LSZH Steel Wire Armored (SWA) Signal Control Cables

SWA signal control cable constructions from ETK Kablo combine low-voltage signal and control functions with galvanized steel wire armor for additional mechanical protection. The LSZH range includes foil-screened, copper-braid-screened and combined foil-and-braid-screened constructions, allowing electrical screening and mechanical protection requirements to be specified separately.

The galvanized steel wire armor, commonly referred to as SWA, surrounds a halogen-free inner jacket and primarily provides mechanical protection. Depending on the selected cable family, an Al/PET foil, tinned copper braid or a combination of both provides the dedicated electrical screen inside the armored construction.

This distinction is important in signal-cable specifications. The internal electrical screen helps manage electromagnetic interference, while the galvanized steel wire armor addresses mechanical protection. These layers perform different functions and should not be treated as interchangeable.

What Is an SWA Signal Control Cable?

An SWA signal control cable is a signal or control cable that includes a galvanized steel wire armor layer around the inner-jacketed cable core.

The armor provides additional mechanical protection for fixed cable routes exposed to greater physical stress than a standard unarmored signal cable. Inside the armor, ETK Kablo uses a separate electrical-screening system according to the selected subcategory.

Current ETK Kablo LSZH SWA constructions use IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded copper conductors together with halogen-free inner and outer jackets. Conductor insulation and electrical-screening configuration vary according to the selected product family.

ETK Kablo LSZH SWA Signal Control Cable Range

Category	Electrical Screening	Mechanical Protection	Current Product Range
Foil Screened SWA Signal Control Cables	Al/PET foil with tinned copper earthing wire	Galvanized steel wire armor	6 products
Braid Screened SWA Signal Control Cables	Tinned copper braid	Galvanized steel wire armor	4 products
Foil and Braid Screened SWA Signal Control Cables	Al/PET foil + tinned copper braid	Galvanized steel wire armor	6 products

All three branches use galvanized steel wire armor as the mechanical-protection layer. Their main difference is the electromagnetic-screening system located inside the halogen-free inner jacket.

SWA Armor vs Electrical Screening

An armored signal cable can contain several metallic elements, but they do not all perform the same function.

Component	Material	Main Function
Foil Screen	Al/PET	Electromagnetic screening
Signal Screen Braid	Tinned copper	Electromagnetic screening
Earthing Wire	Tinned copper	Supports foil-screen continuity and termination
SWA Layer	Galvanized steel wire armor	Mechanical protection

The galvanized steel armor should therefore not automatically be treated as the dedicated electrical screen for sensitive signal circuits. ETK Kablo provides separate foil, copper-braid or combined screening systems within the armored cable.

Foil Screened SWA Signal Control Cables

The foil-screened SWA branch combines an overall Al/PET electrical screen with galvanized steel wire armor.

The signal core receives an Al/PET foil together with a tinned copper earthing wire. A halogen-free inner jacket then separates the screened core from the steel wire armor. A halogen-free outer jacket completes the cable.

This branch includes standard multicore, TP/TT and PiMF/TiMF constructions.

PiMF/TiMF versions additionally provide separate foil screens around individual pairs or triads before the overall screen, inner jacket and SWA layers are applied.

Braid Screened SWA Signal Control Cables

The braid-screened branch uses an overall tinned copper braid as the dedicated electrical screen.

The copper braid surrounds the signal core, while the galvanized steel wire armor is positioned outside the halogen-free inner jacket. The two metallic systems therefore perform different functions: copper braid for electromagnetic screening and steel wire armor for mechanical protection.

Standard and TP/TT constructions are available in this branch.

Foil and Braid Screened SWA Signal Control Cables

The combined-screen branch uses both an Al/PET foil and a tinned copper braid as the electrical-screening system.

A halogen-free inner jacket surrounds these electrical screens before the galvanized steel wire armor is applied. The final construction is completed with a halogen-free outer jacket.

Standard, TP/TT and PiMF/TiMF versions provide different conductor-grouping and screening configurations within this branch.

What Do TP and TT Mean?

TP refers to twisted pairs and TT refers to twisted triads.

TP/TT constructions group conductors into pairs or triads before the groups are stranded together to form the cable core. This can support signal and control circuits that require defined conductor grouping.

