BVVB Flat Sheathed Wires 300V 500V Space Saving Mineral Insulated Copper Cable
BVVB 2x2.5mm² Flat Twin Copper Sheathed Wire 300/500V Space Saving Household Cable
Cable Designation & Meaning
|
Code |
Meaning |
|---|---|
|
B |
Fixed wiring (Class B, fixed installation) |
|
V |
PVC insulation |
|
V |
PVC sheath |
|
B |
Flat profile (twin parallel) |
|
2×2.5 mm² |
Two cores, each 2.5 mm² copper |
Construction: Two parallel solid (Class 1) or stranded (Class 2) copper conductors, each PVC insulated, laid side-by-side and extruded with a common flat PVC outer sheath.
Applicable Standards
- GB/T 5023.4-2008 / IEC 60227-4 — Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V — Part 4: Sheathed cables for fixed wiring
- GB/T 3956 / IEC 60228 — Conductors (Class 1 solid or Class 2 stranded copper)
- GB/T 2951 / IEC 60811 — Insulating and sheathing materials — Common test methods
- GB/T 18380 / IEC 60332-1 — Flame retardant (single cable, passes)
- GB/T 5023.2-2008 / IEC 60227-2 — Test methods
BVVB-2×2.5 mm² — Flat PVC Sheathed Copper Building Wire — Specification & Engineering Data
1. Overview & Ratings. BVVB-2×2.5 is a flat twin-core PVC sheathed copper building wire rated 300/500 V, 70 °C continuous. Built per GB/T 5023 / IEC 60227. The flat shape allows direct wall-surface mounting without conduit. Two 2.5 mm² stranded copper conductors side by side in a flat PVC jacket. Finished flat dimensions ≈ 5.0×10.0 mm, ≈ 105 kg/km, 100 m coils.
2. Construction Stack (Conductor → Outer).
| Layer | Build | Wall | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conductors (×2) | Stranded annealed Cu, Class 2, 2×2.5 mm² | — | ≈ 1.78 mm each |
| PVC insulation (per core) | Polyvinyl chloride | ≈ 0.7 mm | ≈ 3.2 mm each |
| Flat PVC sheath | PVC, light grey/white | ≈ 1.5 mm | ≈ 5.0×10.0 mm (finished) |
3. Electrical Characteristics. DC resistance ≤ 7.41 Ω/km at 20 °C (Cu 2.5 mm²); test voltage 2.0 kV AC / 5 min; insulation resistance ≥ 20 MΩ·km. Nominal ampacity ≈ 23 A (free air, 30 °C). Voltage drop ≈ 2.6 V/A·100 m.
Insulation & Sheath Data
|
Property |
Value |
|---|---|
|
Insulation material |
PVC (polyvinyl chloride), Type TI1/TI2 |
|
Outer sheath material |
PVC (polyvinyl chloride), Type TM1/TM2 |
|
Long-term service temp. |
70 °C (continuous, both insulation & sheath) |
|
Short-circuit temp. (≤5 s) |
160 °C (Cu conductor limit for PVC) |
|
Emergency overload temp. |
105 °C (short term) |
|
Test voltage AC (5 min) |
2.0 kV (routine test, 450/750 V class) |
|
Dielectric strength |
≥ 15 kV/mm (room temp.) |
Electrical Parameters
|
Parameter |
Value |
Note |
|---|---|---|
|
Rated voltage U₀/U |
300 / 500 V |
GB/T 5023.4 / IEC 60227-4 (common sheath rating) |
|
Max. system voltage |
500 V AC |
— |
|
Test voltage AC (5 min) |
2.0 kV |
Routine test |
|
DC resistance @20 °C (solid) |
≤ 7.41 Ω/km |
GB/T 3956 Class 1 Cu max, 2.5 mm² |
|
DC resistance @20 °C (stranded) |
≤ 7.41 Ω/km |
GB/T 3956 Class 2 Cu max, 2.5 mm² |
|
AC resistance @70 °C (est.) |
≈ 9.4 Ω/km |
per core |
|
Current rating in air (30 °C) |
20 A |
2-core flat, open air, reference value |
|
Current rating clipped to wall (30 °C) |
18 A |
surface-mounted, typical installation |
|
Current rating in conduit (30 °C) |
16 A |
enclosed in conduit |
|
Short-circuit current (1 s, Cu, 160 °C) |
≈ 0.28 kA (280 A) |
2.5 mm² Cu |
|
Frequency |
50/60 Hz AC |
— |
Reference values: 2×2.5 mm² at 16–18 A, single-phase 230 V → max load ≈ 3.7–4.1 kW. Voltage drop at 18 A ≈ 169 V/km per core (≈7.4% per 100 m at 230 V — limit to ≤ 40 m run without upsize).
