EN 50363-2-1:2005

Insulating, sheathing and covering materials for low voltage energy cables - Part 2-1: Cross-linked elastomeric sheathing compounds

This part of EN 50363 specifies the requirements for the physical properties of the cross-linked elastomeric sheathing compounds given in Table 1. The relevant test methods are given in EN 60811 series and EN 50396.

Isolier-, Mantel- und Umhüllungswerkstoffe für Niederspannungskabel und -leitungen - Teil 2-1: Vernetzte, elastomere Mantelmischungen

Dieser Teil der EN 50363 legt die Anforderungen an vernetzte, elastomere Mantelmischungen fest, die in Tabelle 1 aufgeführt sind. Die entsprechenden Prüfverfahren sind in den Normen der Reihe EN 60811 und EN 50396 aufgeführt.

Matériaux pour enveloppe isolante, gainage et revêtement pour les câbles d'énergie basse tension - Partie 2-1: Mélanges élastomères réticulés pour gaine

La présente partie de la EN 50363 mentionne les prescriptions pour les mélanges de gainage réticulés, donnés dans le Tableau 1. Les méthodes d’essais correspondantes sont données dans la série EN 60811 et la EN 50396

Materiali za izoliranje, oplaščenje in prevleke nizkonapetostnih energetskih kablov – 2-1. del: Omrežene elastomerne snovi za oplaščenje

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 17-Nov-2005
• Withdrawal Date: 31-Oct-2007
• ICS: 29.035.20 - Plastics and rubber insulating materials
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 20 - Electric cables
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 20 - IEC_TC_20
• Parallel Committee: IEC/TC 20 - IEC_TC_20
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 23-Oct-2024
• Completion Date: 23-Sep-2025
• Directive: 2006/95/EC - Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (codified version)
• Directive: 2014/35/EU - Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Directive: 73/23/EEC - Electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Ref Project: SIST EN 50363-2-1:2006 - Insulating, sheathing and covering materials for low voltage energy cables -- Part 2-1: Cross-linked elastomeric sheathing compounds

Relations

• Amended By: EN 50363-2-1:2005/A1:2011 - Insulating, sheathing and covering materials for low voltage energy cables - Part 2-1: Cross-linked elastomeric sheathing compounds
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 50363-2-1:2005 specifies the physical property requirements for cross‑linked elastomeric sheathing compounds used on low voltage energy cables. It defines compound types, expected performance under mechanical, thermal and environmental stress, and references the test methods in the EN 60811 series and EN 50396. This part is intended to be read together with EN 50363-0 and is used to ensure consistent, verifiable cable sheathing materials across manufacturing and testing.

Key topics and requirements

The standard covers compound classification, test methods and pass/fail criteria for sheathing materials including:

• Compound types (Table 1) with typical materials and maximum operating temperatures:

  • EM 2 - 60 °C: oil‑resisting, flame retardant (PCP or equivalent)
  • EM 3 - 60 °C: ordinary duty (EPR or equivalent)
  • EM 4 - 110 °C: ordinary duty (EVA or equivalent)
  • EM 6 - 90 °C: ordinary duty, low‑temperature use down to −40 °C (EPR)
  • EM 7 - 90 °C: CSP or equivalent for specific insulation pairings
  • EM 9 - 180 °C: silicone rubber for high‑temperature use

• Mechanical properties before and after ageing:

  • Median tensile strength and elongation at break minima are specified per type (e.g., tensile strength min 10.0 N/mm² for EM2; elongation min 300% for EM2).
  • Ageing conditions include controlled oven and air‑bomb exposures with defined temperatures and durations; allowable variations in properties after ageing are specified.

• Oil immersion (mineral oil) tests for oil‑resistant compounds, with defined temperature/duration and maximum allowable property changes.

• Hot‑set test: temperature, load and time specified; limits on elongation under load and after unloading.

• Pressure/indentation test at high temperature, bending and elongation tests at low temperature, and ozone resistance (Method A and B) with prescribed concentrations, temperatures and durations.

• Carbon black content requirements where applicable (e.g., minimum 2% for some types).

All tests reference clauses and sections of EN 60811 and EN 50396 for detailed procedures.

