gland, and to give water-tight seals between the cable outer
sheath and the gland and between the inner sheath and threaded
fixing components. The armour for cables in the tunnel shall not be
used as earth conductor. All cable glands shall be completes with a
low smoke zero halogen cable shroud.

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1.4.4

Where a watertight seal is required between the gland and

equipment then the cable glands shall be equipped with entry
thread seals. This is to maintain the IP rating across the equipmentgland interface, and such seals shall be fitted to the external side of
the equipment. Earth tags/earth bond terminal connections shall not
be fitted externally to the equipment if entry thread seals are used.

1.4.5

Jointing and terminating accessories shall include all necessary

internal and external fittings and insulating materials. They shall
also include precisely dimensioned cable stripping ferrules and the
mechanical gland designs. It should be possible to erect and
dismantle compression glands without the use of special tools.

1.4.6

All cables entering or leaving equipment shall be provided with

separate termination and be spaced so that any one cable out of a
number of such cables can be removed without disturbing the
remainder.

1.4.7

Cable armour shall be earthed at both ends of cable circuit.

1.5

Control and Sensing Cables

1.5.1

Control and sensing cables, operating on less than 230 Va.c. supply
shall be of minimum rated at 300/500V grade, copper conductor,
twisted pair, insulated and sheathed with a flame retardant, LSOH
material. Fire resistant cables shall be used for critical circuits.
600/1000V cables shall be used for control cables operating on
230Va.c.supply.

1.5.2

All control and sensing cable shall be appropriately colour coded

and shall be installed in its own cable support system (E.g. conduit,
tray, trunking etc). Sharing with power and lighting cable support
system is not allowed.

1.6

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or PVC/PVC Cables

1.6.1

Cable PVC-insulated only and PVC-insulated PVC-sheathed cable

shall be 600/1000 volt grade and shall be manufactured according
to British Standard BS 6004:1969 or SS 50:1971.

1.6.2

The cable shall be delivered to site on reels, with seals and labels
intact and shall be of one manufacturer throughout the installation.

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1.6.3

The cable shall be installed direct from the reels and any cable
which has become kinked, twisted or damaged in any way shall be
rejected. The installation shall be wired on the loop-in system ie.
wiring shall terminate at definite points (switch positions, lighting
points, etc) and no intermediate connections or joints will be
permitted. Cables shall not pass through or terminate in lighting
fittings.

1.6.4

Where it is necessary to make direct connection between the hard

wiring and flexible cord, this shall be done means of porcelainshielded connectors with twin screws.

1.6.5

The terminations shall be suitable for the type of terminal provided

and shall be either sweated lugs of appropriate size, or eyelet or
crimped type cable terminations, all of reputable manufacture.

1.6.6

Where cable cores are larger than terminal holes, the cables shall
be fitted with thimbles. For all single connections, they shall be
doubled or twisted back on themselves and pinching screws shall
not be permitted to cut the conductor. Cables shall be firmly twisted
together before the connection is made.

1.6.7

In no circumstances shall cables be trapped under plain washers as

a termination.

1.6.8

Cables shall be coloured in accordance with Singapore Standard

CP5:1998.

1.6.9

Only two cables shall generally be bunched together at one terminal.

1.6.10

In exceptional cases three cables may be bunched together at one

terminal with the authority of the Superintending Officer given on
site.

1.6.11

PVC cable shall be used in conduit or trunking.

1.6.12

PVC/PVC cable shall be used on cable tray.

1.6.13

Cables shall be strapped or tied to the cable support system using

stainless steel cable ties or strappings.

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1.6.14

The stainless steel cable ties and strap shall be tested and
approved for used in fire resistant wiring systems with minimum
grade of 304.

1.6.15

The spacing of the straps/ties shall conform to the manufacturer

recommendation but shall in all cases not exceed 1 metre interval.

1.7

Signal and Control Cables for ECS

1.7.1

Signal and control cables shall comply with the following

requirements:
(a)

(b)

Conductors
(1)

The conductors shall be of stranded, high conductivity

annealed copper wire complying with all the
requirements of IEC 60228. The minimum size of the
conductors shall be 1.5 mm or equivalent. Detail of
signal and control cable sizing, selection, calculations
and supporting document shall be submitted for
Superintending Officers acceptance.

(2)

Cables for fixed installations shall have conductors

with stranding to Class 2 of IEC 60228, and flexible
cables shall have stranded conductors to Class 5 of
IEC 60228.

(3)

Conductors shall be smooth, uniform in quality, free

from scale, spills, splits and any other defects. There
shall be no joints in individual strands.

(4)

All cables shall be rated at 300/500V grade, copper

core, and twisted pair and insulated. 600/1000V shall
be used for cables on 230V supply.

Pairs
The insulated cores shall be twisted together to form pairs.

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(c)

Screening
(1)

Screening shall be achieved by the use of laminated

tape, consisting of an aluminium foil bonded to a
polyester film for strength, applied to the cable with an
overlap so that the conductors are fully covered.

