Professional cable manufacturer
BS 5467 · 2 × 16 mm² · conductor 4.8 mm · overall 19 mm · 900 kg/km · 115 A in air · direct burial
0.6/1 kV Cu/XLPE/SWA/PVC 16 mm² 2-Core Armoured Power Cable
A single-phase 2 × 16 mm² armoured LV feeder: copper conductors to IEC 60228 Class 2, XLPE insulation, galvanised steel wire armour and a black PVC over-sheath. 19 mm overall, 900 kg/km, 115 A in air at 30 °C and 100 A direct buried.
2 × 16 mm²
Core configuration
19 mm
Overall diameter
900 kg/km
Weight
115 A
In air at 30 °C
↓ Download Datasheet (PDF)
Made to BS 5467, IEC 60502
Conductor 4.8 mm, Class 2 to IEC 60228
Direct burial and duct
MOQ 500 m — sample orders accepted
2 × 16 mm² ARMOURED POWER CABLE · 0.6/1 kV
2 × 16 mm²Line and neutral, no separate PE
19 mmNominal overall diameter
900 kg/kmNominal weight
1.15 Ω/kmConductor resistance at 20 °C
8 × DBending radius, ≈152 mm at laying
Key Specifications
The essentials, at a glance
The numbers that decide whether a 2 × 16 mm² armoured feeder suits the route — with the size it sits between, so the step up or down is one glance away.
4.8 mm
Conductor diameter, Class 2
0.7 mm
XLPE insulation thickness
1.25 mm
Armour wire diameter
100 A
Direct buried at 20 °C
3.7 Ω/km
Armour resistance at 20 °C
−20…+90 °C
Operating range
Product Overview
Where a 2 × 16 mm² armoured cable belongs
This page is the 2 × 16 mm² member of the BS 5467 armoured LV family: two copper conductors of 16 mm² each, XLPE insulated, laid up with an extruded PVC bedding, armoured with a single layer of galvanised steel wires and finished with a black PVC over-sheath. The published numbers for this exact size are a conductor diameter of 4.8 mm, 0.7 mm of XLPE insulation, 1.25 mm armour wires, a 19 mm overall diameter, a weight of 900 kg/km and a conductor resistance of 1.15 Ω/km at 20 °C.
Two cores means line and neutral, and nothing else. There is no separate protective conductor inside this cable. The steel wire armour can serve as the circuit protective conductor where it is effectively earthed at both ends and the local wiring regulations permit it, and its resistance — 3.7 Ω/km for this size — is the figure that assessment uses. Where a separate PE is required by the project, order 3 × 16 mm² (or a 3 + 1 arrangement) instead of assuming the two-core cable can be made to serve. This is the single most common misunderstanding about two-core armoured cable, and it is worth settling before the order rather than at the joint bay.
The cable is a single-phase feeder: domestic and commercial submains, outbuilding and gate supplies, pump and borehole feeds, and street or site lighting circuits where the run is long enough that 10 mm² would give an unacceptable voltage drop. The step from 2 × 10 mm² (650 kg/km, 17 mm, 86 A in air) to this size is real but modest; the step up to 2 × 25 mm² (1200 kg/km, 23 mm, 149 A in air) is a different drum and a different pull. Table 1 puts the four sizes side by side for exactly that reason.
On installation: the armour is there so the cable can be direct buried or pulled into a duct without a separate conduit system, and so that vehicle loading and rodent activity over a backfilled trench do not end the cable’s service life. At 8 × overall diameter, the laying radius for this size is roughly 152 mm, which is comfortable to achieve by hand in a normal trench — this is the size where armoured LV cable is genuinely easy to install, unlike the larger four-core sections. The armour is not an EMC screen; it is mechanical protection, and specifying it as a screen is a separate discussion.
Everything here comes from the published data for this construction, and it is re-confirmed on the drawing before the drum is made. Where a value is not published — the insulation resistance of the finished length, for example, which is a manufacturer routine-test result — the page says so rather than printing a plausible figure. For the full family including the four-core sections, see the Cu/XLPE/SWA/PVC 0.6/1 kV armoured power cable page.
