IS 7098 (Electrical Cables and Wires)

Industry Outlook

IS 7098, is an Indian Standard, which has three parts, which are applicable on crosslinked polyethylene insulated PVC sheathed cables that are widely used in net power systems and power distribution and transmitting.

The usage of cables under mentioned Indian standards plays a crucial role in power distribution and transmission, which is essential for any economy, not just India. Considering the important role of crosslinked polyethylene insulated PVC sheathed cables, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) introduced IS 7098 in 1998 with the view of ensuring quality assurance.

And in order to achieve quality assurance, certain specifications have been provided in different parts of IS 7098, which have been revised at distinct times.

Here, IS 7098 Part 1 includes specifications for crosslinked polyethylene insulated PVC sheathed cables for working voltages up to and including 1100V. While IS 7098 Part 2 includes specifications for working voltages from 3.3kV up to and including 33 kV. Lastly, IS 7098 Part 3 includes specifications for working voltages from 66 kV up to and including 220 kV.

Moreover, to ensure the manufacturing or importing of high-quality products, particular tests need to be conducted to ensure that a product meets the provided specifications.

Basically, the mentioned standard includes the information regarding the test to be conducted on the electrical cables to check their quality and credibility to reflect that certain technical standards have been followed. Product testing is crucial to ensure that a product is safe and reliable, which is important to stay ahead of the competition and improve reputation and profits.

Above all, product testing helps you retain the consumers by meeting their expectations.

For a better understanding of why product testing is important, let’s have a look at why product testing is crucial.

Why is Product Testing Crucial | Importance of Product Testing

One of the most important purposes of testing is the quality assurance of a product that reflects high quality, safety, and reliability.
Product testing allows the manufacturer to ensure conformance with established technical standards to produce high-quality and safe products.
Build reputation and maximize the profit, considering that a tested product indicates quality assurance.
Helps in retaining customers, thus, providing a competitive edge.
Helps in understanding distinct types of stress a product can endure, be it in case of weather, wear tear, and other conditions.
In the initial prototyping stage, if you are trying to avail investment in order to manufacture your product in mass quantities, a tested product can allow you to achieve patent and investors as it shows the quality and functionality of the product.

With the benefits of product testing, we can clearly estimate how testing ensures quality assurance and product credibility. For a better understanding, let’s have a look at an example,

Through product testing, it can be easily proved that electrical cables are safe to use, however, in case of any defects are found during product testing, it can be easily rectified.

Since, it has been established how essential product testing is, now let’s move to the benefits of complying with standards.

What Are the Benefits of Complying With Standards?

Compliance offers numerous benefits to manufacturers and importers of the product, which further helps in building trustworthiness and reliability, thus retaining the customers.

Why, don’t we look at other benefits of the same -

A certified product acts as a shield against penalties and fines which could be imposed for not certifying a product.
A certified product serves as evidence that a product has been tested and certified as per prescribed standards.
A certified product provides a sense of security and safety to the consumers, thus ensuring easy acceptance.
It provides a competitive advantage over competitors.
Easy market acceptance as a product is tested and certified.
Confirm the unmatched quality standards.
Seamless to file government tenders.

With these benefits of ensuring conformance with IS 7098 standards and specifications, a manufacturer can establish that a product is safe, reliable, and credible, thus, confirming unmatched quality standards.

Now, in the next section, we will learn about test requirements and product scope under each part of the IS 7098.

Product Scope of IS 7098 Part 1

IS 7098 Part 1 includes cables of both armored and unarmoured single, twin, three, four, and multi-core crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated and PVC-sheathed cables for electric supply and control purposes.

Moreover, the cables covered under Part 1 of IS 7098, are appropriate to use on AC single-phase or three-phase (earthed or unearthed) systems for rated voltages up to and including 1100 V. These cables may be used on DC systems for rated voltages up to and including 1500 V to earth.

It is to be noted that Armored cables mentioned in the IS 7098 are appropriate to use in mines also. Though, for such cables, additional requirements must be met, wherever necessary.

Refer to the below-mentioned table for understanding the classification of cables for improved fire performance.

Category	Environment description	Cables definition
01	Cables in open areas	Flame retarded, single cablesself-extinguisbing does not propagate flame
C1	Cables in constraints areas	Flame retardant does not propagate fire even when installed in groups in vertical ducts
C2	Cables in constraints areas with restricted human activities and/ or presence of sophisticated systems	Flame retardant cables with reduced areas with reduced halogen evolution and smoke

Source: Bureau of Indian Standard

Since we have established a brief understanding of product scope, let’s move on to test requirements under the same.