4. Thermal & Mechanical. 70 °C continuous conductor temperature; 160 °C short-circuit (≤ 5 s); ambient range −15~+70 °C. Bend ≥ 3 × OD ≈ 30 mm. Flat shape lies flush on wall surfaces.
Temperature Characteristics
|
Property |
Value |
|---|---|
|
Max. conductor operating temp. |
70 °C (continuous) |
|
Max. short-circuit temp. (≤5 s) |
160 °C (Cu conductor, PVC limit) |
|
Emergency overload temp. |
105 °C (not recommended for continuous) |
|
Min. installation ambient temp. |
0 °C (PVC); below 0 °C pre-heating required |
|
Service ambient range |
−15 °C to +70 °C (PVC insulation & sheath) |
|
Fire survival |
Standard (flame retardant single cable) |
Fire Performance (BVVB — Standard)
|
Property |
Value / Requirement |
|---|---|
|
Flame retardant |
IEC 60332-1 (single cable, passes) |
|
Halogen content |
Contains halogen (PVC insulation & sheath) |
|
Smoke density |
Standard (non-low-smoke) |
|
Corrosivity |
Corrosive (PVC) |
|
Fire survival (circuit integrity) |
Not applicable (standard version) |
5. Installation Practice & Handling. Can be surface-mounted directly on walls using cable clips — no conduit needed. Strip outer sheath carefully to avoid nicking inner cores. At 105 kg/km, moderate weight. Indoor use only.
Mechanical & Installation Parameters
|
Parameter |
Value |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|
|
Minimum bending radius |
≥ 4 × cable thickness → ≈ 40 mm (at 10 mm H) |
flat profile, careful bending |
|
Max. pulling tension |
250 N |
solid Cu conductor |
|
Direct burial |
Not recommended (no mechanical protection; use PVC conduit) |
— |
|
Surface mounting |
Excellent (flat profile clips neatly to walls) |
cable clips every 200–300 mm |
|
Conduit ID |
≥ 16 mm (for 2-core flat) |
use oval conduit for flat profile |
|
Fixing |
cable clips, trunking, conduit |
flat shape ideal for surface wiring |
|
Impact resistance |
Low (PVC sheath only) |
protect with conduit in exposed areas |
|
Water resistance |
Moisture-resistant (PVC) |
not waterproof; indoor dry areas preferred |
|
UV resistance |
Poor (PVC degrades in sunlight) |
indoor use only; outdoor requires UV-resistant conduit |
|
Termination note |
Strip 10–12 mm sheath + 8–10 mm insulation; use standard screw terminals |
solid conductor direct into terminal |
6. Typical Service Applications. Indoor lighting circuits, wall-surface wiring, small appliance connections, extension leads, workshop bench power — where direct surface mounting is preferred over concealed conduit.
7. Testing & QA Regime. Routine: conductor DC resistance, 2.0 kV AC / 5 min withstand, insulation resistance, dimensional check. Type: heating test, bending test, flame retardancy, cold bend at −15 °C.