More about the manufacturer: About SORIVO →
Key Features
Eight things to check on a 2 × 16 mm² armoured feeder
2 × 16 mm² Construction
Two 16 mm² copper conductors with a 4.8 mm conductor diameter, XLPE insulated at 0.7 mm, laid up under a PVC bedding.
No Separate PE
This is a line-and-neutral cable. Earthing must come from the armour, where the regulations permit it, or from a three-core or 3 + 1 construction ordered instead.
Armour Resistance 3.7 Ω/km
The published armour resistance for this size — the figure an earth-fault loop or armour continuity assessment actually needs.
19 mm Overall Diameter
One of the practical advantages of a two-core armoured cable: a 19 mm cable glands easily, bends by hand and fits standard LV glands and cleats.
Direct Burial and Duct
Rated for direct burial and for pulling into duct. The steel wire armour is what makes backfill loading and rodent activity survivable.
115 A / 100 A Ratings
Published at two reference conditions — in air at 30 °C and direct buried at 20 °C. The buried figure is 13 % lower, and your route decides which one applies.
1.15 Ω/km at 20 °C
The conductor resistance for voltage-drop work, remembering that it rises by roughly 20 % at the 90 °C conductor temperature.
3.5 kV / 5 min Routine Test
Every completed length is withstand-tested at 3.5 kV AC for five minutes, with conductor resistance recorded against the drum.
Applications
Where a 2 × 16 mm² armoured cable is used
Single-phase feeders that have to go underground or through a route that will not stay tidy.
01
Outbuilding and Garage Supplies
A single-phase submains run from a house or main board to a garage, workshop or outbuilding, buried in a trench at a length where 10 mm² would drop too much voltage.
02
Gate, Barrier and Driveway Power
Supplies to electric gates, barriers and driveway lighting where the route crosses ground that gets driven over and the cable must be armoured for the load.
03
Pump and Borehole Feeders
Single-phase feeds to pumps and boreholes, buried or ducted, where a 2-core armoured cable is the standard choice and the earth path is taken from the armour.
04
Street and Site Lighting
Column and pole lighting circuits fed from a single-phase supply, direct buried along the run and glanded into the base compartment.
05
Temporary and Event Distribution
Single-phase distribution where the cable is laid on the ground, walked on and driven over for the duration of a project and then recovered.
06
Small Commercial Submains
Retail, workshop and light-industrial unit supplies fed single-phase from a landlord’s board, sized where the run length rules out a smaller section.
07
Agricultural and Remote Supplies
Sheds, stock buildings and remote equipment where the cable is direct buried across open ground and rodent damage is a real maintenance risk.
08
Generator and Changeover Feeds
Single-phase generator connections and changeover supplies where the run is fixed, buried and needs mechanical protection rather than a flexible cord.
Technical Specifications
Full specification sheet
The complete parameter set — the same data our engineers quote from.
Table 1 Neighbouring two-core sizes — 2 × 10, 2 × 16, 2 × 25 and 2 × 35 mm²
| Cores × size (mm²) | Conductor dia. (mm) | Insulation (mm) | Bedding (mm) | Steel wire dia. (mm) | Overall dia. (mm) | Weight (kg/km) | R20 (Ω/km) | In air 30 °C (A) | Buried 20 °C (A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 × 10 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 17 | 650 | 1.83 | 86 | 77 |
| 2 × 16 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.25 | 19 | 900 | 1.15 | 115 | 100 |
| 2 × 25 | 5.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.25 | 23 | 1200 | 0.727 | 149 | 129 |
| 2 × 35 | 6.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 26 | 1700 | 0.524 | 185 | 155 |
The neighbouring two-core sizes are shown so the step from 2 × 10 mm² to 2 × 35 mm² is visible in one place: 650 kg/km and 17 mm at 2 × 10 mm², 900 kg/km and 19 mm at 2 × 16 mm², 1700 kg/km and 26 mm at 2 × 35 mm². The 2 × 16 mm² row is highlighted. Overall diameter, weight and current ratings are nominal manufacturer values for this construction, not guaranteed limits, and the current-rating columns are the two manufacturer reference conditions — in air at 30 °C and direct buried at 20 °C — rather than a single "rated current".