TP/TT does not mean that each pair or triad is individually screened. Individual metallic screening around each group requires a PiMF/TiMF construction.

What Do PiMF and TiMF Mean?

PiMF refers to individually foil-screened pairs, while TiMF refers to individually foil-screened triads.

In applicable ETK Kablo constructions, each pair or triad receives its own Al/PET foil screen and tinned copper earthing wire. These screened groups are then stranded together before the overall screening, inner jacket, SWA and outer jacket are applied.

PiMF/TiMF therefore addresses electromagnetic separation between individual signal groups, while the SWA layer independently provides mechanical protection.

LIH and LI2Y SWA Constructions

The LSZH SWA range includes both LIH-based and LI2Y-based cable families.

Family	Conductor Insulation	Inner Jacket	Outer Jacket
LIH...	Halogen-free	Halogen-free	Halogen-free
LI2Y...	Solid polyethylene	Halogen-free	Halogen-free

The LI2Y designation therefore reflects the polyethylene conductor insulation. It should not be interpreted as a PVC outer-jacket construction.

SWA vs SWB Signal Control Cable

ETK Kablo also manufactures LSZH Steel Wire Braided (SWB) signal control cables.

Feature	SWA	SWB
Mechanical Layer	Galvanized steel wire armor	Galvanized steel wire braid
Main Function	Mechanical protection	Mechanical protection
Electrical Screening	Specified separately	Specified separately
Available Screen Types	Foil, braid, foil + braid	Foil, braid, foil + braid

SWA and SWB use different mechanical structures. Neither should automatically be considered the better option for every installation. The required construction should follow the project's mechanical conditions and cable specification.

SWA Does Not Automatically Mean Direct Burial

The presence of steel wire armor alone should not be treated as proof that a cable is suitable for direct burial.

Underground routes can expose cables to moisture, standing water, chemicals, pulling forces and other environmental conditions. Suitability therefore depends on the complete cable construction and installation specification, not simply on the presence of SWA.

Where direct burial is required, the complete construction and environmental requirements should be confirmed for the selected cable.

LSZH SWA vs PVC SWA Signal Control Cable

ETK Kablo also offers PVC Steel Wire Armored signal control cables.

Both ranges use steel wire armor for mechanical protection, but their jacket systems differ. The LSZH constructions use halogen-free inner and outer jackets, while the PVC branch uses PVC jacket materials.

The correct choice should follow the project's smoke, halogen, fire, environmental and installation requirements.

Electrical Characteristics

Electrical characteristics vary according to conductor cross-section, conductor insulation and the selected product family. Therefore, one single voltage or insulation-resistance value should not be applied blindly to every SWA cable.

Current representative ETK Kablo LSZH SWA products publish 250 V DC operating voltage for 0.22–0.34 mm² conductors and 300/500 V for 0.50–2.50 mm² conductors.

The corresponding published test voltages are 1200 V DC for one minute and 2000 V DC for one minute respectively.

Operating Temperature and Bending Radius

Current representative ETK Kablo LSZH SWA constructions publish an operating temperature range of -30°C to +70°C.

The published minimum bending radius is 7.5 × D, where D is the actual outer diameter of the selected cable.

IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded conductors provide installation flexibility, but Class 5 construction alone does not qualify the cable for drag-chain, robotic or continuous-flex applications.

LSZH Fire Behavior

Current ETK Kablo LSZH SWA product documentation lists IEC 61034-2 for smoke density, IEC 60754-1 and IEC 60754-2 for halogen and corrosive-gas behavior, IEC 60332-3-24 for flame propagation and IEC 60332-1-2 for flame retardancy.

These characteristics should not be confused with circuit integrity during fire.

LSZH and flame-retardant performance do not automatically mean FE180, PH120, E30, E60 or E90 performance. Circuit-integrity requirements need a cable and, where applicable, installation system specifically designed and tested for the required classification.

Is LSZH the Same as CPR?

No. LSZH and CPR describe different fire-related properties.

LSZH relates to material, smoke and halogen behavior. CPR concerns the reaction-to-fire classification of an applicable cable construction.

A cable being LSZH does not automatically make it B2ca, Cca, Dca or another Euroclass. Where a specific CPR class is required, the applicable Declaration of Performance should be checked for the selected product.

Where Are SWA Signal Control Cables Used?

