IEC 60229:2007

IEC 60229
Edition 3.0 2007-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electric cables – Tests on extruded oversheaths with a special protective
function
Câbles électriques – Essais sur les gaines extérieures extrudées avec fonction
spéciale de protection
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IEC 60229
Edition 3.0 2007-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electric cables – Tests on extruded oversheaths with a special protective
function
Câbles électriques – Essais sur les gaines extérieures extrudées avec fonction
spéciale de protection
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
L
CODE PRIX
ICS 29.060.20 ISBN 2-8318-9338-0

– 2 – 60229 © IEC:2007
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3

1 Scope.5
2 Normative references .5
3 Routine tests .5
3.1 D.C. voltage test .6
3.2 Spark test.6
4 Type tests .6
4.1 Abrasion test .6
4.1.1 Purpose.6
4.1.2 Test procedure .6
4.1.3 Inspection.8
4.1.4 Performance requirement .8
4.2 Corrosion spread (aluminium metallic screen only).8
4.2.1 General .8
4.2.2 Test procedure .8
4.2.3 Inspection.9
4.2.4 Performance requirement .9
5 Electrical test after installation.9

Annex A (normative) Application of the abrasion test .10
Annex B (informative) Guidance on tests after installation .11

Figure 1 – Abrasion test.7

Table 1 – Vertical force on steel angle .7
Table 2 – Impulse test voltage .8

60229 © IEC:2007 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTRIC CABLES –
TESTS ON EXTRUDED OVERSHEATHS
WITH A SPECIAL PROTECTIVE FUNCTION

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
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with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60229 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 20: Electric
cables.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 1982 and constitutes a
technical revision.
The significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition are as follows:
– The text has been modified in order to consider the function of the oversheath,
irrespective of the way the metallic sheath or screen of the cable is earthed because, in
some cases, the oversheath is designed to act not only as a protection against corrosion,
but also to reduce the risk of degradation of the cable insulation system. This requirement
may be independent of the nature of the insulation and independent of the rated voltage of
the cable.
– More precise wording has been introduced regarding the application of some tests (if the
sheaths or foils are bonded to the oversheath or not).
– The test requirements have been revised in order to be in line with the standards
published after the second edition.

– 4 – 60229 © IEC:2007
– The pressure test at high temperature has been deleted as the requirement is specified in
the relevant cable standards.
– A “Guidance on tests after installation” (Annex B) has been included.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
20/901/FDIS 20/908/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
60229 © IEC:2007 – 5 –
ELECTRIC CABLES –
TESTS ON EXTRUDED OVERSHEATHS
WITH A SPECIAL PROTECTIVE FUNCTION