Applications and users

EN 50363-2-1 is used by:

• Cable manufacturers for material selection and production quality control.
• Polymer and compound suppliers to certify sheathing formulations (EPR, silicone, EVA, PCP, CSP).
• Independent test laboratories performing compliance testing (EN 60811 / EN 50396 methods).
• Specifiers, procurement and certification bodies setting performance criteria for low voltage cable sheaths (oil resistance, low‑temperature flexibility, high‑temperature stability, ozone durability).

Typical practical uses: selecting a sheath compound for oil‑exposed installations, designing cables for extreme temperature ranges, or validating product batches against harmonized European performance criteria.

Related standards

• EN 50363-0 (general requirements and definitions)
• EN 60811 series (test methods for cable materials)
• EN 50396 (ozone and additional tests)

Keywords: EN 50363-2-1, cross‑linked elastomeric sheathing compounds, low voltage energy cables, cable sheathing, EPR, silicone rubber, EN 60811, EN 50396.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI SIST EN 50363-2-1:2006

STANDARD
maj 2006
Materiali za izoliranje, oplaščenje in prevleke nizkonapetostnih energetskih
kablov – 2-1. del: Omrežene elastomerne snovi za oplaščenje
Insulating, sheathing and covering materials for low voltage energy cables – Part 2-
1: Cross-linked elastomeric sheathing compounds
ICS 29.035.20; 29.060.20 Referenčna številka
©  Standard je založil in izdal Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje ali kopiranje celote ali delov tega dokumenta ni dovoljeno

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50363-2-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM November 2005

ICS 29.035.20
English version
Insulating, sheathing and covering materials
for low voltage energy cables
Part 2-1: Cross-linked elastomeric sheathing compounds

Matériaux pour enveloppe isolante, Isolier-, Mantel- und
gainage et revêtement pour les câbles Umhüllungswerkstoffe für
d'énergie basse tension Niederspannungskabel und -leitungen
Partie 2-1 : Mélanges élastomères Teil 2-1: Vernetzte, elastomere
réticulés pour gaine Mantelmischungen

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2005-11-01. CENELEC members are bound to
comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and
notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B - 1050 Brussels

© 2005 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.

Ref. No. EN 50363-2-1:2005 E
Foreword
This European Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee CENELEC TC 20, Electric cables.
The text of the draft was submitted to the formal vote and was approved by CENELEC as
EN 50363-2-1 on 2005-11-01.
EN 50363 (in all its parts) supersedes the equivalent information at present in HD 21.1 S4,
HD 21.14 S1, HD 22.1 S4, HD 22.10 S1, HD 22.14 S2 and prHD 21.15 S1. The existing information
in these HDs will be deleted at the next maintenance review.
EN 50363-2-1 should be read in conjunction with EN 50363-0.
The following dates were fixed:
– latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2006-11-01
– latest date by which the national standards conflicting
with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2007-11-01

– 3 – EN 50363-2-1:2005
Contents
1 Scope.4
2 Normative references.4
3 Definitions.4
4 Properties.4
Table 1 – Types of cross-linked elastomeric sheathing compound .4
Table 2 – Requirements for the tests for crosslinked elastomeric sheathing compounds.5

1 Scope
This part of EN 50363 specifies the requirements for the physical properties of the cross-linked
elastomeric sheathing compounds given in Table 1. The relevant test methods are given in EN 60811
series and EN 50396.
NOTE This part of EN 50363 is to be read in conjunction with EN 50363-0.
Table 1 – Types of cross-linked elastomeric sheathing compound
Type Maximum cable General application
operating
temperature
°C
EM 2 60 Ordinary duty oil-resisting and flame retardant – PCP or
equivalent synthetic elastomer
EM 3 60 Ordinary duty – EPR compound or other equivalent synthetic
elastomer
EM 4 110 Ordinary duty – EVA or equivalent synthetic elastomer
EM 6 90 Ordinary duty and including use down to -40 °C – EPR or
equivalent synthetic elastomer; for cables insulated with EI 6
EM 7 90 Ordinary duty CSP or equivalent synthetic elastomer; for cables
insulated with EI 7
EM 9 180 Ordinary duty Silicone rubber

2 Normative references
For the purposes of this part of EN 50363, the requirements of EN 50363-0, Clause 2 apply with
regard to normative references.
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this part of EN 50363, the definitions given in EN 50363-0, Clause 3, apply.
4 Properties
Each compound shall meet the particular requirements listed in Table 2, when using the test
...