Product Overview
The ZC-VV22 is a Class C flame-retardant, steel-tape armored power cable with a rated AC voltage of 0.6/1 kV, designed for fixed low-voltage power transmission and distribution systems requiring fire protection.
Model Designation Breakdown:
ZC: Class C flame-retardant; complies with the vertical bunched cable combustion test requirements specified in GB/T 19666, limiting flame propagation speed and preventing fire from spreading along the cable line.
VV: The first "V" denotes PVC insulation, and the second "V" denotes a PVC outer sheath.
22: Features a double-layer overlapping galvanized steel-tape armor structure; offers resistance to mechanical crushing, impact, rodent damage, and soil chemical corrosion, making it suitable for underground installation.
Unlike ZC-YJV22 cables that utilize cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation, ZC-VV22 cables employ thermoplastic PVC insulation, a material characterized by stable processing properties, low raw material costs, excellent resistance to acids and alkalis, and good compatibility with filler materials. Their steel-tape armored structure allows for direct burial without the need for additional protective conduits, thereby simplifying civil works for underground power projects.
This cable series is available in configurations ranging from single-core to five-core, with conductor cross-sections spanning 10 mm² to 630 mm². As a cost-effective, flame-retardant armored backbone cable, it is widely specified by power design institutes, fire safety engineering firms, municipal contractors, and property management engineering companies for applications such as fixed underground installation, centralized power distribution in basements, and wiring within fire-rated compartments.
Flame Retardancy Rating Guide (Quick Reference for Engineers)
ZA (Highest Flame Retardancy): Offers the strictest flame spread suppression capabilities; suitable for super-high-rise buildings, large public transport hubs, nuclear facilities, and critical chemical plants.
ZB (Medium-High Flame Retardancy): Offers moderate fire control capabilities; suitable for high-rise commercial buildings and underground utility tunnels.
ZC (Standard Flame Retardancy - Class C): A standard rating that meets fire safety acceptance criteria for most conventional civil, industrial, and municipal projects; the mainstream choice offering the best cost-performance ratio.
Model Code Definitions and Compliance Standards
Quick Model Identification for Field Engineers
ZC: Class C flame retardancy; complies with the GB/T 19666 vertical flame spread test standard; inhibits longitudinal flame propagation along the cable.
V: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) insulation; a thermoplastic material offering good chemical resistance, low production costs, and ease of extrusion.
V: PVC outer sheath; resistant to atmospheric aging, weak acids, weak alkalis, and corrosive soil substances.
22: Double-layer overlapping galvanized steel tape armor plus inner bedding; provides resistance to compression, impact, and rodent damage; designed for direct-burial installation.
0.6/1kV: Rated insulation voltage U₀/U = 0.6/1kV; suitable for standard three-phase four-wire or five-wire low-voltage distribution networks.
Applicable Manufacturing and Testing Standards
- GB/T 12706.1-2020: Power cables with extruded insulation for rated voltages from 0.6/1 kV to 26/35 kV
- IEC 60502-1: International standard for low-voltage power cables with extruded insulation
- GB/T 19666: Classification and test methods for flame-retardant and fire-resistant cables
- IEC 60228: Specification for Class 2 compacted stranded copper conductors
Key Routine Tests
- Conductor DC resistance test
- Power-frequency withstand voltage test
- Insulation resistance test
- Vertical flame-retardant combustion test
- Armor corrosion resistance test
Comprehensive Certification Documentation
- ISO9001 Quality Management System certification
- CCC mandatory certification
- CE certification
- Third-party full-item type test reports
- Raw material incoming inspection records; fully meets all requirements for international tendering, fire safety reviews, and project completion acceptance.
Analysis of Layered Structure and Functionality (ZC-VV22 Specialized Armored Flame-Retardant Design)
Class 2 Compacted Stranded High-Purity Electrolytic Copper Conductor
The precision stranding process enhances conductor roundness and density, thereby reducing DC resistance and temperature rise during prolonged full-load operation. The copper material exhibits minimal creep under terminal crimping pressure, ensuring stable contact resistance for over 30 years and eliminating the terminal overheating risks commonly associated with aluminum conductors. The smooth outer surface of the conductor ensures reliable crimping compatibility with standard armored cable terminals and accessories.
