Cables

If you’re in search of high-quality electric cables, you’ve come to the right place. At Batt Cables, we pride ourselves on offering a wide spectrum of electric cable solutions, ranging from standard wiring to robust, safety-certified, specially engineered options. Whether you need cable for industrial, commercial, marine, terrestrial or domestic use, our category covers everything.

This page serves as your guide to selecting the right cable: laying out what types are available, what differentiates them, what standards (including NEK 606 Cables) you need to know, and how to select for performance, safety, and compliance.

What is an Electric Cable?

An electric cable consists of one or more electrical conductors (copper, aluminium etc.), insulated and protected with sheathing; often with additional layers for mechanical protection or environmental resistance. They carry electrical power or signals safely from one point to another.

Key components typically include:

• Conductors: usually copper or aluminium, solid or stranded.

• Insulation: PVC, XLPE, rubber etc.

• Sheath / outer covering: protects insulation from moisture, abrasion, chemical exposure etc.

• Armouring (in many cables): to protect from mechanical damage, crushing, rodents etc.

When you are specifying or purchasing electric cable, it’s important to pay attention not just to the basic conductor size and insulation, but also to the environmental conditions, mechanical stresses, voltage, temperature range, compliance with local/international standards, flexibility, etc.

Key Types of Electric Cables We Offer

At Batt Cables, our cables category includes many different types, each suited to particular uses. Below is an overview of the most relevant ones, especially when considering armoured/waterproof/marine or standard wiring:

1. Armoured Cables: SWA & AWA Cable

• SWA cable (Steel Wire Armoured) – these armoured cable types have a layer of steel wire armouring around the insulation, giving resistance to mechanical damage and making them suitable for underground, outdoor, or industrial environments.

• AWA cable (Aluminium Wire Armoured) – similar purpose, but using aluminium for the armour layer instead of steel. Usually lighter, sometimes more corrosion-resistant depending on environment.

These armoured cables are essential when the cable will be exposed to risk of physical damage (e.g. in trenches, under floors, through walls), or where mechanical protection is needed. They are more expensive, heavier, and less flexible than non-armoured options, but offer a level of protection that is critical for safety and compliance.

2. Fixed Wiring / Power & General Wiring Cable

These are standard non-armoured electric cable options used for everyday wiring: lighting circuits, sockets, general power distribution in buildings. Common sheathing, insulation standards, standard copper conductors. Often PVC insulated, or with versions for higher temperature or fire-resistance where needed.

3. Flexible Cable

Used where bending, movement, or frequent handling is required (e.g. for equipment, machinery, temporary installations). These have flexible (often stranded) conductors, sometimes silicone or rubber insulation, sometimes special sheath to resist oil, heat, or movement.

4. Marine & Offshore Cables

Designed for harsh environments: salt water, vibration, humidity, risk of corrosion. These need to meet marine-grade standards and often have greater insulation and sheath ruggedness. NEK 606 Cables are relevant here.

5. NEK 606 Cables

NEK 606 is a Norwegian standard (Nordic standard) for marine and offshore electrical installations. Cables certified to NEK 606 must meet rigorous fire safety, flame propagation, insulation and sheath performance, temperature and mechanical resistance demands in harsh environments. If your project demands compliance with NEK 606 (e.g. marine, offshore, ship-board or coastal work), you must choose cables labelled and tested to that standard. Batt Cables supplies a range of NEK 606 Cables to meet these needs.

6. Other Specialised Types

• Control Flex cables (for control panels, instrumentation)

• Fire Performance (CWZ etc.)

• Solar Cable (UV resistance, outdoor)

• Marine & Offshore as above

• Defence Standard Cables etc.

Important Standards and Safety (Including NEK 606)

Compliance with standards is not optional if the installation must be safe, certifiable or insured. When specifying electric cables, check the markings, datasheets, approvals. Some key standards:

• NEK 606: For marine/offshore. Fire performance, flame propagation, insulation, mechanical resilience.

• British Standards (e.g. BS 5467, BS 6004, BS 6387 etc.).

• European / International standards (IEC, EN).