1 Scope
This International Standard provides a range of tests which may be required for electric
cables which have an extruded oversheath and where that oversheath performs a special
protective function.
NOTE 1 The need for the special functions may be independent of the nature of the insulation type or
independent of the rated voltage of the cable.
The standard covers cables for use in insulated systems and in uninsulated systems.
The tests are categorized for use as
a) routine tests,
b) type tests,
c) tests after installation.
These tests comprise:
− electrical routine tests on cable oversheath used in insulated or uninsulated systems,
− abrasion and corrosion spread type tests,
− electrical test on cable oversheath after installation.
Routine tests and tests after installation, as specified in the relevant cable standards, are
applicable for all situations.
Type tests depend upon the nature of the system and the construction of the cable and do not
have to be carried out for normal conditions of use.
The application of the abrasion test is given in Annex A.
NOTE 2 Guidance on tests after installation is given in Annex B.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60230, Impulse tests on cables and their accessories
IEC 62230, Electric cables – Spark test method
3 Routine tests
The electrical integrity of the oversheath shall be tested using either a d.c. voltage test (3.1)
or a spark test (3.2).
– 6 – 60229 © IEC:2007
NOTE The spark test method is not applicable when a conducting layer is already applied to the oversheath. In
such cases only the test according to 3.1 may be used.
Testing is applicable in all cases.
3.1 D.C. voltage test
A d.c. voltage of 8 kV per millimetre of the specified nominal thickness of the extruded
oversheath shall be applied for 1 min between the underlying metal layer at negative polarity
and the outer conducting layer, subject to a maximum voltage of 25 kV.
No breakdown of the oversheath shall occur during the test.
NOTE The outer conducting layer may consist of a conductive layer applied to the extruded oversheath or
obtained by immersion in water for the duration of the test.
3.2 Spark test
A spark test according to the method given in IEC 62230 shall be carried out by earthing the
underlying metallic layer for an a.c. test or connecting it to the negative pole in the case of a
d.c. supply. The voltages shall be 6 kV a.c. per millimetre or 9 kV d.c. per millimetre of the
specified nominal thickness of the extruded oversheath, subject to maximum values of 15 kV
a.c. and 25 kV d.c., respectively.
The dwell time of the cable in the region of test shall be of sufficient duration to detect any
defect.
No faults shall be detected during the test.
4 Type tests
4.1 Abrasion test
4.1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this test is to demonstrate that the extruded oversheath will withstand
abrasion during the laying operation.
The abrasion test shall be carried out if the oversheath material is not of type ST1, ST2, ST3
or ST7 compound and if the thickness does not comply with the particular IEC cable standard.
4.1.2 Test procedure
A sample of the cable, of sufficient length, shall be submitted to the bending operation given
in the bending test, as specified in the particular IEC cable standard.
After bending, the procedure specified in 4.1.2.1 shall be carried out at a temperature of (20 ±
5) °C for cases a) and b), as described in Annex A. This shall be followed by the electrical
test in 4.1.2.2 for case a) only.
4.1.2.1 Abrasion
The sample of cable shall be laid out straight and horizontal on a firm base, with the plane of
the previous bending operation in the horizontal plane. In the middle of the sample and
perpendicular to it, a length of mild steel angle shall be placed horizontally, at right angles to
the cable, with its angle edge resting on the cable and with its arms symmetrical about the
vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the cable. The outer radius of curvature of the
angle edge shall be not less than 1 mm and not greater than 2 mm (see Figure 1).

60229 © IEC:2007 – 7 –
Dimensions in millimetres
B
A
600 min.
IEC  2007/07
Key
1 force (see Table 1)  A start/finish position
2 mild steel angle B finish/start position
3 plane of bending A-B test path length (minimum)

Figure 1 – Abrasion test
The steel angle shall be vertically loaded, above the point of contact, with a force in
accordance with Table 1.
The steel angle shall be dragged horizontally along the cable for a distance not less than
600 mm at a speed of between 150 mm/s and 300 mm/s. The direction of movement shall be
reversed at the end of each pass to give 50 passes, 25 in each direction over the 600 mm test
path.
Table 1 – Vertical force on steel angle
Overall measured diameter of cable
mm
Force
Above and including Up to N
30 40 65
40 50 105
50 60 155
60 70 210
70 80 270
80 90 340
90 100 420
100 110 500
110 and above 550
– 8 – 60229 © IEC:2007
4.1.2.2 Electrical test
The middle of the cable sample, conditioned as above, shall be submerged at ambient
temperature in a 0,5 % by weight solution of sodium chloride in water containing
approximately 0,1 % by weight of a suitable non-ionic surface active agent.
After at least 24 h of constant immersion, a d.c. voltage of 20 kV shall be applied for a period
of 1 min between the saline solution and the underlying metal layer which shall be at negative
polarity.
With the middle of the cable still submerged at ambient temperature in the sodium chloride
solution, apply 10 positive, followed by 10 negative impulse voltages, in accordance with
IEC 60230, and Table 2:
Table 2 – Impulse test voltage
Rated lightning impulse withstand Impulse test
voltage of main insulation voltage voltage
(peak) (peak)
kV kV
V ≤ 325
37,5
325 < V ≤ 750
47,5
750 < V < 1 175
62,5
1 175 ≤ V < 1 550
72,5
V ≥ 1 550
4.1.3 Inspection
The cable sample shall be taken (from the solution if test following 4.1.2.2 is performed) and a
1 m length, which includes the abraded area of the extruded oversheath, shall be removed,
employing two longitudinal cuts which do not pass through the conditioned area. The test
sample shall be cleaned of foreign material.
4.1.4 Performance requirement
The oversheaths shall be deemed satisfactory provided that
a) the electrical test has been passed, where required, and
b) an examination of the sample with normal or corrected vision without magnification reveals
no cracks or splits in the internal and external surfaces.
4.2 Corrosion spread (aluminium metallic screen only)
4.2.1 General
The corrosion spread test is relevant in the case of aluminium wires, aluminium sheaths and
aluminium foils when not bonded to the oversheath. It is not applicable in the case of
aluminium sheaths or foils bonded to the oversheath.
The purpose is to demonstrate that, in the event of local damage to an oversheath, any
consequential corrosion of the outer surface of the aluminium screen will remain virtually
confined to the damaged area of covering.
4.2.2 Test procedure
a) Bending operation
A sample of cable shall be submitted to the bending procedure of the bending test, as
specified in the particular IEC cable standard.