Flame-Retardant Modified PVC Insulation Layer
Utilizes a specially formulated flame-retardant PVC insulation material, processed via uniform extrusion and monitored by in-line eccentricity detection. Unlike standard PVC, this material incorporates halogen-based flame-retardant additives to retard flame propagation; it offers excellent chemical stability, resisting moisture and mild chemical corrosion found in underground soil environments. The long-term rated operating temperature is 70°C, clearly distinguishing it from 90°C XLPE-insulated cables in terms of temperature rating.
Non-hygroscopic PP filler + binding tape (multi-core versions only)
Fills the interstices between insulated cores to maintain a uniform, circular cable profile; provides a buffer against mutual compression and friction during pulling and installation, preventing scratches to the insulation surface; blocks moisture ingress and stabilizes the cable's roundness, facilitating installation through conduits.
PVC inner bedding layer
A continuous buffer layer formed via extrusion that separates the insulated core assembly from the steel tape armor; prevents the sharp edges of the steel tape from cutting the internal insulation during bending or under pressure, and avoids electrochemical corrosion between the steel armor and internal copper conductors in moist soil environments.
Double-layer overlapping galvanized steel tape armor (primary mechanical protection layer)
Constructed by helically wrapping two layers of galvanized steel tape with a specified overlap ratio; this is the core functional layer for underground installation. It effectively withstands vertical soil pressure, impacts from excavation, punctures by sharp stones, and damage from rodent gnawing; the galvanized coating enhances rust resistance in moist and mildly corrosive soil, enabling direct burial without the need for heavy-duty protective conduit.
Flame-Retardant Modified PVC Outer Sheath
The outer sheath utilizes a flame-retardant PVC formulation matched to the insulation rating, ensuring the cable's overall flame-retardant performance. It offers resistance to UV aging, soil-based acid/alkali corrosion, mold growth, and mechanical abrasion, thereby protecting the internal armor and insulation structure to meet the requirements of long-term direct-burial operation.
Comprehensive Technical Specifications (ZC-VV22 0.6/1kV; suitable for Bills of Quantities and electrical design calculations)
Rated Voltage Class
U₀/U: 0.6/1kV (AC 50Hz); maximum system operating voltage Um = 1.2kV; suitable for general low-voltage three-phase power distribution systems.
Conductor Configuration Options
- Number of Cores: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cores
- Nominal Cross-sectional Area: 10mm², 16mm², 25mm², 35mm², 50mm², 70mm², 95mm², 120mm², 150mm², 185mm², 240mm², 300mm², 400mm², 500mm², 630mm²
- Conductor Standard: IEC 60228 Class 2 rigid compacted stranded copper conductor
Thermal Performance Specifications
- Maximum long-term permissible conductor operating temperature: 70°C
- Maximum conductor temperature for short-circuit withstand (duration ≤ 5 seconds): 160°C
- Minimum permissible ambient temperature for installation: 0°C; pre-heating is required for installation below 0°C to prevent sheath embrittlement and cracking
- Design service life under standard installation and normal operating conditions: ≥ 30 years
- Flame-retardant performance: Complies with GB/T 19666 Category C bunched-cable burning test requirements
Mandatory installation bending radius specifications (critical control point for on-site installation; D = cable outer diameter)
- Minimum bending radius for single-core ZC-VV22: ≥ 20 × cable outer diameter
- Minimum bending radius for multi-core ZC-VV22: ≥ 15 × cable outer diameter
Structural characteristics notes
PVC has lower heat resistance than XLPE and is unsuitable for long-term installation in high-temperature environments; the steel tape armor layer offers good compressive strength but poor tensile strength, making it unsuitable for overhead installations subject to tension.
Electrical and Installation Characteristics
Its continuous current-carrying capacity meets standard design requirements for low-voltage backbone power distribution. Although its current-carrying capacity and temperature resistance are slightly lower than those of ZC-YJV22, it offers significant raw material cost advantages and excellent underground corrosion resistance, making it highly cost-competitive for large-scale municipal and civil underground cabling projects.
