APPD

CERT.
ORIGD
GENERATION ENGINEERING & MATERIALS STANDARD SPECIFICATION

GEMSS-E-29
Revision No. 01

Low Voltage Cables

Volume - 1
REVISIONS
DESCRIPTION

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
This document contains proprietary information developed by and for exclusive use of
Saudi Electricity Company. Your acceptance of the document is an acknowledgement that
it must be used for the identified purpose/application and during the period indicated. It
cannot be used or copied for any other purposes nor released to others without prior
written authorization of Saudi Electricity Company. Saudi Electricity Company will not be
responsible for misuse and/or misapplication, and any harm resulting therefrom. Saudi
Electricity Company also reserves the right to take any necessary actions to protect its
interest against unauthorized use.

Originated By Certified By Approved By

Abdul Rahim Al Harbi Khaled S. Al Rashed Tariq M. Al Tahini

DATE

Division Manager Department Manager Executive Director

Generation Projects Generation Projects Generation Engineering
Engineering & Design Engineering
& Projects

Date:- Date:- Date:-

NO.

1.

2.

3.
Generation Engineering & Materials
Standard Specifications
GEMSS-E-29,Rev.01 Volume - 1
Low Voltage Cables
Document Responsibility:- Engineering and Design Division
Next Planned Update : Based on new development & technology with the consent of designated division

Table of Contents

1.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION 2

2.0 SCOPE 2

3.0 APPLICABLE CODES AND STANDARDS 2

4.0 DESIGN CRITERIA AND SYSTEM DETAILS 2

5.0 MATERIALS 3

6.0 GENERAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS 3

7.0 MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS 5

7.1 Instrumentation and Control System 5

7.2 Electrical System 5

7.3 Field Quality and Control 5

8.0 TECHNICAL DATA SCHEDULE 5

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Document Responsibility: Engineering and Design Division Volume - 1
Next Planned Update:- Based on new development & technology GEMSS-E-29,Rev.01
with the consent of designated division Low Voltage Cables

1.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION

LV power cables shall be 1000 V grade, single core or multicore XLPE insulated, unarmoured
with a black LSF sheath.

2.0 SCOPE

This section details the technical requirements for the design, construction and testing of the low
voltage cables.

1. APPLICABLE CODES AND STANDARDS

The latest version of the following codes and standards shall be followed, unless stated
otherwise by this specification:

International Electrotechnical Commission

IEC 60228 Conductors of insulated cables

IEC 60332-3-22 Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions. Test for
vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables
Category A

IEC 60502 Cables for rated voltages of 1 kV ((Um = 1,2 kV) & 3 kV (Um = 3,6 kV)

IEC 60811 Common test methods for insulating and sheathing materials of
electric cables

Deutsches Institut fur Normung

DIN VDE 0295 Conductors of insulated cables

Proposed recommendations and requirements stated in above referenced codes and standards shall be
followed, unless stated otherwise by this Specification.

In case of any conflict between the reference codes, or this Specification and codes, the more stringent
applies.

4.0 DESIGN CRITERIA AND SYSTEM DETAILS

The plant shall be designed, constructed and installed such that every reasonable safeguard
and provision for the safety of all personnel concerned with the construction, commissioning, operation and
maintenance of the plant is incorporated.

All equipment shall be designed, constructed and installed to ensure satisfactory and safe
operation under all operating conditions including load and voltage variation, frequency variation, transients
from starts and stops, transients due to short circuits and other internal and external fault conditions.

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Document Responsibility: Engineering and Design Division Volume - 1
Next Planned Update:- Based on new development & technology GEMSS-E-29,Rev.01
with the consent of designated division Low Voltage Cables

The failure of any single electrical component or piece of equipment shall not compromise the
safe operation of the plant and shall not cause a loaded generator to trip.

The design, construction and installation of the plant shall be carried out under the consideration
of maximising the continuity of supply, availability of service and reliability.

The electrical plant and equipment shall be provided with suitable means for electrical
disconnection, isolation and earthing of connections to facilitate maintenance and reconfiguration of any part
of the electrical power system during the normal operation of the power station.

