LSZH Foil Screened SWB Signal Control Cables

Foil screened SWB cable constructions from ETK Kablo combine an Al/PET foil electrical screen with galvanized steel wire braiding for additional mechanical protection. This LSZH signal control cable range includes LIH(St)HSWBH and LI2Y(St)HSWBH families in standard, TP/TT and PiMF/TiMF versions.

All six products use IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded copper conductors, an overall Al/PET foil screen with a tinned copper earthing wire, halogen-free inner and outer jackets and galvanized steel wire braiding. LIH(St)HSWBH cables use halogen-free conductor insulation, while LI2Y(St)HSWBH cables use solid polyethylene insulation.

The electrical screen and the SWB layer perform different functions. The Al/PET foil provides electromagnetic screening for the signal core, while the galvanized steel wire braid adds mechanical protection around the inner-jacketed cable.

What Is a Foil Screened SWB Cable?

A foil screened SWB cable is a signal or control cable that combines two separate protection systems. An Al/PET foil surrounds the cable core to provide electromagnetic screening, while galvanized steel wire braiding surrounds the inner jacket to provide additional mechanical protection.

This distinction matters when specifying industrial signal cables. The SWB layer should not be treated as a replacement for the dedicated electrical screen, and the Al/PET foil should not be treated as mechanical armor.

ETK Kablo Foil Screened SWB Cable Range

How Is the Cable Constructed?

The standard construction starts with IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded copper conductors. Depending on the family, conductor insulation is either halogen-free or solid polyethylene.

The assembled cable core is wrapped with polyester tape and receives a tinned copper earthing wire together with an Al/PET foil screen. A halogen-free inner jacket surrounds the screened core.

Galvanized steel wire braiding is then applied over the inner jacket. Finally, a UV-resistant halogen-free outer jacket completes the cable.

LIH(St)HSWBH vs LI2Y(St)HSWBH

The principal difference between the two families is conductor insulation. LIH(St)HSWBH uses halogen-free conductor insulation, while LI2Y(St)HSWBH uses solid polyethylene.

The LI2Y construction also provides higher published insulation-resistance values than the corresponding LIH construction.

Standard vs TP/TT vs PiMF/TiMF

Standard versions use a conventional multicore arrangement. TP/TT versions organize conductors into twisted pairs or triads, but those groups do not receive individual metallic screens.

PiMF/TiMF versions add separate Al/PET foil screens and tinned copper earthing wires around individual pairs or triads. The complete cable core then receives an additional overall Al/PET foil screen before the inner jacket and SWB layers are applied.

What Do TP and TT Mean?

TP refers to twisted pairs, while TT refers to twisted triads.

These terms describe conductor grouping. They should not be interpreted as individual electrical screening. LIH(St)HSWBH-TP/TT and LI2Y(St)HSWBH-TP/TT still use one overall Al/PET foil screen around the complete cable core.

What Do PiMF and TiMF Mean?

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

These constructions can be useful where separate signal groups require additional electromagnetic separation. Each group receives its own foil screen, while the complete core retains an overall foil screen and the cable still uses galvanized SWB for mechanical protection.

Foil Screen and SWB Perform Different Functions

The galvanized steel braid should therefore not be confused with the Al/PET electrical screen. The two layers address different project requirements.

Foil Screened SWB vs Braid Screened SWB Cable

The parent LSZH steel wire braided signal control cable range also includes copper-braid-screened constructions.

In a foil-screened SWB cable, the dedicated electrical screen is Al/PET foil. In a braid screened SWB signal cable, the dedicated electrical screen is a tinned copper braid.

Both constructions then use a separate galvanized steel wire braid for mechanical protection.

Foil Screened SWB vs Foil and Braid Screened SWB Cable

ETK Kablo also offers foil and braid screened SWB signal control cables.

Those cables combine an Al/PET foil with a tinned copper braid as the electrical-screening system before the halogen-free inner jacket and galvanized SWB layer are applied.

The additional copper braid changes cable construction, metallic content, diameter, termination requirements and cost. Therefore, the combined-screen version should be selected when the project requires that screening configuration.

SWB vs SWA Foil Screened Signal Cable

The comparable foil screened SWA signal control cable range uses steel wire armor rather than galvanized steel wire braiding for mechanical protection.

The correct choice should follow the mechanical conditions and project specification rather than assuming that either SWA or SWB is universally preferable.

Electrical Characteristics

Published electrical values depend on conductor cross-section and conductor-insulation material.