The Wire Parameters
| BVVB-2×2.5 mm² — Flat PVC Sheathed Copper Building Wire — Full Parameter Sheet | ||||
| Flat sheathed cable · 2× copper conductors / PVC insulation / flat PVC sheath · 300/500 V · 70 °C · ≈ 5.0 × 10.0 mm | ||||
| Section | Parameter | Value | Unit | Remarks / Standard |
| 01 · Identification | ||||
| Cable type | BVVB — flat PVC sheathed copper building wire | — | Flat sheathed wiring | |
| Rated voltage (U0/U) | 300/500 | V | Building / indoor | |
| Number of cores | 2 × 2.5 | — | 2-core (L/N) | |
| Conductor material | Annealed copper | — | Class 1 solid or Class 2 stranded | |
| Insulation material | PVC (polyvinyl chloride) | — | Per core | |
| Sheath material | PVC (flat, light grey/white) | — | Outer sheath | |
| Standard | GB/T 5023 / IEC 60227 | — | Flat sheathed cable | |
| Application | Fixed indoor wiring, wall surface, lighting | — | Building electrical | |
| Shape | Flat | — | BVVB = flat | |
| 02 · Conductor (Copper) | ||||
| Conductor type | Annealed copper, stranded | — | Class 2 per GB/T 3956 | |
| Conductor area | 2 × 2.5 | mm² | 2-core | |
| Stranding construction | 19 × 0.41 mm (approx.) | — | Stranded round | |
| DC resistance @ 20 °C | ≤ 7.41 | Ω/km | Cu 2.5 mm² max | |
| Conductor weight per km | ≈ 45 | kg/km | 2×2.5 Cu | |
| Conductor diameter | ≈ 1.78 | mm | Approx. | |
| 03 · Insulation & Sheath | ||||
| Insulation type | PVC (per core) | — | General-purpose | |
| Insulation thickness | ≈ 0.7 | mm | 300/500 V | |
| Sheath type | PVC flat sheath | — | Outer | |
| Sheath thickness | ≈ 1.5 | mm | Flat | |
| Finished overall dimensions | ≈ 5.0 × 10.0 | mm | Flat rectangular | |
| Sheath color | Light grey / white | — | Standard | |
| 04 · Electrical | ||||
| Rated voltage (U0/U) | 300/500 | V | Flat sheathed | |
| Max voltage | 500 | V | Phase-to-phase | |
| DC resistance @ 20 °C | ≤ 7.41 | Ω/km | Cu 2.5 mm² | |
| Insulation resistance | ≥ 20 | MΩ·km | PVC | |
| Test voltage (AC) | 2.0 kV / 5 min | — | Routine | |
| Nominal current (ampacity) | ≈ 23 | A | Free air, 30 °C | |
| Voltage drop per 100 m | ≈ 2.6 | V/A·100m | At 7.41 Ω/km | |
| 05 · Thermal | ||||
| Max conductor temp. | 70 | °C | PVC rated | |
| Short-circuit temp. | 160 | °C | Max 5 s | |
| Ambient range | -15 ~ +70 | °C | Indoor | |
| Laying temperature | ≥ 0 | °C | Indoor | |
| 06 · Mechanical | ||||
| Min bending radius (fixed) | ≥ 3 × OD ≈ 30 | mm | Flat cable | |
| Shape | Flat | — | Easy to lay on wall | |
| Crush resistance | Good | — | Sheathed | |
| 07 · Installation | ||||
| Laying methods | Wall surface, conduit, trunking, lighting circuits | — | Flat wiring | |
| Connectors | Crimp lugs / screw terminals | — | Standard | |
| Special tools | Wire stripper, cutter | — | Basic | |
| Bend radius | ≥ 3 × OD ≈ 30 mm | — | Flat cable | |
| 08 · Packing | ||||
| Standard supply length | 100 m / coil | m | Flat sheathed | |
| Reel / packing type | Coil, wrapped | — | Plastic bag | |
| Surface marking | BVVB, 2×2.5, 300/500V, GB/T 5023, metre marks | — | Continuous printing | |
| Storage conditions | Dry, indoor | — | Protect from moisture | |
| 09 · Applications | ||||
| Typical use | Indoor lighting, wall surface wiring, small appliances, extension leads | — | Building electrical | |
| Max system voltage | 500 | V | 300/500 V | |
| Application level | Low voltage | — | Indoor building | |
| 10 · Core Identification | ||||
| Core 1 | Red / brown | — | Phase L | |