LSZH steel wire armored signal control cables can be considered for fixed automation, monitoring, measurement and control circuits that require both electromagnetic screening and additional mechanical protection.

Typical applications can include industrial plants, process-control systems, manufacturing facilities, control panels, building-management systems, HVAC control systems, sensors, actuators and other fixed signal routes exposed to increased mechanical stress.

The electrical screen should be selected according to the electromagnetic environment, while the SWA layer should be selected according to the mechanical conditions of the route.

How to Select an SWA Signal Control Cable

First, determine the required electrical-screening system. Choose foil, copper braid or combined foil-and-braid screening according to the electromagnetic environment and signal sensitivity.

Next, determine the conductor organization. Standard multicore construction can suit conventional circuits, TP/TT organizes conductors into pairs or triads, and PiMF/TiMF provides separate foil screens around individual pairs or triads.

Then define conductor cross-section, conductor or group count, operating voltage and whether LIH or LI2Y conductor insulation is required.

Finally, confirm mechanical route conditions, LSZH requirements, CPR classification where applicable, operating temperature, bending radius and required project documentation.

What Should an RFQ Include?

A clear RFQ should specify that an SWA signal control cable is required and define the electrical-screening system separately.

State foil, copper braid or combined foil-and-braid screening together with conductor cross-section, conductor or pair/triad count, standard, TP/TT or PiMF/TiMF configuration and total cable length.

Where applicable, also include CPR classification, test documentation, cable marking, packing length and other project-specific requirements.

ETK Kablo as an SWA Signal Control Cable Manufacturer

ETK Kablo manufactures steel wire armored signal and control cables at its production facility in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The LSZH SWA portfolio combines galvanized steel wire armor with foil, copper-braid and combined electromagnetic-screening options for distributors, automation contractors, system integrators, OEMs and industrial projects.

Signal cables without the SWA mechanical layer are available within the wider LSZH signal control cable range.

What Determines SWA Signal Control Cable Price?

SWA signal control cable price depends on conductor cross-section, conductor or pair count, copper content, electrical-screening system, steel armor quantity, inner and outer jacket materials, cable diameter, order quantity and required technical documentation.

A foil-screened SWA construction and a combined foil-and-copper-braid SWA construction do not contain the same quantity of metallic material. Larger cable diameters also require more armor and jacket material.

Commercial comparisons should therefore use equivalent conductor sizes, screening configurations, mechanical protection, fire requirements and documentation scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an SWA signal control cable?

An SWA signal control cable includes galvanized steel wire armor around an inner-jacketed signal cable to provide additional mechanical protection.

What does SWA mean?

SWA means Steel Wire Armored or Steel Wire Armour. In these ETK Kablo constructions, galvanized steel wire armor provides the mechanical-protection layer.

Does SWA provide the electrical screen?

The steel wire armor is primarily the mechanical-protection layer. ETK Kablo uses separate Al/PET foil, tinned copper braid or combined electrical screens inside the armor according to the selected construction.

What is the difference between SWA and SWB?

SWA uses a steel-wire armor structure, while SWB uses braided galvanized steel wire. Both provide mechanical protection but use different mechanical constructions.

What screening options are available?

The LSZH SWA range includes foil-screened, tinned-copper-braid-screened and combined foil-and-braid-screened constructions.

What do TP and TT mean?

TP refers to twisted pairs and TT refers to twisted triads. They describe conductor grouping rather than individual electromagnetic screening.

What do PiMF and TiMF mean?

PiMF uses individually foil-screened pairs, while TiMF uses individually foil-screened triads.

Is an LSZH SWA cable fire resistant?

Not automatically. LSZH and flame-retardant characteristics do not provide FE180, PH120 or another circuit-integrity rating unless the cable has been specifically designed and tested for that requirement.

Can an SWA signal cable be directly buried?

Steel wire armor alone does not establish direct-burial suitability. The complete cable construction and the environmental conditions of the route must be evaluated.

Is SWA cable suitable for continuous flexing?

Class 5 stranded conductors provide installation flexibility, but they do not automatically qualify an SWA cable for drag-chain, robotic or continuous-flex applications.

What determines SWA signal control cable price?

Important factors include conductor size, conductor or pair count, copper content, electrical-screening configuration, steel armor content, cable diameter, order quantity and required technical documentation.