BS5467-GSWA-600-1000V
STA / GSWA Armoured Cable — BS 5467 and IEC 60502-1 Power Cable
British-standard armouring written onto an IEC build: GSWA as standard, STA where the schedule asks for tape, tested to BS 5467.
British contracts arrive with British codes, and the differences are specific enough that guessing costs contracts. BS 5467 covers 600/1000 V and 1900/3300 V multi-core cables with thermosetting insulation, armour and PVC sheath. Its default armour is a single layer of galvanised steel wire applied over an extruded bedding. Where a project author asks for steel tape instead — common when the route is a flat buried trench rather than a pull — the build follows IEC 60502-1 constructions and we state clearly that it is an STA variant rather than the literal BS wire-armoured default.
The single-core rule again dominates design. BS 5467 requires aluminium wire armour on single-core cables, because a ferrous layer wrapped around one conductor forms a closed magnetic loop, and the resulting induced current heats the armour continuously. Voltcore supplies AWA single-core versions alongside the multi-core GSWA range, and cross-references the LSZH equivalent, BS 6724, when the specification demands low smoke with the same BS dimensions.
Specification
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Rated voltage U0/U (Um) | 0.6/1 (1.2) kV, also available 1.9/3.3 (3.6) kV |
| Conductor | Plain or tinned annealed copper, Class 2 to BS EN 60228 |
| Core count | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3+1, 4+1 (single core uses aluminium wire armour) |
| Cross-section range | 1.5 - 400 mm² |
| Insulation | XLPE (GP 8), EPR available to BS 7655 |
| Bedding | Extruded PVC type TM 1 or halogen-free compound |
| Standard armour to BS 5467 | Single layer galvanised steel wire to BS EN 10257-1 |
| Alternative armour | Galvanised steel tape per IEC 60502-1 constructions |
| Single-core armour | Aluminium wire to BS EN 50395 test regime |
| Oversheath | PVC type 9 / TM 1, black |
| Max conductor temperature, continuous | 90 °C |
| Max conductor temperature, short circuit (5 s) | 250 °C |
| Minimum bending radius, multi-core armoured | 12 × overall diameter |
| Test voltage at 50 Hz | 3.5 kV core to earth, 5 min |
Layer-by-layer construction
Listed from the conductor outward. Read this alongside the specification table — the two together tell you whether the cable will survive its installation method.
- 1. ConductorPlain annealed copper Class 2 per BS EN 60228, circular stranded; tinned copper offered where damp conditions are expected
- 2. InsulationCross-linked polyethylene GP 8 or ethylene propylene rubber to BS 7655, extruded and cured in line
- 3. Laying-up and binderInsulated cores laid up with compatible fillers or integral bedding compounds, then closed with non-hygroscopic tape
- 4. BeddingExtruded PVC type TM 1 applied over the laid-up cores to provide a smooth bed and isolate the armour
- 5. ArmourSingle layer galvanised steel wire to BS EN 10257-1 for multi-core, or aluminium wire for single-core instead of GSWA
- 6. OversheathPVC type 9 or TM 1 extruded black, optional LSZH to BS 6724 when low-smoke performance is specified
Reference dimensions and weights
| Nominal cross-section (mm²) | Conductor structure (no./mm) | Insulation thickness (mm) | Armour wire diameter (mm) | Approx. overall diameter (mm) | Approx. net weight (kg/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×1.5 | 7/0.53 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 14.6 | 430 |
| 4×2.5 | 7/0.67 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 16.3 | 560 |
| 4×4 | 7/0.85 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 17.8 | 700 |
| 4×6 | 7/1.04 | 0.7 | 1.25 | 19.4 | 880 |
| 4×10 | 7/1.35 | 0.7 | 1.25 | 22.9 | 1290 |
| 4×16 | 7/1.70 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 25.9 | 1780 |
| 4×25 | 7/2.14 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 30.2 | 2520 |
| 4×35 | 7/2.52 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 33.6 | 3220 |
| 4×50 | 19/1.78 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 38.1 | 4260 |
| 4×70 | 19/2.14 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 43.2 | 5800 |
Reference figures for preliminary sizing and drum planning. Overall diameter and weight vary with strand construction and sheath thickness tolerance; certified drawings are issued with each quotation.