60229 © IEC:2007 – 9 –
b) Local damage
The oversheath shall be punctured down to the aluminium sheath or wires, in four places,
by means of a core drill of 10 mm diameter. These four holes shall be arranged spirally
about the mid-portion of the cable sample, at longitudinal intervals of about 100 mm and
circumferential spacings of 90°. All material shall be removed from each hole to expose
the 10 mm diameter of bare aluminium.
c) Corrosion procedure
The sample shall be formed into a U-shape with the curved portion having a radius of
curvature not greater than specified in the bending operation above. The curved portion
shall be submerged in a 1 % solution of sodium sulphate in water at ambient temperature,
with the cable ends in the air. All four holes shall be submerged to a depth of at least
500 mm in the solution. With a d.c. voltage applied between the metallic screen and the
solution and with metallic screen at negative polarity, a current of 10 mA shall flow for a
total period of (100 ± 2) h. This value of current shall be maintained substantially constant.
This may be achieved by the inclusion of a series resistor, resistance value of about
10 kΩ, in the electrical circuit. If two or more samples are electrically tested
simultaneously, each sample shall be independently controlled (for example by being
connected through its own series resistor).
4.2.3 Inspection
The cable sample shall be taken from the solution and the oversheath removed for a length of
about 500 mm, extending to at least 100 mm beyond each of the outer holes. All other
material in this region shall be removed from the metallic screen to expose bare aluminium.
4.2.4 Performance requirement
The oversheath shall be deemed satisfactory provided that, by examination with normal or
corrected vision without magnification, there are no signs of corrosion extending more than
10 mm beyond the rim of any hole at any point.
5 Electrical test after installation
Where an ‘after installation’ test of the oversheath is performed, a d.c. voltage of 4 kV per
millimetre of specified thickness of extruded oversheath shall be applied with a maximum of
10 kV d.c. between the underlying metallic layers and the outer electrode, for a period of
1 min. All metallic layers under the oversheath shall be connected together.
This test requires that the oversheath has an outer “electrode” which may be moist backfill or
a conductive layer.
No breakdown of the oversheath shall occur during the test.

– 10 – 60229 © IEC:2007
Annex A
(normative)
Application of the abrasion test

A.1 Case a) where the oversheath is to act as an insulation:
i) where special metallic screen bonding is employed to reduce metallic sheath or screen
losses, resulting in an applied voltage to the oversheath under load and fault conditions;
ii) where the underlying metallic layer can be isolated from earth to permit a voltage to be
applied to the oversheath to check its integrity.
A.2 Case b) where the oversheath is to act as an improved protection against
corrosion:
i) where protection of the metallic layer is of significant importance;
ii) where the combination of the particular metal and the cable environment would give rise to
a serious risk of corrosion;
iii) where corrosion, plus the ingress of water, could result in degradation of the cable
insulation system.
60229 © IEC:2007 – 11 –
Annex B
(informative)
Guidance on tests after installation

Both before and after installation, testing of cable sheaths which have a conductive coating is
being per
...