SECTION 16124

MEDIUM VOLTAGE CABLE

 SECTION (16124)

MEDIUM VOLTAGE CABLE

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.01 RELATED DOCUMENTS:

A. Drawings and general provisions of Contract, including Project General and

Supplementary Conditions, apply to this Section.

B. Requirements of the following Division (16) “Electrical Specification”

Sections apply to this section:

1. ”Basic Electrical Requirements”.

2. “Electrical Testing And Commissioning”.

1.02 SUMMARY:

A. Provide labor, materials, equipment and services, and perform operations

required for installation of Medium Voltage Cables and related work as
indicated on the drawings or specified herein.

B. This section includes single and multiple conductor cables and splices,
terminations, and accessories for cables above 1000V rating.

C. Related Sections: the following Division (16) “Electrical Specification”

Sections contain requirements that relate to this Section:

1. ”Raceways” for conduits and ducts for cable.

2. ”Cable Trays” for cable tray type installations.
3. ”Supporting Devices” for cable and termination supports.
4. ”Distribution Transformers” for cable termination provisions.
5. ”Medium Voltage “Switchgear” for cable termination provisions.

1.03 SUBMITTALS:

A. General: submit the following in accordance with Conditions of Contract and

Division (1) “General Requirements” Sections:

1. Product data on cables and cable accessories including descriptions and

detailed specifications(latest published literature).
2. Shop drawings of splices and terminations.
3. Product certificate signed by manufacturer that its products comply with the
specified requirements.

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 4. Installer certificates signed by manufacturer of cable splicing and
terminating products that Installers comply with training requirements
specified under “Quality Assurance”.
5. Installer certificates signed by Contractor that Installers of cable splices and
terminations meet the experience qualifications specified under ”Quality
Assurance”.
6. Product Test Reports: certified reports of manufacturers’ factory production
and final tests indicating compliance of cable and accessories with
referenced standards.
7. Report of Field Tests: certified copies of field test records.
8. Samples: 300 mm long of each type of cable specified.
9. Maintenance data for cables and accessories for inclusion in Operation and
Maintenance manual specified in Division (1) “General Requirements” and
in Division (16) “Electrical Specification”, Section ”Basic Electrical
Requirements”. In addition to the requirements specified there, include:

a. Manufacturer’s written instructions for periodic tests of cables in

service.

1.04 QUALITY ASSURANCE:

A. Installer Qualifications: engage an experienced Installer of medium-voltage

electrical cable to perform the installation specified in this section. In
addition, for the specific work of cable splicing and terminating, engage
Installers who are experienced in cable splices for the specific types of cable
and cable accessories specified in this Section.

B. Field Testing Organization Qualifications: to qualify for acceptance, an

independent testing organization must demonstrate, based on evaluation of
organization-submitted criteria, that it has the experience and capability to
conduct satisfactorily the testing indicated in accordance with the Standards.

C. Standards Compliance: cables and components shall be marked, listed and

labeled by Manufacturer in accordance with the approved standards of
manufacture (IEC, BS etc.).

D. IEC Compliance: components and installation shall comply with the relevant
IEC Standards and the local Authority specification having jurisdiction.

1.05 DELIVERY, STORAGE AND HANDLING:

A. Deliver medium-voltage cable on factory reels conforming to Standard

applicable or as otherwise specified.
B. Store cables on reels on elevated platforms in a clean, dry location.

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 1.06 WARRANTY:

A. Special Project Warranty: submit a written warranty, mutually

executed by manufacturer and the principal Installer, agreeing to
repair or replace medium- voltage cables, splices, and
terminations that fail in materials or workmanship within the
special project warranty period specified below. This warranty
shall be in addition to, and not a limitation of, other rights and
remedies the Employer may have against the Contractor under
the Contract Documents.

B. Special Project Warranty Period: 2 years beginning on the date of Substantial

Completion.

PART 2 – PRODUCTS

2.01 MANUFACTURERS:

A. Available Manufacturers: subject to compliance with requirements,

manufacturers offering products that may be incorporated in the Work
include, but are not limited to, the following:

2.02 MEDIUM-VOLTAGE CABLE-GENERAL:

A. General: cable shall be single or multi conductor types, with types and sizes
as indicated, and conforming to IEC Standard 502 ”Extruded Solid Dielectric
Insulated Power Cables for rated voltages from “1 kV to 30 kV” or other
specification of equal or higher standards and as specified in particulars
below.