All equipment shall be of proven concept and design under commercial operation and shall be
manufactured by reputable and approved manufacturers to ensure high reliability.

Prototype or experimental equipment that has not been proven shall be excluded.

All equipment shall be designed to IEC and IEEE standards as appropriate.

5.0 MATERIALS

All equipment and components shall be new and designed and manufactured for the specific
purpose for which they shall be used within the plant.

The design, construction and installation of the plant and equipment shall be such as to minimise
the risk of the outbreak of fire and to minimise the potential and consequential injury to personnel and damage
to equipment.

Materials shall not support combustion and shall be fire retardant where possible.

6.0 GENERAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The cable conductors shall comprise of stranded, annealed, high conductivity copper.

The allowable maximum temperature of conductors shall be 90oC.

The degree of compaction of stranded conductors shall comply with DIN VDE 0295.

For power supply cables the voltage drop between the point of supply and the fixed equipment
shall be limited to four per cent [4%].

In the case of motor power supply circuits the voltage drop shall be limited to fifteen per cent
[10%] under motor starting conditions.

Part of cable system Voltage drop under load
conditions
(% nominal voltage)
Origin of installation to power 1%
sub-distribution board and
Voltage drop under motor
starting conditions
(% nominal voltage)
5%

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Document Responsibility: Engineering and Design Division Volume - 1
Next Planned Update:- Based on new development & technology GEMSS-E-29,Rev.01
with the consent of designated division Low Voltage Cables

motor control centre

Power sub-distribution board 3% 10%
to fixed equipment

Cable insulation for all power cables and multicore control cables shall be cross-linked
polyethylene (XLPE).

The insulation of each conductor shall be identified throughout its length either by colour or
embossed numbers.

All cables shall be embossed with the following information:

Name and year of manufacturer.

Type or name of insulation.

Number and size of conductors.

Standards to which the cable is manufactured.

All power and control cables shall have the length identified in a per metre basis on the outer
sheath. The voltage rating of the cable shall also be identified on the outer sheath.

The bedding and outer sheaths of cables shall have low smoke and fume characteristics.

The colour of outer sheaths shall remain stable when exposed to UV radiation and to the general
environmental conditions in which they are installed.

Cable through joints shall not be used in the installation unless the route of the cable exceeds
the maximum drum capacity. Maximum drum capacities of each cable type shall be provided.

Single core cables shall be identified by coloured tape over the conductor insulation beneath the
gland.

All cables shall comply with the test requirements of IEC 60332-3-22.

Each cable shall be identified by a securely fixed fade-free and dirt resistant identification label
adjacent to the gland at each end of the cable.

All cable cores shall be unambiguously identified at each end to ensure correlation with the
cable schedules.

Design calculations shall be submitted to demonstrate that:

The maximum continuous current carrying capacity of any power cable within the
installation will not be exceeded after taking installation dependant de-rating factors into
account,

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Document Responsibility: Engineering and Design Division Volume - 1
Next Planned Update:- Based on new development & technology GEMSS-E-29,Rev.01
with the consent of designated division Low Voltage Cables

The mechanical bursting capability of any multicore power cable will not be exceeded
under short circuit fault conditions,

The maximum short circuit rated conductor temperature will not be exceeded under fault
conditions. The initial conductor temperature shall be taken as equal to the maximum
continuously rated temperature of the insulation for the purpose of these calculations,

All calculations shall take into account abnormal running arrangements resulting from the outage
of one switchboard, transformer or circuit.

The conductor cross section of each cable shall be adequate for carrying the prospective fault
current determined by the next relevant short circuit protection device.

Short circuit fault calculations shall take full account of both the AC and DC components of the
fault current.

See GEMSS-E-43 Basic Materials and Methods for cable installation.

7.0 MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS

7.1 Instrumentation and Control System

Not applicable to this specification.

7.2 Electrical System

Not applicable to this specification.

7.3 Field Quality and Control

Routine and type tests and methods, taking account of applicable codes and standards, shall be
agreed with and approved by the Company.

8.0 TECHNICAL DATA SCHEDULE

Technical Schedule and data sheets shall be completed and submitted along with the proposal
for Company/ Engineer review. (Please refer to Volume 2).

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