Differentiated Core Competitive Advantages (comprising technical assessment by electrical engineers and a full-lifecycle economic analysis for procurement)
Technical Advantages Valued by Electrical Design Engineers
- Features comprehensive ZC-grade flame-retardant properties, meeting standard fire safety acceptance requirements.
- The cable's flame-retardant formulation has passed the Category C bunched-cable burning test; it effectively inhibits the longitudinal spread of flames during a fire, preventing the fire from propagating along cable trenches and underground utility tunnels. It complies with mandatory fire safety regulations for applications such as basement power distribution, underground utility tunnels, and backbone cabling in commercial buildings, while also helping to streamline the fire safety approval process.
- The double steel-tape armored design enables cost-effective direct underground burial.
- The integrated mechanical protection layer eliminates the need for large-diameter HDPE or concrete conduits along the burial route, reduces the volume of trenching and backfilling work, shortens the civil engineering timeline for underground power upgrades, and effectively mitigates the risk of potential cable damage caused by soil pressure, excavation activities, and rodent activity.
- The PVC construction provides excellent corrosion resistance, allowing the cable to adapt to complex soil environments.
- The PVC insulation and sheathing layers exhibit high resistance to mildly acidic, alkaline, and saline-alkali soils, effectively withstanding the electrochemical corrosion and fungal attack commonly encountered in direct-burial environments such as municipal roads, riverbanks, and suburban areas; compared to unarmored cables, this structure significantly lowers the probability of failure resulting from long-term insulation degradation.
- A comprehensive standardization system accelerates blueprint design and the technical response process for tenders.
- Covering a full range of cross-sectional sizes and core configurations, the system features verified current-carrying capacity data, standardized bending radius parameters, and compatible termination accessories for armored cables—all widely recognized by design institutes and fire safety regulatory bodies. Engineers avoid redundant design validation, thereby shortening the cycles for drawing reviews and bid preparation while minimizing the risk of specification errors.
- Clear classification aligns with tiered fire safety design strategies.
- Specifications can be upgraded to ZB-VV22 or ZA-VV22 to meet stricter fire resistance requirements. Designers can select the appropriate flame-retardant grade based on the building's fire safety rating, establishing a tiered fire protection layout across the entire electrical system that complies with national standards for building electrical design.
Its economic advantages over the entire lifecycle are highly valued by procurement managers and EPC cost controllers.
- Compared to XLPE-insulated ZC-YJV22 cables, this product offers a cost advantage that reduces initial project capital expenditure.
- As PVC raw material costs are lower than those of XLPE, the unit price of the finished ZC-VV22 cable is highly competitive for large-scale municipal underground cable projects, enabling procurement teams to effectively manage the total material budget during the bidding phase.
- The direct-burial installation method significantly reduces overall civil engineering expenses.
- By eliminating the need for conduit procurement, transportation, and installation, the product reduces the civil engineering component of the total project cost, thereby increasing profit margins for EPC contractors in a highly competitive bidding environment.
- Superior underground durability reduces long-term maintenance and replacement costs.
- Its damage-resistant armored structure lowers the risk of post-installation cable failure caused by external mechanical damage; over a 30-year service life, the reduction in excavation and repair work offsets minor performance differences compared to ZC-YJV22 cables, thereby delivering superior total-lifecycle economic benefits for fixed underground backbone projects.
- Mass production of standard models eliminates customization surcharges and delivery uncertainty.
- As a standard-specification product, the ZC-VV22 cable is continuously mass-produced, ensuring stable unit prices and predictable lead times (unlike non-standard custom cables) and effectively mitigating the impact of market price fluctuations in raw materials such as copper and plastics.
- High compatibility with standard armored cable accessories simplifies decentralized procurement management.
- It is compatible with standard armored cable glands, cold-shrink/heat-shrink armored termination kits, junction boxes, and trench accessories, eliminating the need for custom-made parts; this streamlines tasks for project procurement departments, including Bill of Materials (BOM) management, incoming quality inspections, and on-site warehouse inventory control.