| Core 2 | Blue / light | — | Neutral N | |
| Sheath | Light grey / white | — | Outer | |
| Earth | No earth core (2-core) | — | Add earth separately if needed | |
The Wire Test Parameters
| Test Parameters — BVVB-2×2.5 mm² Flat Sheathed Cable | ||||
| No. | Test Item | Test Condition / Method | Requirement | Type |
| 1 | Conductor DC resistance | GB/T 3956, 20 °C | ≤ 7.41 Ω/km (Cu 2.5 mm²) | Routine |
| 2 | Voltage test (AC) | 2.0 kV AC, 5 min | No breakdown | Routine |
| 3 | Insulation resistance | 500 V DC | ≥ 20 MΩ·km | Routine |
| 4 | Insulation thickness | Micrometer | ≥ 0.7 mm per core | Routine |
| 5 | Heating test | 70 °C conductor, 2 h | No damage | Type |
| 6 | Bending test | 3× OD, 3 cycles | No damage | Type |
| 7 | Flame retardancy | IEC 60332-1 | Self-extinguishing | Type |
| 8 | Dimensional check | Caliper | ≈ 5.0 × 10.0 mm flat | Routine |
| 9 | Conductor continuity | Per GB/T 3956 | Both cores continuous | Routine |
| 10 | Cold bend test | -15 °C, bending | No cracking | Type |
| 11 | Sheath thickness | Micrometer | PVC ≥ 1.5 mm | Routine |
| 12 | Printing legibility | Visual | Marking readable | Routine |
The Wire Cross Section Structure
| BVVB-2×2.5 mm² — Cross-Section Construction Diagram (Schematic) | |||||
| Flat sheathed cable: 2×Cu conductors → PVC insulation → flat PVC sheath · 300/500 V · 70 °C · ≈ 5.0 × 10.0 mm | |||||
| No. | Layer | Material / Construction | Nominal Thickness (mm) | Dimensions (mm) | Function / Remarks |
| 1 | Conductors (×2) | Stranded annealed copper, Class 2, 2 × 2.5 mm² | — | ≈ 1.78 each | R ≤ 7.41 Ω/km |
| 2 | PVC insulation (per core) | Polyvinyl chloride, general-purpose | ≈ 0.7 | ≈ 3.2 each | 300/500 V rated |
| 3 | Flat PVC sheath | PVC flat sheath, light grey/white | ≈ 1.5 | ≈ 5.0 × 10.0 | Outer protection |
| Key Dimensions & Properties (expanded) | |||||
| Finished flat dimensions | ≈ 5.0 × 10.0 | mm | Overall | ||
| Approx. cable mass | ≈ 105 | kg/km | 2-core flat | ||
| Nominal voltage rating | 300/500 | V | Indoor building | ||
| Max conductor temp. | 70 | °C | PVC rated | ||
| Short-circuit temp. | 160 | °C | Max 5 s | ||
| Min bending radius (fixed) | ≥ 3 × OD ≈ 30 | mm | Flat cable | ||
| DC resistance @ 20 °C | ≤ 7.41 | Ω/km | Cu 2.5 mm² | ||
| Test voltage (AC) | 2.0 kV / 5 min | — | Routine | ||
| Nominal current (ampacity) | ≈ 23 | A | Free air, 30 °C | ||
| Number of cores | 2 | — | L + N | ||
| Shape | Flat | — | Easy wall mounting | ||
| Sheath color | Light grey / white | — | Standard | ||
| Standard | GB/T 5023 / IEC 60227 | — | Flat sheathed | ||
| Application | Indoor lighting / wall wiring | — | Building electrical | ||
| Schematic — not to exact scale. Finished flat dimensions ≈ 5.0×10.0 mm and weight ≈ 105 kg/km from cross-referenced industry samples. BVVB-2×2.5 is a flat twin-core PVC sheathed copper building wire. Values marked (est.) require confirmation against the factory test certificate. | |||||
Construction Description
| Construction Description — BVVB-2×2.5 mm² flat sheathed cable | |||
| Layer-by-layer flat sheathed cable: 2×Cu conductors / PVC insulation / flat PVC sheath · 300/500 V · 70 °C · ≈ 5.0×10.0 mm | |||
| 1. Product Identity & Ratings | |||
| BVVB-2×2.5 is a flat twin-core PVC sheathed copper building wire rated 300/500 V, 70 °C continuous. Built per GB/T 5023 / IEC 60227. The flat shape makes it ideal for wall-surface mounting and lighting circuits. Finished flat dimensions ≈ 5.0×10.0 mm, mass ≈ 105 kg/km, 100 m coils. | |||