Because electrical characteristics vary by conductor size and insulation system, project specifications should use the technical data for the selected cable rather than applying one value to the complete range.

Operating Temperature and Bending Radius

ETK Kablo currently specifies an operating temperature range of -30°C to +70°C for the products in this category.

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

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

LSZH and Fire Behavior

The current 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 do not mean that the cable provides circuit integrity during fire. LSZH and flame-retardant performance should not be interpreted as FE180, PH120, E30, E60 or E90 performance.

LSZH Is Not the Same as CPR

LSZH and CPR address different fire-related characteristics. LSZH relates to cable materials, smoke and halogen behavior, while CPR concerns reaction-to-fire classification.

A specific B2ca, Cca, Dca or other Euroclass should therefore be confirmed through the applicable Declaration of Performance for the selected cable.

Can Foil Screened SWB Cable Be Directly Buried?

Galvanized steel wire braiding alone should not be treated as proof of direct-burial suitability.

Underground routes may expose a cable to moisture, water, chemicals and installation forces. The complete cable construction and route conditions should therefore be evaluated before specifying the cable for an underground installation.

Where Are Foil Screened SWB Signal Cables Used?

These cables can be considered for fixed low-voltage automation, monitoring and control circuits where the project requires both overall foil screening and additional mechanical protection.

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

How to Select a Foil Screened SWB Cable

First, select the conductor-insulation system. LIH(St)HSWBH uses halogen-free conductor insulation, while LI2Y(St)HSWBH uses solid polyethylene insulation.

Next, define the conductor arrangement. Select standard construction for conventional multicore circuits, TP/TT for pair or triad grouping, or PiMF/TiMF where individual signal groups require separate foil screens.

Then specify conductor cross-section, conductor or pair/triad count, operating voltage and total cable length.

Finally, confirm mechanical route conditions, LSZH and CPR requirements, operating temperature, bending radius, marking, packing and project documentation.

What Should an RFQ Include?

A complete RFQ should identify LIH(St)HSWBH or LI2Y(St)HSWBH, conductor cross-section, conductor or pair/triad count and the required standard, TP/TT or PiMF/TiMF construction.

The RFQ should also state total cable length and any required CPR classification, test documentation, cable marking and packing requirements.

ETK Kablo as a Foil Screened SWB Cable Manufacturer

ETK Kablo manufactures foil-screened steel wire braided signal control cables at its production facility in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The range combines Al/PET electromagnetic screening with galvanized steel wire braid mechanical protection and includes LIH(St)HSWBH and LI2Y(St)HSWBH constructions for distributors, automation contractors, system integrators, OEMs and industrial projects.

What Determines Foil Screened SWB Cable Price?

Foil screened SWB cable price depends on conductor cross-section, conductor or group count, copper content, insulation system, Al/PET screening materials, galvanized steel wire braid content, cable diameter, order quantity and required documentation.

PiMF/TiMF versions also contain separate foil screens and earthing wires around individual pairs or triads, so their construction and material content differ from standard and TP/TT versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a foil screened SWB cable?

It is a signal or control cable that combines an Al/PET electrical screen with galvanized steel wire braiding for additional mechanical protection.

What does SWB mean?

SWB refers to Steel Wire Braid or Steel Wire Braided construction. In these cables, galvanized steel wire braiding provides the mechanical-protection layer.

Does SWB replace the foil screen?

No. The Al/PET foil is the dedicated electrical screen, while the galvanized steel wire braid provides mechanical protection.

What is LIH(St)HSWBH?

LIH(St)HSWBH uses Class 5 copper conductors, halogen-free conductor insulation, an overall Al/PET foil screen, halogen-free inner and outer jackets and galvanized steel wire braiding.

What is LI2Y(St)HSWBH?

LI2Y(St)HSWBH uses Class 5 copper conductors with solid polyethylene insulation, an overall Al/PET foil screen, halogen-free inner and outer jackets and galvanized steel wire braiding.

What do TP and TT mean?

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

What do PiMF and TiMF mean?

PiMF uses individually foil-screened pairs, while TiMF uses individually foil-screened triads. These constructions also retain an overall foil screen.

Is an LSZH SWB cable fire resistant?

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

Can an SWB cable be directly buried?

The presence of galvanized steel wire braiding alone does not establish direct-burial suitability. The complete cable construction and installation environment must be considered.

What determines foil screened SWB cable price?

Key factors include conductor size, conductor or pair count, copper content, insulation system, foil screening, steel-wire-braid content, cable diameter, order quantity and required documentation.