Comparison and Selection Reference Table for Three Models (All with 0.6/1kV Voltage Rating and Equal Cross-Section)
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Comparison Item
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ZC-VV22 PVC Insulated Armoured Cable
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ZC-YJV22 XLPE Insulated Armoured Cable
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ZC-VV Non-Armoured Cable
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Insulation Material
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Flame retardant PVC, long-term 70°C rated
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Flame retardant XLPE, long-term 90°C rated
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Flame retardant PVC, 70°C rated
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Flame Retardant Class
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Category C compliant
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Category C compliant
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Category C compliant
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Direct Burial Feasibility
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Fully suitable, steel tape anti-pressure protection
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Fully suitable, steel tape anti-pressure protection
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Not allowed, vulnerable to underground damage
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Ampacity Level
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Relatively lower
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Higher, better overload tolerance
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Relatively lower
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Underground Corrosion Resistance
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Excellent
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Good
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Poor
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Upfront Procurement Cost
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Lowest
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Medium
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Low
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Typical Application Position
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Municipal underground trunk, cost-sensitive buried power lines
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High-load main incoming trunk, high-temperature laying environment
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Indoor cable trench fixed wiring only
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Typical Application Scenarios and Three Real-World Engineering Cases (Specific to the ZC-VV22 Series)
Primary Application Scope
- Armored trunk cables serving as main incoming and outgoing lines for centralized distribution boxes in residential complexes, as well as underground direct-buried power lines for community grid upgrades
- Main incoming lines for distribution cabinets, trunk cabling across fire compartments, and underground cable trench installations in large commercial complexes, shopping malls, and office buildings
- Underground direct-buried main power lines within industrial plant grids, and fixed power transmission applications in chemical and light industry facilities where soil conditions are mildly corrosive
- Conversion of overhead power lines to underground cables during municipal road renovations, and low-voltage branch distribution cabling within urban underground utility tunnels
- Direct-buried cables for suburban and rural grid upgrades, rodent-resistant armored cabling for agricultural power supply, and temporary or permanent direct-buried power lines for infrastructure projects
- Underground power layouts for auxiliary distribution systems in parking lots, logistics warehouses, and large data centers (requiring basic flame-retardant properties)
Case Study 1: EPC Project for Underground Cable Retrofitting in an Older Urban Power Grid
Project Requirements: The project involved upgrading various aging overhead low-voltage lines across 19 residential complexes by replacing them with direct-burial armored cables. Key requirements included high cable volume, resistance to rodent damage and soil corrosion, compliance with local power utility and fire safety inspections, and strict control over the total investment budget.
Solution Implemented: Bulk supply of ZC-VV22 flame-retardant armored cables (specifications: 4×185mm² and 5×95mm²), totaling 53.2 kilometers in length.
Project Outcomes: The use of steel-tape armored cables eliminated the need for conduit installation, resulting in a 27% reduction in combined civil engineering and material costs. The cables' flame-retardant performance (Class C) successfully met fire safety regulatory filing requirements. Post-delivery operation has been stable, with no underground cable failures reported within five years. The local power utility designated the ZC-VV22 cable as the standard, cost-effective underground cable for future residential grid retrofitting tenders.
Case Study 2: Underground Power Distribution Project for a Large-Scale Logistics Park
Project Requirements: Installation of armored backbone incoming power cables for the basement distribution rooms of multi-story warehouses, with some lines routed through underground cable trenches; compliance with basic fire-retardancy standards for warehouse fire safety design; and resistance to rodent damage as well as mechanical damage during future maintenance.
Solution Implemented: A mix of ZC-VV22 type armored cables (3-core, 4-core, and 5-core configurations), with a total supply length of 37.8 kilometers.
Project Outcomes: The ZC-grade flame-retardant structure met warehouse fire safety code requirements; the direct-burial installation design accelerated the overall construction schedule; and the system operated for four years without insulation breakdown or external damage, consistently passing annual fire safety inspections and routine electrical audits by property management.
Case Study 3: Upgrade and Renovation of the Low-Voltage Underground Power Distribution Network in a Town Industrial Park
Project Requirements: Laying underground main power cables to connect the centralized distribution station with the incoming power cabinets of various workshops; the cables needed to withstand the local mildly alkaline, corrosive soil environment while balancing fire-retardant performance with overall project cost control.
Solution Implemented: Selection of ZC-VV22 armored cables in various specifications, with a total supply length of 29.4 kilometers.