(2)

A drain wire or continuity conductor, laid under and in

contact with the aluminium foil shall be provided and
shall be in accordance with BS EN 5028 clauses 7 and
10, as appropriate. The tinned annealed copper
conductor, which may be of solid or stranded
construction, in keeping with current manufacturing
techniques, shall have a minimum area of 0.5 mm.

(3)

The maximum resistance of the drain wire or continuity

conductor provided shall meet the requirements of BS
6360.

1.8

Fibre Optic Cable

1.8.1

Fibre optic cables shall comply with the following requirements:

1.8.1.1

The cable shall comply with the International Telegraph and

Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT) Recommendations
G.652.

1.8.1.2

Construction Requirements
(a)

Moisture barrier shall be one side plastic coated aluminium

tape (0.15mm) with flooding compound.

(b)

All fibre optic cables shall be protected from inadvertent

damage using Kevlar strength members, steel or aluminium
jackets and shall be fire resistant.

(c)

The minimum bending radius of fibre optic cable under long

term tensile load shall be less than or equal to ten times the
overall cable diameter.

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(d)

(e)

Mechanical Requirements
(1)

The allowed pulling tension of the cable shall not be

less than 300kgf.

(2)

Bending radius at the rated pulling tension specified

above shall be approximately 20 times the outer
diameter.

(3)

Bending radius without pulling tension shall be

approximately 10 times the outer diameter.

Environmental Requirements
The cable shall be capable of operating at temperatures up
to 60C.

(f)

Testing
(1)

Test methods of the cable shall conform to the CCITT

G.652.

(2)

Test results and certificates shall be submitted for the

Superintending Officer's acceptance.

1.9

Optical Patch Cord and Pigtail

1.9.1

Optical patch cord and pigtail shall comply with the following
requirements:
(a)

Standard
(1)

The optical patch cord and pigtail shall comply with the
International Telegraph and Telephone Consultation
Committee (CCITT) Recommendations G.652.

(2)

The optical patch cord and pigtail shall have same

performance as fibre optic cable specified in this
section.

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(b)

(c)

Accessories
(1)

Optical patch cords shall be provided to connect the

optical terminal to the patch panel.

(2)

All spare fibre couplers shall be protected with LSOH

jackets.

(3)

Fibre organisers shall be provided in the combined

distribution frame and the light guide distribution case
to coil up the excess length of pigtail and patch cords.

Splicing
(1)

The splicing loss shall not exceed 0.1 dB per splice.

(2)

The splice shall be protected and housed in a light

guide shelf.

(d)

Connectors

(e)

All optical connectors shall comply with the CCITT

Recommendation G.652.

(f)

Cable Joint
(1)

All fibre joints shall be protected by a suitable

mechanical closure and conforming to IP65.

(2)

The joint must be airtight and water proof without

using any filling compound.

(3)

Fibre organiser shall be provided to store excess

length of fibre cores inside the joint.

(4)

The joint shall be so designed to allow re-entry and reuse after installation.

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(g)

Splicing Kit
(1)

The Contractor shall provide all splicing kits and splice

enclosures as necessary to complete the installation of
optical fibre cables in accordance with the
specification. Full details of the proposed kits and
enclosures shall be submitted for the Superintending
Officer's acceptance.

(2)

The splicing kit shall not in anyway cause degradation

of the optical characteristics of the fibre and shall be
sufficient to ensure a splice loss of not more than 0.1
dB.

(3)

The splice enclosures shall be of fibre reinforced

plastic or equivalent and shall be of sufficient capacity
to splice the cables of capacity define under the
various alternatives for the number of fibres contained
within the cable. The Contractor shall state the
maximum capacity of each splice enclosure offered to
satisfy the differing capacity requirements.

(4)

The splice enclosures shall comply with the following:

(i)

Water tight sealed doors shall be provided for

protection against water penetration.

(ii)

Strain relief glands for the incoming cables and

an anchor for the scale strength member shall
be provided.

(iii)

Saddles and organisers shall be provided for

splice management.

(iv)

"Knock-outs" or similar shall be provided at the

bottom of the enclosure for glanding-off the
optical fibre cable.

(v)

Self threading screws shall not be used in the

splice enclosure or its mounting arrangement.

(vi)

The splicing loss shall not exceed 0.1 dB/splice.

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(vii)

The splice shall be protected and housed in a

light guide shelf.

1.10

Cable Installation

1.10.1

All cables shall be adequately protected against risk of mechanical

damage to which they may be liable in normal condition of service.

1.10.2

All cables shall be installed in accordance with SS CP5.

1.10.3

Where single-core cables are used for 3-phase circuits, the cables
shall be grouped in trefoil and spaced from other cables.

1.10.4

Where cable pass through fire-rated floors and walls, the openings
made shall be sealed with fire-resistant material of fire rating equal
to or higher than the fire rating of the floors or walls.