• Local building regulations and wiring regulations (in UK, the IET Wiring Regulations / BS 7671).

Datasheets should give you conductor material, cross-sectional area, insulation type, sheath material, maximum voltage, temperature rating, flame propagation, armouring details etc.

How to Choose the Right Electric Cable

Here are the key criteria to consider when selecting:

Why Choose Armoured Cable (SWA / AWA)

Because armoured cable offers mechanical protection, it is often required:

• When cable is buried or in conduits exposed to possibility of crushing or rodent attack.

• Where the cable is exposed (e.g. in industrial settings, workshops) and may be subject to knocks.

• For compliance in certain outdoor or harsh conditions.

SWA cable with steel wire armour is heavier, stronger, and often more common. AWA cable, using aluminium armour, is lighter and sometimes preferred in marine/shipboard contexts or where corrosion is a concern (depending on environment).

The sheath and armour also affect installation cost: heavier cables are harder to pull, armouring increases cost, but long-term safety and durability are greatly improved.

Want to find out more about armoured cables? Read our full guide.

NEK 606: What It Is and When You Need It

NEK 606 is a Nordic standard for maritime and offshore cables. Key features:

• Fire safety: flame spread, heat release, smoke emission, toxicity.

• Mechanical durability: vibration resistance, bending fatigue.

• Environmental resistance: salt water, moisture, temperature extremes.

You’ll need NEK 606 Cables when working on vessels, offshore rigs, coastal installations, or any installation that must meet maritime regulatory approval or Nordic marine standards. Using standard electric cable here might risk non-compliance or higher insurance/punitive risk.

Batt Cables provides NEK 606-certified cables, giving you assurance of conformity, with relevant data sheets, approvals and documentation.

Technical Parameters & Terminology

To be fully confident in choosing the right cable, understand the following terms:

• Conductor cross-sectional area (e.g. mm²) — impacts current carrying capacity.

• Insulation material — PVC, XLPE, rubber etc., each with different temperature, chemical, UV, flame resistance.

• Armouring — steel wire (SWA), aluminium wire (AWA), or no armour, depending on exposure.

• Sheath material — outer jacket that often protects from moisture, UV, abrasion.

• Voltage rating — ensure cable is rated for the supply voltage (e.g. 230V, 400V, medium voltage etc.).

• Temperature rating — how hot the conductor can get without degrading insulation.

• Flame / fire / smoke performance — essential in safety critical environments.

Use Cases / Applications

Here are examples of typical scenarios where different types of electric cable are required:

• Domestic wiring: Light circuits, plug sockets: standard fixed wiring. No need for armouring usually.

• Garden, outdoor shed supply: may need outdoor rated sheath; occasional use of armoured cable if cables run underground.

• Industrial warehouse / factory: risk of mechanical damage, heavy loads: SWA cable becomes essential; flexible cable for machinery; fixed wiring for general distribution.

• Marine / Offshore / Shipyards: constant moisture, salt, vibration: NEK 606 cables, armoured options, marine sheath.

• Data centres / Instrumentation: control flex cables, low dielectric loss, reliable signal transfer.

Maintenance, Installation & Best Practices

• Use the correct cable glands, terminations, bending radius, and supports.

• Avoid sharp bends or kinks; maintain bend radii as per manufacturer.

• Protecting exposed cable runs: trunking, conduit, or armoured protection.

• Inspect periodically, particularly in harsh environments. Any damage to insulation/sheath may compromise safety.

• Ensure you have proper cable calculators / load tables rather than guessing. Batt Cables offers a cable calculator and datasheets to assist.

Why Batt Cables Should Be Your Supplier

• We stock a wide range of electric cables, including armoured (SWA, AWA), NEK 606 certified, fire-rated, marine, solar etc.

• Our product range is backed by full technical datasheets, standards compliance, quality control.

• Expert staff support – guidance in selecting the right cable, ensuring compliance.

• Accessories and matching components also supplied to make installation complete (glands, glands, cleats, etc.).

• Quick quote service, dependable delivery, stock levels – aimed at reducing downtime in your projects.