Table 2 Construction and performance parameters for 2 × 16 mm²
| General Information | |
| Product Name | 0.6/1 kV Cu/XLPE/SWA/PVC 16 mm² 2-Core Armoured Power Cable |
| Product Family | Two-core copper conductor, XLPE insulated, steel wire armoured, PVC sheathed low-voltage power cable to BS 5467 |
| Reference Standards | BS 5467; IEC 60502 for the 0.6/1 kV extruded-insulation construction; conductor to IEC 60228 Class 2; flame retardance to IEC 60332-1-2. |
| Rated Voltage U₀/U | 0.6/1 kV |
| Core Configuration | 2 cores — line and neutral. There is no separate protective conductor in this construction; a separate PE requires a 3-core or 3 + 1 arrangement. |
| Dimensional Data (this size) | |
| Conductor Cross-Section | 2 × 16 mm² |
| Conductor Diameter | 4.8 mm |
| Conductor Shape | Circular stranded (RM), Class 2 |
| Insulation Thickness | 0.7 mm nominal |
| Bedding Thickness | 0.8 mm nominal |
| Armour Wire Diameter | 1.25 mm nominal |
| Overall Diameter | 19 mm nominal |
| Approximate Weight | 900 kg/km |
| Electrical Ratings (this size) | |
| Conductor Resistance at 20 °C | 1.15 Ω/km |
| Armour Resistance at 20 °C | 3.7 Ω/km |
| Current Rating, in Air 30 °C | 115 A |
| Current Rating, Direct Buried 20 °C | 100 A |
| Max. Conductor Temperature | +90 °C continuous, the XLPE rating |
| Short-Circuit Conductor Temperature | +250 °C maximum, taken as the IEC 60502-1 short-circuit condition for XLPE-insulated copper cable, limited to 5 s |
| Test Voltage | 3.5 kV AC for 5 minutes on the completed cable |
| Insulation Resistance | Manufacturer routine-test value, confirmed against the report for the supplied drum |
| Voltage Drop | Approximately 2 × 1.15 Ω/km = 2.3 Ω/km for a single-phase circuit at 20 °C. Correct the resistance to the operating temperature and add the reactance term before using it for a final design. |
| Construction | |
| Conductor | Plain annealed copper, Class 2 stranded to IEC 60228 |
| Insulation | Extruded XLPE, 0.7 mm nominal |
| Core Identification | Blue and brown, confirmed against the drawing for the ordered construction |
| Bedding | Extruded PVC over the laid-up cores |
| Armour | Single layer galvanised steel wires, 1.25 mm nominal diameter |
| Outer Sheath | PVC, black |
| Environment | |
| Operating Temperature Range | −20 °C to +90 °C — the range published for this construction |
| Minimum Installation Temperature | 0 °C. Below this the PVC bedding and sheath stiffen; warm the drum area or postpone the pull rather than forcing the cable. |
| Bending Radius when Laying | 8 × overall diameter, the manufacturer figure for this construction. The final radius should be confirmed against the applicable standard and the actual installation method. |
| Weather Resistance | Rated good for outdoor and buried service by the manufacturer data sheet. |
| Flame Retardance | IEC 60332-1-2 — single insulated cable vertical flame propagation |
| Rodent and Termite | The steel wire armour is the barrier. It is a mechanical layer, not a chemical one, so it resists gnawing rather than repelling it. |
| Configuration & Logistics | |
| Standard Lengths | 100 m / 500 m / 1000 m per drum; cut lengths on request |
| Packaging | Wooden drum, coil or custom packaging |
| Customization | Sheath colour, cut length, drum type and customer marking |
| Halogen-Free Variant | The same size is available with a BS 6724 halogen-free sheath — quoted on request |
| MOQ | 500 m — sample orders accepted |
| Lead Time | 7–15 working days |
Every dimensional and electrical value in Table 2 is the published nominal data for this 2 × 16 mm² construction, not a value interpolated from another size: 4.8 mm conductor, 0.7 mm XLPE, 0.8 mm bedding, 1.25 mm armour wires, 19 mm overall, 900 kg/km, 1.15 Ω/km conductor resistance and 3.7 Ω/km armour resistance, with 115 A in air at 30 °C and 100 A direct buried at 20 °C. There is no separate protective conductor in a two-core cable, so the earth path has to come from the armour — where the applicable wiring regulations permit it and the fault-current assessment supports it — or from a three-core or 3 + 1 construction ordered instead. The +250 °C short-circuit figure is a 5-second design condition from the IEC 60502-1 basis for XLPE-insulated copper cable, not a service temperature. Diameters and weights are nominal and re-confirmed on the drawing before production; final selection should be based on the installation method, the ambient conditions and the applicable local requirements.
