Features very fine wires for applications like industrial robots or handheld tools that undergo continuous flexing. 2. Nominal Cross-Sectional Areas
The official standard is a protected technical document. While you cannot legally find a "free download" of the full copyrighted text, most essential technical data—such as conductor classes, resistance tables, and cross-sectional areas—is publicly shared by official distributors and reputable manufacturers. Where to Access IEC 60228 Legally
: You can purchase the most recent edition, IEC 60228:2023 , directly from the International Electrotechnical Commission .
Covers copper (plain or tinned), aluminum, and aluminum alloy. Note that aluminum is not permitted for flexible Class 5 or Class 6 conductors.
: Many countries adopt this standard under their own codes, such as BS EN IEC 60228:2024 in the UK or TCVN 6612:2007 in Vietnam.
A single wire used for fixed installations where rigidity is acceptable. It offers the lowest resistance and cost.
This is the core requirement. For instance, a 10 mm² Class 2 copper conductor must not exceed a resistance of 1.83 Ω/km .
: Reputable cable companies like Nexans and Eland Cables provide extensive technical summaries and resistance tables that cover nearly all practical engineering needs. Key Technical Overview of IEC 60228
This standard does not apply to telecommunication cables, radio-frequency (RF) systems, or bare overhead conductors. IEC 60228 | Specs, Classification & Applications
IEC 60228 is a fundamental "horizontal standard," meaning its requirements are referenced by almost every other power cable standard. It defines conductors based on rather than strict physical dimensions. 1. Conductor Classification