| 2. Two Copper Conductors (2×2.5) | |||
| Two 2.5 mm² stranded annealed copper conductors (Class 2, 19×0.41 mm each), laid side by side. DC resistance ≤ 7.41 Ω/km at 20 °C. One core is phase (red/brown), the other is neutral (blue/light). | |||
| 3. PVC Insulation & Flat Sheath | |||
| Each core has PVC insulation ≈ 0.7 mm thick. The two insulated cores are enclosed in a flat PVC sheath ≈ 1.5 mm thick, light grey/white. The flat sheath provides mechanical protection and allows surface mounting without conduit. | |||
| 4. BVVB vs BV Difference | |||
| BVVB is a flat sheathed cable — two cores already assembled in a flat PVC jacket. BV is a single bare-insulated wire that must be pulled into conduit. BVVB can be surface-mounted directly on walls, which saves conduit cost. The flat shape also runs cleaner on wall surfaces. | |||
| 5. Site Handling & Operational Notes | |||
| • Bend radius 3×OD (≈ 30 mm). • Can be surface-mounted on walls. • Use cable clips to secure. • Strip the outer sheath carefully. • At 105 kg/km, moderate weight. • Indoor use only. • Store dry. |
8. Standards & Conformity. GB/T 5023 (PVC insulated cables); IEC 60227 (international equivalent); GB/T 3956 (conductors). Rated 300/500 V.
9. Packaging, Storage & Logistics. 100 m per coil, plastic wrapped. Continuous marking: BVVB, 2×2.5, 300/500V, GB/T 5023, metre marks. Store dry, indoor.
10. Procurement Specification. State "BVVB-2×2.5" + length. No earth core in 2-core version. Confirm against factory test certificate.
11. Cable Industry FAQ.
- Q1: What does "BVVB" mean? B = fixed building wire; V = PVC insulation; V = PVC sheath; B = flat shape. It is a flat twin-core sheathed cable.
- Q2: What is the difference between BVVB and BVR? BVR is a single-core flexible wire (4.0 mm², round, must go in conduit). BVVB is a flat twin-core sheathed cable (2×2.5 mm², can be surface-mounted directly). BVVB saves conduit cost; BVR is more flexible.
- Q3: Why is the voltage rating 300/500 V instead of 450/750 V? Flat sheathed cables (BVVB) are rated 300/500 V because the flat sheath construction is for lower-voltage lighting circuits. The 450/750 V rating applies to single-core BV/BVR wires.
- Q4: Can BVVB be used outdoors? No — standard PVC sheath is not UV-resistant. For outdoor use, use outdoor-rated cable or conduit.
- Q5: Can I surface-mount BVVB directly on walls? Yes — that is the primary advantage. Use cable clips or trunking to secure the flat cable. No conduit needed for indoor dry locations.
- Q6: What is the ampacity? Approximately 23 A in free air at 30 °C. In enclosed spaces, derate to ~18 A.
- Q7: Does BVVB have an earth core? The 2-core version (2×2.5) has only L + N. For earth connection, use BVVB-3×2.5 (3-core) or run a separate earth wire.
- Q8: What is the flat dimension? ≈ 5.0 mm thick × 10.0 mm wide. The flat profile lies flush against walls and ceilings.
- Q9: How do I terminate BVVB? Split the two cores by carefully slicing the flat sheath web between them. Strip each core individually and terminate into a 2-pole terminal block or plug.
- Q10: Is BVVB fire-resistant? No — BVVB is general-purpose PVC. For fire circuits, use mineral-insulated fire cables.
- Q11: Can BVVB be buried in walls? Yes — it can be chased into walls, though conduit is recommended for protection and future replacement. The flat shape sits well in shallow chases.
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