2.03 MV CABLE

A. Single Core MV Cable 18/30 KV, XLPE insulated, for use on systems with
voltage 20 kV, is it to comply with IEC 502, and have the following
characteristics:

conductor : Aluminum, circular, stranded and compacted.

conductor screen; : extruded semi-conducting layer
insulation : extruded cross-linked
polyethylene
(XLPE), minimum
4.5 mm thick.
Insulation Screen : extruded semi-conducting layer,
Alluminum Screen: Layer of alluminum wires or Alluminum tape.
oversheath : extruded PVC type ST2 to IEC 502

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 short-circuit rating: 13 kA (minimum) for one second for 95 mm2 cables

B. Three Core MV Cable 18/30 KV, XLPE insulated, for use on systems with
voltage 22 kV, is to comply with IEC 502, and have the following
characteristics:

conductor : Aluminum, circular, stranded and compacted.

conductor screen : extruded semi-conducting layer
insulation : extruded cross-linked polyethlene (XLPE), minimum 4.5
mm thick
Insulation screen: non-metallic directly applied extruded semi-conducting
Part material, readily strippable
metallic part : Layer of aluminum tape applied with 15% overlap
filling and bedding : Polypropelene extruded over laid up cores to form
compact circular bedding
armour : double layer of galvanized steel tape
outer sheath : extruded PVC type ST2 to IEC 502
short-circuit : 34 KA (minimum) for one second rating for 240 mm2
cables
Armoured cable, where required or shown on the drawings, is to have single layer
of aluminum wire or two layers of aluminum tape between bedding and over
sheath.

Cable joints: to be as recommended by manufacturer, to render joints equal to cable

in characteristics in terms of insulation, stress distribution and water- tightness.
Materials and methods of jointing are to be approved before confirmation of order.

2.04 SPLICING AND TERMINATING PRODUCTS:

A. Types: compatible with the cable materials and equipment terminations

specified under respective equipment sections of this specification. Approval
by the Engineer for each particular type is required before ordering materials.
B. Connectors: compression type as recommended by cable or splicing kit
manufacturer for the application.

C. Splicing and Terminating Kits: as recommended by the manufacturer in

writing for the specific sizes, ratings, and configurations of cable conductor,
splices, and terminations specified. Kits shall contain all components required
for a complete splice or termination including detailed instructions and shall
be the product of a single manufacturer. Completed splices and terminations
shall provide insulation equivalent to the insulation class of the cable it
connects, as well as protection.

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 D. Multiconductor Cable Sheath Seals: designed to seal the end of
multiconductor cable against moisture where the sheath ends at a cable
terminations. Seal shall be of the type recommended by the seal manufacturer
for the specific type of cable and installation and conditions of use, including
orientation of the device (upright, horizontal, or inverted) where this affects
selection. Seal fittings for armoured cable shall include provision for earthing
the metal cable armor.

PART 3 – EXECUTION

3.01 EXAMINATION:

A. Examine raceways, cable trays, pull boxes, manholes, junction boxes, and
other cable installation locations for cleanliness of raceways, minimum
bending radii of cables, and conditions affecting performance of cable. Pull a
mandrel through raceways to check for suitable conditions. Do not proceed
with cable installation until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected.

3.02 INSTALLATION. GENERAL:

A. General: install cable accessory items in accordance with manufacturer’s

written instructions and as indicated.

3.03 INSTALLATION OF CABLES:

A. Refer to Section ”LV Wires and Cables” for feeder and sub-feeder cable
installation requirements applicable to this Section.

B. Pull conductors simultaneously where more than one cable is indicated in

same raceway. Use manufacturer-approved pulling compound or lubricant
where necessary. Do not exceed manufacturer’s recommended maximum
pulling tensions and sidewall pressure values.
C. Use pulling means including, fish tape, cable, rope, and basket weave
wire/cable grips that will not damage cables or raceways. Do not use rope
hitches for pulling attachment to cable.

D. Install exposed cable parallel and perpendicular to surfaces of exposed

structural members and follow surface contours where possible.

E. In trenches, pull boxes and cable vaults, train cables around walls by the
longest route from entry to exit and support cables at intervals adequate to
prevent sag.

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3.04 INSTALLATION OF SPLICES:

A. Install splices at pull points and elsewhere as indicated using standard kit.
Conform to kit manufacturer’s written instructions.

