In oil, gas, petrochemical, refinery and underground industrial projects, cable selection is not only about voltage and conductor size. The installation environment can expose cables to moisture, hydrocarbons, solvents, chemicals and mechanical stress. In these conditions, a lead covered armoured cable may be specified to provide an additional barrier beyond standard armour and outer sheath protection.
This guide explains when to consider EEMUA 133 lead covered armoured power cables to BS 5467, 600/1000V and 1900/3300V versions, and what information is needed before quotation.
A lead covered armoured cable uses a lead alloy sheath inside the cable construction. The lead sheath acts as a barrier against moisture, hydrocarbons, solvent penetration and corrosive attack. Armour then provides mechanical protection for direct burial, outdoor routes and industrial installations.
Typical construction may include copper conductor, XLPE insulation, PVC bedding, lead alloy sheath, PVC inner sheath, AWA or GSWA armour and PVC outer sheath. Anti-rodent or anti-termite PVC can also be considered when required by the project.
Lead covered armoured cables are normally considered for demanding environments such as oil and gas facilities, petrochemical plants, refineries, moist underground industrial routes, chemical exposure areas, marine and offshore-related projects.
For related project categories, see Oil, Gas and Petrochemical and Marine & Offshore Cable.
| Item | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Standard PVC/SWA cable | Suitable for many general industrial and building power routes when no lead sheath is required. |
| Lead covered armoured cable | Adds a lead sheath barrier for moisture, hydrocarbons, solvents and corrosive conditions. |
| Cost and handling | Usually heavier and more costly, so it should be specified when the environment or project standard justifies it. |
| Typical decision | Use standard armoured cable for normal routes; consider lead covered cable for oil, gas, refinery, chemical or moist underground routes. |
Armour selection depends on the cable design and system. For single-core AC circuits, AWA is often used because aluminium is non-magnetic. For multicore cables, GSWA or SWA is commonly used to provide mechanical protection. You can also review the Armoured Cable SWA & AWA category for related products.
Voltage rating, such as 600/1000V or 1900/3300V
Number of cores and conductor size
Required standard or project specification
Lead sheath requirement and armour type
Quantity, delivery term and destination port
Installation environment, such as direct burial, moist area or hydrocarbon exposure
BURY CABLE can support project inquiries for lead covered armoured cables, BS 5467 armoured power cables, IEC 60502 cables and other industrial cable solutions. For oil, gas and petrochemical projects, we can help review the cable schedule and propose a suitable structure based on the installation environment and project requirements.
Need lead covered armoured cable for your project? Contact BURY CABLE with your specification, quantity and destination port.