1.10.5

All cables installed on cable trays and ladders shall be properly

fixed by LSOH nylon cable ties. Metal type and coated with
corrosive resistance and flame retardant material cable ties shall be
provided for fire resistance cable fixing.

1.10.6

Where cables pass through expansion joints, the cables shall be

formed into loop that shall be of such size that any movement in the
joint shall not stress the cables.

1.10.7

All cables installed at low level up to 1.5 meters from the finished
floor level shall be adequately protected by perforated cable tray.

1.10.8

All cables shall be concealed behind architectural finishes and the

cable routing shall be properly co-ordinated with Civil Contractors
(ER296) for any recesses, openings etc. They shall be run neatly
and vertically, horizontally or match the features of the facility
building.

1.10.9

All cables runs shall be continuous and without joints unless

acceptance has expressly been granted by the Superintending
Officer. Any unauthorised and undeclared joint and splices will be
rejected and the Contractor shall replace the full length of cable run.

1.10.10

Where cable joints have been accepted by the Superintending

Officer, only approved connections in accessible junction boxes
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where joints are specifically approved by the Superintending Officer

shall be used for cable jointing. Every connection at a cable joint
shall be mechanically and electrically sound, be protected against
mechanical damage and any vibration liable to occur, shall not
impose any appreciable mechanical strain on the fixings of the
connection and shall not cause any mechanical damage to the
cable conductors. Joints shall be appropriate to the size and type of
cables which they are used. The appropriate tools specified by the
manufacturers of the joint connectors shall be used. Cables cleats
shall be of the moulded reinforced nylon type.
1.10.11

Cables shall be terminated using suitably chosen cable lugs and

glands.

1.10.12

A flame retardant non-PVC shroud shall be fitted to cover the cable

lug.

1.10.13

Cable Identification

1.10.14

(a)

All cables shall be provided with identification markers for

identification of circuit number and phase, at each end of the
cable, at entry and exit points of cable installed in ducts and
in such other position as are necessary to identify and trace
the route of any cable.

(b)

Cable identification shall be assembled from elliptical profiled

LSOH markers, carrier strips and nylon ties.

(c)

Every single core cable and every core of multi-core cables

shall be provided with identification at its termination in form
of tapes sleeves or discs of appropriate colours and alpha
numeric notation in accordance with the latest revision of
CP5.

Cables Installed Underground

(a)

All underground cables shall be drawn in appropriate pipes.

Concrete encasement around pipes containing the
underground cables shall be provided for protection purpose.
Cables passing under roadway shall be minimum 1000mm
deep. The depths may be varied in certain circumstances
due to the proximity of cables or other services.

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(b)

Non-armoured single core power cables shall be physically

protected from damage.

(c)

Armoured cables buried in open ground shall have a layer of

cable tiles or similar approved material laid above the buried
cable. Cable tiles shall be of the cast type and be marked
Electrical Cable. Alternatively, PVC marker type may be
used.

(d)

Cable route markers shall be installed at changes of direction

and at 1500mm intervals on straight runs of cables.

(e)

Cables shall be installed without tees or through joints unless

otherwise accepted by the Superintending Officer.

(f)

Where cables are laid in concrete troughs, the troughs shall

be filled with suitable sieved sand.

1.11

Marshalling Boxes and Wall-Mounting Fittings

1.11.1

Marshalling boxes for collecting cables feeding a common item or

equipment shall be of the wall-mounting pattern with double
terminals. Details of proposed cabling to marshalling boxes shall be
submitted to the Superintending Officer for acceptance before
installation.

1.11.2

Marshalling boxes and any other wall-mounting fittings shall be

mounted with an air-gap between the back of the fitting and the wall.

1.12

Terminal Blocks for Control and Signalling Wiring

1.12.1

Terminal blocks shall be of the Insulation Displacement Connection

(IDC) type complying with IEC 947-7-1 standard. The IDC terminal
block shall use a C-shaped jaw working in an elastic warping zone
to pierce through the insulation of a cable to form an electrical
connection capable of absorbing shocks and vibrations (exceeding
VDE 0611 standards requirement). The C-shaped jaw shall ensure
that electrical connections with copper core(s) remain secure and
maintenance free even after many years of use in varying
temperature cycles. The C-shaped jaw shall be of iron-free copper
alloy material thereby giving minimal bimetallic or galvanic effects
when connected to copper core(s). Cable connections to an IDC

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terminal block shall be vapour tight; with the only exposed copper
surfaces from the cable in contact with the C-shaped jaw, which is
tightly wrapped round by the insulating material of the cable.
Insertion of cables into IDC terminal blocks shall be done with a
semi-automatic full cycle tool which guarantees consistent quality
electrical connections.
1.13

Bonding of equipment to Lightning Protection System

1.13.1.1

The Contractor shall bond all exposed metal parts of equipment

installed outdoor, for example the packaged condensing units etc.,
to the Lightning Protection system.

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