Properties of XLPE Insulation

S. no	Property	Test requirement
1	Tensile strength	12·5 N/mml , Min
2	Elongation at break	200 percent,Min
3	Aleina in air ovenTreatment: Temperature DurationTensile strength variation; Elongation variation	13S±3"C7 days±25 percent,Max ±25 percent,Max
4	Hot setTreatment: Temperature Time under load Mechanical stressElongation under loadPermanent elongation (set) after cooling	200±3-degree celsius 15 minutes20N/ cm3 175 percent, Max15 percent, Max
5	Shrinkage Treatment: Treatment DurationWater absorbed	85±2- degree celsius 14 days1 mg/ cm3, Max
6	Volume resistivity At 27°Cat 90°C	1 X 101t ohm-em, MinI x 10" obm-cm, Min

Source: Bureau of Indian Standard

Product Scope of IS 7098 Part 2

IS 7098 Part 2 covers the product’s requirements or specifications for crosslinked polyethylene insulated and PVC sheathed or polyethylene sheathed cables for single-phase or three-phase (earthed or unearthed) systems for electricity supply purposes. It includes four distinct types of cables as mentioned below -

Single-core unscreened, unarmoured cables, however, non-magnetic metallic tape covered.
Single-core screened unarmoured cables.
Single-core armored (non-magnetic) screened or unscreened cables.
Three-core armored screened or unscreened cables.

The mentioned cables are ideal for use where the sum of ambient temperature and temperature rise because of load results in a conductor temperature not exceeding 90°C under normal operation and 250°C under short-circuit conditions.

Moreover, armored cables up to 11 kV grade are appropriate to use for the purpose of mining, although certain additional requirements need to be met, whenever required. Similar to IS 7098 Part 1, this standard also includes cables with improved fire performance categories, that is C1 and C2 and for cables, additional requirements have been provided.

To attain the specification mentioned in the standards below mentioned tests will be conducted on the product for quality assurance -

Routine test

A routine test is a test conducted by the manufacturer applies to the finished length of cables, to demonstrate the integrity of the cable.

Type test

A test conducted prior to the supply of the product for general commercial purposes to demonstrate satisfactory performance characteristics.

Acceptance test

Acceptance tests will be performed on product samples with the motive to accept a lot.

Optional test

Under the optional test, a special test will be performed as required in accordance with the agreement between supplier and purchaser.

Properties of XLPE Insulation

Source: Bureau of Indian Standard

With the understanding of the first two parts of IS 7098, let’s finally move to IS 7098 Part 3.

Product Scope IS 7098 Part 3

Part 3 of IS 7098 includes requirements or specifications for single-core, cross-linked polyethylene insulated, unarmoured, or armored (with or without lead alloy sheath) and thermoplastic outer sheathed cables for 3 phase SC earthed system for electric supply.

Cables under Part 3 of IS 7098, distinct voltage, as mentioned in the below-mentioned table -

System Voltage U (kV)	Rated Voltage Uo/U (kV)	Highest System Voltage Um (kV)
(1)	(2)	(3)
66	38/66	72.5
110	64/110	123
132	76/132	145
220	127/220	245

Source: Bureau of Indian Standard

Moreover, cables under Part 3 of IS 7098 are ideal for use where the combined ambient temperature and temperature rise due to load results in a conductor temperature not exceeding 90°C under normal operation and 250°C under short circuit operation.

To attain the specification mentioned in the standards below mentioned tests will be conducted on the product for quality assurance -

Routine test

A routine test is a test conducted by the manufacturer applicable on the finished length of cables, to demonstrate the integrity of the cable.

Type test

A test conducted prior to the supply of the product for general commercial purposes to demonstrate satisfactory performance characteristics.

Acceptance test

Acceptance tests will be performed on product samples with the motive to accept a lot.

Optional test

Under the optional test, a special test will be performed as required in accordance with the agreement between supplier and purchaser.

Properties of XLPE Insulation

Source: Bureau of Indian Standard

How We Help Ensuring Conformance With IS 7098 Specifications?

We will educate you concerning every aspect of Indian Standard 7098.
We will check whether a product falls under the purview of BIS or not, including whether a product complies with the BIS standards or not, then, after mutual understanding, the project will move forward.
There is no better place to obtain it than JR Compliance because we will analyze the product requirements to give clear guidelines.
JR Compliance has experienced expert professionals, who can assist you in the documentation, evaluation, and examination.
We are equipped with the necessary resources to conduct a virtual pre-audit to confirm whether your manufacturing unit and production process are complying with provided specifications or not.
JR Compliance will schedule a meeting with the BIS officer for a factory audit.
If you lack an in-house testing facility, we will help you in setting up one.
We will coordinate with a BIS accredited laboratory for product testing.
You can expect reliable and punctual service delivery as we will also visit the BIS office on your behalf if required.
We invest our sustained efforts to meet the startled queries or demands of BIS.
In case of any concern, we assure to provide the finest solution.

Conclusion

IS 7098, an Indian Standard applicable to electrical cables, which are usually used in the Mining industry and metro industries, is one of the major contributors to our economic development. Considering that, it is not only essential but mandatory to ensure conformance with specifications mentioned in IS 7098 with the purpose to introduce your product in the Indian market.

Keeping the importance of conformance with compliance in mind, we - JR Compliance, a leading compliance service provider are equipped with experts and resources to provide you with above and beyond support to obtain a BIS certificate.

Till now, we have experience in providing compliance assistance to over 10,000+ global leaders such as Toray, Bombay Dyeing, Softbank, and others.

For details, Get in touch with the best compliance consultants in India.