3.05 JOINTING AND TERMINATIONS:

A. Install though joints and terminations at ends of conductors and seal multi
conductor cable ends with standard kits. Conform to manufacturer’s written
instructions. Comply with classes of terminations indicated.

B. Through joints will not be allowed in feeder cables where adequate

manufacturer’s lengths are available. Where a joint is necessary, it has to be
made inside boxes, handholes or manholes.

C. Recommendations: through joints and terminations are to be carried out

strictly in accordance with cable manufacturer’s recommendations, and made
with correct specified materials, boxes, tapes, compounds or mixtures, stress
cones, glands and bonds as applicable.

D. Samples: samples of joints and terminations are to be constructed and are to

be available for testing and inspection in accordance with manufacturer’s
recommendations in the presence of the Engineer.

E. Cutting tools for jointing and terminating cables are to be purpose made, to
prevent damage to insulation in general, and to cable shielding of cables.

F. Cleaning of lacquer on conductors is to be by use of sponge and white spirit.

G. Tighten electrical connectors and terminals in accordance with manufacturer’s

published torque tightening values. Where manufacturer’s torquing
requirements are not indicated, tighten connectors and terminals to comply
with tightening torque’s specified in applicable standards of manufacture.
3.06 EARTHING:

A. Earth shields of shielded cable at terminations, splices, and separable

insulated connectors. Earth metal bodies of terminators, splices, cable and
separable insulated connector fittings, and hardware in accordance with
manufacturer’s written instructions.

3.07 IDENTIFICATION:

A. Identify cable in accordance with Division (16) “Electrical Specification”

Section ”Electrical Identification”.

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3.08 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL:

A. General: comply with applicable standards of reputable international electrical

testing organization.

B. Preparation: perform the following preparations in advance of independent

tests:

1. Test cables insulation resistance.

2. Test circuits continuity.
3. Furnish a set of Contract Documents and manufacturer’s recommendations
to test organization.
4. Make power available at test locations.

C. Schedule tests and notify Engineer at least one week in advance of schedule
for test commencement.

D. Test procedure shall conform to the following:

l. Independent Testing Organization: arrange and pay for the services of an

independent electrical testing organization in accordance with the
requirements of Division (1) “General Requirements” Section ”Quality
Requirements” to perform tests on medium-voltage cable.
2. Test Objectives: to assure cable installation is operational within industry
and manufacturer’s tolerances, is installed in accordance with Contract
Documents, and is suitable for energizing.
3. Procedures: comply with the testing organization standards and upon
satisfactory completion of tests, attach a label to tested components.

E. Tests shall include high-potential test of cable and accessories and such tests
and examinations required achieving specified objectives. Where new cables
are spliced to existing cables, the high-potential test shall be performed on the
new cable prior to splicing. After test results for new cables are approved and
splice is made, an insulation resistance test and continuity test are to be done
on the length of cable including the splice and existing cables being tested to
the nearest disconnect point.

F. MV Cable Testing: provide cable test-set with d.c. output voltage and ampere
range sufficient to test MV cables. Cables are to be laid in position (trench or
duct bank), jointed where applicable, but left uncovered, with ends free of
equipment and clear of ground.

1. D.C. test voltage is to be applied between core under test and the screen in
steps, pausing one minute or more each step (first step being the a.c. rms
rated voltage of the cable, followed by two equal steps) up to maximum

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 test voltage. At each step, and for the last 5 – 15 minutes duration at
maximum test voltage, the ammeter (normally a micro-ammeter) is to be
closely watched and recorded. If, except as voltage is increased, the
current starts to increase, test is to be stopped and the installation inspected
and tested for the fault.

2. Each cable/core is to be tested indendantly. Maximum d.c.

test voltage for grounded neutral system is to be 3 times
rated a.c. rms voltage of cable.

G. MV Cable Testing: alternative test is to apply a.c. rms voltage up to 1.5 times
a.c. rms rating of cable (8.7 kV for 15 kV cable), applied for 15 minutes, by
an approved a.c. test set. Readings are to be within same range and in
accordance with IEC 502.

H. Reports: the testing organization shall maintain a written record of

observations and tests, report defective materials and workmanship, and retest
corrected defective items. Testing organization shall submit written reports to
the Engineer and Contractor.

END OF SECTION (16124)

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