Engineering characteristics
- Manufactured to BS 5467 in both 600/1000 V and 1900/3300 V ratings, covering most UK and Commonwealth project schedules.
- Single-layer galvanised steel wire armour standard; steel tape armouring supplied as an STA variant with dimensions stated per IEC 60502-1.
- Aluminium wire armour mandatory and supplied for single-core, avoiding induced-current heating losses in the armour.
- Armour wire diameter and count documented per size so the resistance and fault-carrying capacity can be verified against the design.
- Bedding extruded rather than lapped on all standard sizes, keeping the wire layer seated and reducing sheath deformation.
- 90 °C continuous conductor operation with a 250 °C short-circuit limit, matching XLPE-rated continental equivalents.
- Halogen-free equivalents available to BS 6724 where escape routes demand it, dimensionally compatible with BS 5467 sizes.
Typical applications
- UK and Commonwealth infrastructure projects written to British Standard schedules
- Industrial plant power distribution where the consultant specifies BS rather than IEC codes
- Supply authority low-voltage networks and substation auxiliary feeds
- Underground mains feeding commercial developments and data centre campuses
- Single-core parallel runs into transformers and generators using aluminium wire armour
- Rail and transport projects requiring BS 6724 low-smoke versions of the same family
Ordering options
- 1900/3300 V constructions within BS 5467 alongside the standard 600/1000 V range
- Aluminium wire armour (AWA) for all single-core sizes instead of GSWA
- Steel tape armour variant with dimensions supplied per IEC 60502-1 rather than BS tables
- Low-smoke halogen-free oversheath to BS 6724 with matching sheath colours
- Tinned copper conductors and anti-termite sheath compounds for tropical projects
Standards manufactured to
- BS 5467
- BS 6724 (halogen-free equivalent)
- IEC 60502-1
- BS EN 60228 (conductor)
- BS EN 10257-1 (armour wire)
- BS EN 60332-1-2 (flame propagation)
Manufactured to other standards on request. Send the standard number with your RFQ and we will quote against it rather than against a near-equivalent.
Price and availability for STA / GSWA Armoured Cable to BS 5467 and IEC 60502-1
Include cross-section, core count, voltage grade, route length and installation method — those five determine price more than anything else on the page.
- Engineer-reviewed before pricing
- Reference drawings issued with the quotation
- Free sample up to free sample up to 5 m
STA / GSWA Armoured Cable to BS 5467 and IEC 60502-1 — frequently asked questions
Is the armour in BS 5467 wire or tape?
The standard answer is single-layer galvanised steel wire, applied over an extruded bedding. Steel tape armour is available and is often requested for flat buried runs, but it is supplied as an STA variant dimensioned to IEC 60502-1 rather than being the default BS construction. We state which is offered on every quotation line.
Why does single-core BS 5467 use aluminium wire armour?
A ferrous armour around a single AC conductor forms a closed magnetic circuit, so the alternating field drives circulating current through it continuously, heating the cable and wasting power. Aluminium avoids the magnetic loop. Voltcore supplies AWA single-core as standard; binding steel wire onto a single core is a specification error we flag before manufacture.
Can you cover BS 6724 low smoke as well as BS 5467?
Yes. BS 6724 is the halogen-free version of the same family, same voltage ratings and broadly compatible dimensions, with low smoke and low acid gas behaviour. Where only part of a route needs low smoke we can mix both types in one container and mark drums accordingly.
Do you manufacture to 1900/3300 V under BS 5467?
Yes, the standard covers 600/1000 V and 1900/3300 V and both are available from our Yixing plant. Insulation thickness changes between the two grades, so ampacity tables are issued per voltage class. Send the exact U0/U on the enquiry and we quote against the correct BS table.
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