Certificates & Standards
Verify before you buy — we make it easy
Made to BS 5467
The construction — copper to IEC 60228, XLPE insulation, galvanised steel wire armour and PVC over-sheath — is the BS 5467 arrangement for 0.6/1 kV armoured cable. We quote the standard the cable is built and tested to; we do not write "certified" where the correct statement is "made to". The test certificate and conductor-resistance records for the supplied drum come with the quotation.
Request the test documents →Type test and routine test
A 3.5 kV AC withstand test for 5 minutes is applied to every completed length and recorded, and the XLPE insulation and PVC sheath are type-tested as a system for the 0.6/1 kV rating. If you need the type-test report for the exact construction you are buying, ask for it by the ordered size and we will send the one that matches.
Request the type-test report →CE marking as applicable, DoC on request
There is no CE certification for cable — CE marking is a manufacturer’s declaration of conformity, and which directive applies depends on the installation. We will not print "CE certified": a Declaration of Conformity and a RoHS declaration are provided on request for the construction supplied, together with whatever national approval documentation the destination market requires.
Request documentation →
Transparency note: certification status and exact scope should always be confirmed against the certificate for the selected product configuration. We provide the certificate and test reports with every quotation — no blank promises.
Quality & Factory
Checked on the finished 2 × 16 mm² length
For a single size, the release checks are the ones that decide whether the drum that arrives matches the drawing you approved.
- 1Copper and compound intake — the conductor is checked for cross-section, class and DC resistance, and the XLPE and PVC compounds are checked against their data sheets, before the insulation is extruded.
- 2In-line dimensional control — conductor diameter, insulation thickness, bedding thickness, armour wire diameter and the final sheath thickness are monitored during production rather than sampled after the fact.
- 3Electrical routine tests — conductor resistance, insulation resistance and the 3.5 kV AC / 5 minute withstand test between conductors and between conductors and the armour are measured on the finished length and recorded against the drum.
- 4Armour and finished-length check — armour wire diameter, lay and continuity are verified, and the completed length is measured against the ordered overall diameter and drum length before the drum is sealed.
19+
countries served
60+
industrial & panel projects
100%
routine test before shipment
How to Order
From inquiry to loaded carton in 5 steps
Send Inquiry
Tell us the quantity and the length per drum, the installation route, and whether a separate protective conductor or a halogen-free sheath is required.
Confirm Configuration
We confirm the length per drum, the sheath type and whether you need a separate PE, send the drawing for a 19 mm / 900 kg/km construction for approval, and quote against it — normally within one working day.
Sample Evaluation
Sample for qualification — stocked configurations within a few working days.
Bulk Production
Made-to-order lengths for this size run on a short production window — the exact dates are confirmed in the quotation once the drum schedule and quantity are fixed.
Delivery & Support
Drum schedule and shipping documents, plus gland and bending-radius guidance for a 19 mm armoured cable and the routine-test records for the supplied drums.
