IEC 60092 Series Guide for Marine & Shipboard Cables

The IEC 60092 series is the foundation of shipboard and offshore cable engineering — the family of standards that classification societies, shipyards and cable manufacturers use to define how marine cables are built, tested and installed. If you are sourcing marine power, control or instrumentation cables, you will meet these standard numbers on almost every data sheet and class requirement. This guide explains what the series covers, how the main parts fit together, and how the standard shapes real cable construction — in plain language, without reproducing the standard text itself.

What This Standard Covers

IEC 60092, "Electrical installations in ships", is a multi-part standard. The cable-relevant parts form a logical system: IEC 60092-350 defines general construction, dimensions and test methods for shipboard power, control and instrumentation cables; IEC 60092-352 covers the choice and installation of cables on board; IEC 60092-353 covers power cables rated 1kV and 3kV; IEC 60092-354 covers single- and multi-core power cables with extruded solid insulation rated 6kV to 30kV; IEC 60092-360 specifies the insulating and sheathing materials, including the halogen-free flame retardant compounds known as SHF1 and SHF2; and IEC 60092-376 covers control and instrumentation cables rated 150/250V. Flame and smoke performance are not defined inside these parts alone — they refer to the IEC 60332, IEC 60754 and IEC 61034 test families.

Where It Is Used

The series applies to electrical installations on seagoing and river vessels, offshore platforms, FPSOs and offshore support vessels. Classification societies including DNV, ABS, LR, BV, RINA and CCS reference IEC 60092 in their rules, and shipyards typically write cable schedules around its type designations. The same construction principles are widely adopted in shore-side industrial plants that specify "ship-grade" cables for reliability.

Key Requirements

• Conductors: stranded copper, normally IEC 60228 class 2 for power cables

• Insulation: XLPE or EPR, with material requirements defined per part -360

• Sheathing: halogen-free flame retardant compounds — SHF1 (thermoplastic) and SHF2 (thermoset) — with low smoke and low acid gas emission

• Construction rules: core identification, screening options, armor options such as tinned copper wire braid (TCWB) and galvanized steel wire braid (GSWB), and sheath combinations

• Testing: routine, sample and special tests per part -350, including voltage withstand, insulation resistance and dimensional checks

• Marking: type designation, voltage rating, core layout and meter marking on the sheath

How It Affects Cable Construction

The standard's type code translates directly into the cable you receive. "CJPF/SC" style designations encode conductor, insulation, inner sheath, armor, outer sheath and flame category; changing one digit changes the construction. Material selection is equally direct: enclosed passenger areas push specifications toward SHF2 thermoset compounds and higher smoke-performance categories, while thermoplastic SHF1 suits many general zones at lower cost. Rated voltage selects the part — 0.6/1kV power cables are built and documented against -353, while 3.6/6kV to 12/20kV medium voltage feeders fall under -354 with fully screened insulation systems, semiconductive layers and metallic screens.

Common Mistakes

• Quoting the wrong part for the voltage class. IEC 60092-353 stops at 3kV; medium voltage cables must reference -354. A data sheet citing -353 for a 8.7/15kV cable is a red flag.

• Treating IEC 60092 as a certification. It is a design and test standard. Class type approval from CCS, DNV, ABS, LR, BV or RINA is a separate, additional step — a cable can be built "according to IEC 60092" without holding any class certificate.

• Assuming the flame category is included. Flame retardance is tested to IEC 60332-3 categories; the "/SC" style suffix on a type designation must be backed by an actual bunched flame test report.

• Mixing up SHF1 and SHF2. Both are halogen-free and flame retardant, but SHF1 is thermoplastic and SHF2 thermoset — different handling, temperature behavior and price points.

• Confusing IEC 60092 with NEK 606. NEK 606 adds mud-resistance requirements for offshore oil and gas; IEC 60092 alone does not cover mud exposure.

Related Products

• Marine & Offshore Cables — power, control and instrumentation cables built on the IEC 60092 framework

• Reeling & Crane Cables — flexible duty cables for port and deck machinery, where IEC 60245-style designs often complement shipboard types

• Mining & LHD Cables — ruggedized flexible cables sharing the same materials discipline for severe duty

• Flat & Festoon Cables — flat constructions for cranes and festoon systems

Browse the product categories on this site, or contact us to match a cable schedule line by line.

Related Applications

• New ship construction and vessel repair — cable schedule engineering against IEC 60092 type codes

• Offshore platforms and FPSO topside wiring, including mud-exposed areas that combine IEC 60092 with NEK 606 requirements

• Engine room retrofit and class survey preparation

• Shore-side industrial plants specifying ship-grade cable reliability

FAQ

Q1: Is IEC 60092 the same as class approval?
No. IEC 60092 defines how the cable is designed, built and tested. Class type approval from a society such as CCS, DNV, ABS, LR, BV or RINA is a separate approval of a specific type against its rules. A cable may comply with IEC 60092 and still require class approval for your project — check our certifications page and confirm per type.

Q2: Which part applies to my medium voltage feeders?
Cables rated 6kV to 30kV are covered by IEC 60092-354 with a fully screened construction. Part -353 covers only 1kV and 3kV power cables.

Q3: What is the difference between SHF1 and SHF2?
Both are halogen-free flame retardant compounds per IEC 60092-360. SHF1 is thermoplastic; SHF2 is thermoset. SHF2 generally offers better thermal and mechanical performance and is preferred for demanding enclosed areas, while SHF1 is easier to handle and typically more economical.

Q4: Does IEC 60092 include the flame test?
The series references the IEC 60332 bunched flame test family, IEC 60754 for halogen acid gas and IEC 61034 for smoke density. The flame category on a type designation must be supported by the corresponding test reports.

Q5: How do I confirm a cable type for my project?
Send the type code or your cable schedule through the contact page. We confirm the applicable part, construction, material class and approval status per type, and provide the TDS for reference.

Request TDS or Project Support

Send your cable schedule, class requirement or a type code through the contact page. Our team will map each line to the correct IEC 60092 part and construction, confirm test report and approval availability, and return TDS references with the quotation.

This article summarizes the standard in our own words for selection guidance. For project compliance, always check the official standard text.