Project Outcomes: The PVC sheathing effectively withstood the mildly corrosive soil conditions; the cost advantage helped the general contractor win the bid; and the standardized installation plan simplified subsequent maintenance and troubleshooting, establishing this cable model as the preferred choice for future expansion projects within the park.
Guide to Key Selection and Installation Specifications (Essential reading for design engineers and site supervisors selecting ZC-VV22 cables)
- Verify electrical and environmental parameters before finalizing specifications
- Prior to selecting ZC-VV22 cables, it is essential to perform current-carrying capacity calculations, voltage drop checks, soil corrosivity assessments, and building fire-rating verifications. Our technical team can provide a comparative selection report between ZC-VV22 and ZC-YJV22 to help you avoid risks associated with insufficient current-carrying capacity or unnecessary costs.
- Use specialized armored cable termination kits for installation
- Termination work must utilize compatible armored cable accessories and grounding clamps; standard procedures for steel tape grounding and the stripping of inner and outer insulation layers must be strictly followed. Arbitrary cutting of the steel tape or improper grounding creates hazards related to induced voltage and fails to meet electrical engineering acceptance standards.
- Strictly control the minimum bending radius during pulling and installation
- Prescribed bending radius limits must be strictly observed throughout the installation process; sharp or excessive bending can cause tearing of the inner bedding layer, deformation of the steel tape, and compression damage to the insulation layer, creating latent insulation defects that compromise long-term safe operation. Chamfering protection measures must be implemented at conduit openings to prevent scratching the outer sheath.
- Standardized double-ended grounding for the steel tape armor layer
- The steel tape armor layer at both the starting and terminating ends of the cable must be reliably connected to the protective grounding system in accordance with electrical standards; this suppresses circulating induced currents within the armor and eliminates potential risks of or insulation interference during long-term underground operation.
- Clearly define application limitations and temperature suitability
- The maximum long-term operating temperature for ZC-VV22 (PVC-insulated) cables is 70°C; they should not be installed near high-temperature boilers or thermal pipelines, nor in enclosed spaces subject to sustained high temperatures (ZC-YJV22 cables are recommended for such environments). These cables are unsuitable for long-term full-immersion installation; armored cables with specialized waterproofing capabilities should be selected for underwater applications.
- Standardized Storage and Transport Management for Large Armored Cable Reels
- Cable reels should be stored on flat, solid ground within a dry, well-ventilated warehouse to prevent accelerated aging of the PVC sheath caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight and rain. During loading, unloading, and transportation, precautions must be taken to avoid severe impacts, crushing, or tipping, which could lead to defects such as sheath cracking, armor deformation, or internal conductor displacement.
Competitive Advantages of Sourcing Our ZC-VV22 Cables for Tenders, Procurement, and EPC Partnerships
- We provide a comprehensive package of certification documentation for ZC-VV22 flame-retardant armored cables that meets all tender requirements.
- All products are manufactured in strict accordance with GB/T 12706, GB/T 19666, and relevant IEC international standards. We provide—free of charge—a complete set of factory qualification documents, comprehensive type test reports, flame-retardant test records, third-party inspection certificates, and editable technical parameter sheets tailored for tenders. These materials fully satisfy the requirements of global engineering projects regarding document review, bid submission, fire safety inspections, and project completion acceptance.
- Flame-Retardant Armored Cables: Rigorous Raw Material Selection and Comprehensive, Targeted Quality Control
- We utilize high-quality flame-retardant PVC compounds, galvanized steel tape, and high-purity copper rods specifically designed for armored cable production. Key manufacturing stages—including stranding, insulation extrusion, cabling, armor wrapping, and sheathing—are equipped with real-time online monitoring systems for outer diameter and concentricity. This ensures consistent conductor resistance, uniform insulation thickness, and stable flame-retardant performance and armor overlap rates across production batches, thereby minimizing the risk of rejection during incoming inspections for large-scale tender orders.
- Flexible, Personalized Customization to Meet Specific Project Technical Requirements
- We offer options such as selectable flame-retardant grades (ZA, ZB, or ZC), cut-to-length services, customized core colors, and packaging in either wooden reels or export-grade steel reels. Additionally, we provide tailored bulk packaging solutions for the full range of ZC-VV22 specifications (covering various core counts and cross-sectional areas) based on customer drawings and specific engineering requirements.