FAQ
Questions buyers ask before ordering
No. Two cores means line and neutral, and there is no separate protective conductor inside this cable. The earth path is normally taken from the steel wire armour, where it is effectively earthed at both ends and the local wiring regulations permit it — and the figure that assessment needs is the armour resistance of 3.7 Ω/km for this size. If the project requires an independent PE, order 3 × 16 mm² or a 3 + 1 construction instead; do not plan to make the two-core cable serve.
There are two published reference figures for this size: 115 A in air at 30 °C and 100 A direct buried at 20 °C. Which one applies depends on the route — buried in soil, in a duct, on a tray or clipped to a wall — and on the ambient or soil temperature, the number of cables grouped together and the soil thermal resistivity. At roughly 100 A single-phase the cable is capable of supplying a substantial load, but the correct approach is to size against your actual conditions, so send us the route and the load and we will confirm it.
That is a voltage-drop question rather than a current-rating one. The conductor resistance is 1.15 Ω/km at 20 °C, so a single-phase circuit drops roughly 2 × 1.15 = 2.3 Ω/km of the current — and the resistance rises by about 20 % at the 90 °C conductor temperature, which matters on a heavily loaded run. The step up to 2 × 25 mm² (0.727 Ω/km) or 2 × 35 mm² (0.524 Ω/km) is often the cheaper answer than accepting a larger drop. Give us the run length, the load and the permitted drop and we will confirm the size, including whether 16 mm² is the right one.
19 mm nominal overall diameter and 900 kg/km for this construction — conductor 4.8 mm, XLPE 0.7 mm, bedding 0.8 mm, 1.25 mm armour wires. At that weight and diameter the cable is comfortably handled and pulled by hand in a normal trench, and the laying bending radius at 8 × diameter is about 152 mm. Final values are confirmed on the drawing before production, and the drum core diameter is chosen so the cable is not bent tighter than that in storage.
Yes. The construction is intended for direct burial and for pulling into duct. The galvanised steel wire armour is what makes the cable survive backfill loading, vehicle traffic over the trench and rodent activity, and the PVC over-sheath provides the moisture and soil contact protection. What you should confirm locally is the required burial depth, whether sand bedding or a warning tile is required, and whether the regulations in your market require a duct in that location regardless.
No, and it is worth saying clearly because the word "armoured" is often heard as "screened". Steel wire armour provides mechanical protection, gives the cable pulling strength and resists rodent damage, all of which it does well. At the frequencies that disturb control and instrumentation circuits it provides essentially no screening. If you need screening, that is a copper braid or foil-and-drain construction and a different cable, so tell us what you are trying to keep out and we will quote the right one.
0 °C for this construction, with an operating range of −20 °C to +90 °C. The −40 °C figure that appears on a lot of pages for armoured LV cable has no source for this construction. Below 0 °C the PVC bedding and over-sheath stiffen and the cable is easier to damage on the pull, so if the site is colder than that at installation time, warm the drum area or postpone the pull — and tell us if the permanent operating temperature is below −20 °C, because that is a different compound question.
MOQ is 500 m, and sample orders are accepted for project qualification. Lead time for this size is 7–15 working days, with the exact window confirmed in the quotation once the quantity and drum schedule are fixed. Standard supply is 100 m, 500 m and 1000 m drums, with cut lengths, customer marking and single-drum labelling available.
Need a 2 × 16 mm² armoured feeder for a buried route?
Tell us the run length, the load and the quantity — we reply within one working day.
Get a Free Quote
Send your 2 × 16 mm² armoured cable requirement
The more detail you give, the faster and more accurate our quotation. Our engineers reply within one working day.
- Quantity and length per drum for the 2 × 16 mm² construction
- Whether a separate protective conductor is required (if so, we will quote 3 × 16 mm² or 3 + 1)
- Installation route: direct buried, duct, tray, and the lowest temperature at installation
- Run length and load, so we can check the voltage drop at 1.15 Ω/km
- Whether the sheath has to be halogen-free (BS 6724 version of the same size)
- Destination market, for the declaration and marking scope
Inquiry received
Thanks — our engineers will reply within one working day.
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