RFOU Cable for Marine and Offshore Fixed Installations
When operating in the middle of the ocean, the safety and reliability of your electrical infrastructure cannot be compromised. The TEBAOFLEX 0.6/1kV RFOU cable is an flame-retardant, halogen-free marine and offshore power cable. It is double-braided and explicitly designed for fixed installations in demanding offshore and shipboard environments, supporting power, control and lighting circuits where the project specification permits this cable type.
RFOU Cable Selection Notes for Offshore Projects
As a professional cable manufacturer, TEBAOFLEX engineers the RFOU cable for offshore routes where oil, mud, salt air, low temperature and fire performance must be reviewed together. One of the most critical features of this cable is its oil and mud resistance, which strictly meets the rigorous NEK 606 requirements for installations exposed to drilling and cleaning fluids. Furthermore, low-temperature requirements should be checked against the project specification, meeting the cold bend and cold impact requirements of CSA 22.2 0.3-01 and IEC 60092-350 (Annex E) down to -40°C / -35°C.
Standards and Test References
Our marine cables, including the RFOU cable, RFBU, RFCU, and BFOU variants, are manufactured and tested according to marine and offshore cable standards commonly used in project specifications:
- Design & Conductor: IEC 60092-353 (Design), IEC 60228 class 5 (Flexible Conductor).
- Insulation & Sheath: IEC 60092-360 (EPR Insulation and SHF2 Sheath).
- Flame Retardancy: IEC 60332-1-2 and IEC 60332-3-22.
- Halogen-Free & Low Smoke: IEC 60754-1,2 and IEC 61034-1,2.
Detailed Cable Construction (EPR/EPR/TCWB/EVA)
The structural integrity of our RFOU cable prevents moisture ingress, mechanical damage, and chemical corrosion. The core construction includes:
Conductor: Tinned annealed flexible circular copper (IEC 60228 class 5) to prevent oxidation in salty air.
- Insulation: High-grade EP-rubber (EPR) for excellent electrical properties.
- Inner Covering: Flame retardant and halogen-free thermoset compound (SHF1).
- Armour/Screen: Braid of tinned copper wire (TCWB). *Options for Bronze wire (BFOU) or Galvanized steel wire (RFCU) available.
- Outer Sheath: Heavy-duty Black SHF2 compound, with NEK 606 Category a, b, c, d Mud or oil resistant options.
Core Identification for Power Cables
To facilitate easy and accurate installation on offshore platforms, our RFOU cable series utilizes a standardized core identification system:
| No. of Cores | Without Earth Core | With Earth Core (G/Y) |
|---|---|---|
| 1C | Off-white or Black | – |
| 2C | Off-white, Black | – |
| 3C / 2C + E | Off-white, Black, Red | Off-white, Black, Green/Yellow |
| 4C / 3C + E | Off-white, Black, Red, Blue | Off-white, Black, Red, Green/Yellow |
| 5C / 4C + E | Black No. on white insulation | Off-white, Black, Red, Blue, Green/Yellow |
Technical Data & Operational Limits
| Nominal Voltage | 0.6/1 (1.2) kV |
| AC Test Voltage | 3500 V (Core to Core) |
| Temperature Range (Fixed) | -40°C to +90°C |
| Temperature Range (Flexible) | -25°C to +90°C |
| Max Short Circuit Temp. | 200°C (Max time: 5 seconds) |
* Our factory supplies a massive range of cross-sections, from 1C x 1.5mm² up to multi-core 300mm², 400mm², 500mm², and 630mm². We provide full dimensional data sheets upon request.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What does the “Mud Resistant” NEK 606 standard mean for this cable?
In offshore oil and gas drilling, cables are frequently exposed to highly corrosive drilling muds and cleaning fluids. An RFOU cable certified to NEK 606 has a specially formulated SHF2 outer sheath that prevents the cable from swelling, cracking, or degrading when submerged or splashed with these caustic hydrocarbons.
2. Can this cable replace RFCU or BFOU cables?
Yes, they are highly related. RFOU utilizes a tinned copper wire braid, while RFCU uses galvanized steel wire, and BFOU uses bronze wire for the armour/screen. Depending on your specific mechanical protection needs and shipyard requirements, our factory can manufacture any of these variants to exact specifications.
3. Are you a trading company or a direct cable factory?
TEBAOFLEX is a direct, certified manufacturer of high-performance marine and offshore cables. We support bulk wholesale orders, custom cross-sections, and project-based manufacturing. To discuss your offshore project requirements or to request a full technical data sheet, please contact our marine engineering team.
RFOU Cable Price, NEK 606 and Marine RFQ Notes
For RFOU cable, NEK 606 cable price or marine and offshore cable enquiries, the useful first step is to match the cable schedule rather than ask for a generic price. The quotation should confirm voltage, conductor size, fire-performance requirement, mud or oil exposure, braid or armour requirement, installation area and documentation.
- RFOU selection: confirm whether the project requires RFOU, BFOU, RFBU, RFCU or another marine cable construction.
- NEK 606 review: state whether mud resistance is required and which project specification or cable schedule calls for it.
- Fixed offshore routes: check cable tray, deck exposure, salt air, oil, drilling fluids, low temperature and mechanical protection before ordering.
- Quotation details: send size, core count, length, voltage, standard, inspection document requirement and packing method.
To compare marine and offshore options, visit the Marine & Offshore Cables category or request a RFOU cable quotation.