- Factory-Direct Model: Stable pricing and flexible minimum order requirements
- We operate our own cable manufacturing facility, eliminating intermediary markups. We support small-batch sample orders to meet tender pre-qualification needs while also prioritizing production for large-volume orders. Ready stock is maintained for mainstream ZC-VV22 cable specifications to ensure rapid delivery, meeting the tight scheduling demands of municipal and industrial projects.
- Comprehensive Technical Support for Low-Voltage Electrical Engineering
- Our team of professional cable design engineers provides free current-carrying capacity calculations, comparative analysis of the total lifecycle costs between ZC-VV22 and ZC-YJV22 cables, consultation on optimizing underground routing, remote on-site installation guidance, and standardized after-sales quality tracking. Backed by a formal, long-term product warranty policy, we comprehensively address any technical or quality concerns procurement and engineering teams may have following order fulfillment.
- Extensive cross-border export experience in municipal and industrial underground power projects
- We offer mature export packaging solutions, comprehensive customs documentation support, and highly efficient global logistics channels. We have a proven track record of reliable supply for projects across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America—including urban grid upgrades, industrial park construction, residential developments, and underground cabling infrastructure. Furthermore, we are well-versed in local regulations regarding electrical product certification, fire safety inspections, and compliance filings for ZC-VV22 armored cables in various overseas markets.
FAQ (SEO content addressing common buyer questions about the ZC-VV22 series)
Q1: What are the main differences between ZC-VV22 and ZC-YJV22 armored cables?
A1: The primary difference lies in the insulation material: ZC-VV22 uses flame-retardant PVC insulation with a maximum continuous operating temperature of 70°C; it offers cost advantages and good soil corrosion resistance, making it suitable for direct-buried main lines with standard loads. ZC-YJV22 utilizes XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) insulation, allowing for a higher operating temperature of 90°C, greater current-carrying capacity, and superior overload performance; while the material cost is higher, it is better suited for high-load main feeder lines and high-temperature installation environments. Both types feature ZC-grade flame retardancy and are designed for direct-buried installation with steel-tape armor protection.
Q2: Can ZC-VV22 cables be laid via direct burial without protective conduit?
A2: Yes. This model features double steel-tape armor, offering resistance to mechanical crushing, impact, and rodent damage; direct burial is the most cost-effective installation method. However, in geological conditions characterized by dense rock or hard, highly compressive soil, customers may install thin-walled protective conduits to provide additional protection, in accordance with design specifications.
Q3: What are the differences between the ZA, ZB, and ZC flame-retardant grades?
A1. ZC: Basic flame-retardant grade; testing requirements are relatively moderate. Widely used in standard civil, municipal, and general industrial projects.
A2. ZB: Medium-to-high flame-retardant grade; combustion testing requirements are stricter. Suitable for critical circuits in high-rise buildings and underground utility tunnels.
A3. ZA: Highest flame-retardant grade; requirements for controlling flame spread are the most stringent. Suitable for super high-rise buildings, hazardous chemical zones, and critical public hub facilities.
Q4: What certification documents can you provide for ZC-VV22 cables to meet international tender requirements?
A4: We can provide the manufacturing license, ISO9001 certificate, CCC certificate, CE certificate, comprehensive type test reports (covering flame-retardancy, conductor resistance, withstand voltage tests, etc.), raw material inspection records, third-party authoritative test certificates, and ZC-VV22 technical specification sheets customized to client requirements.
Q5: What is the typical production lead time for bulk orders of ZC-VV22 cables?
A5: Stock items in standard specifications can be shipped within 3–7 working days; orders involving customized flame-retardant ratings, specific lengths, or special packaging requirements have a production lead time of 10–20 working days. For municipal EPC projects with tight schedules, priority production can be arranged upon negotiation to ensure the construction timeline is met.
Q6: Why is it mandatory to ground the armor during the termination process for ZC-VV22 cables?
A6: Without reliable grounding at both ends, alternating current induces circulating currents within the closed steel-tape armor loop, leading to armor heating, accelerated insulation aging, and electromagnetic interference. Proper grounding eliminates the risks associated with induced currents and ensures compliance with national standards for the electrical safety acceptance of armored cables.
