Published: April 2025 | By: Bury Cables Technical Editorial Team
The IEEE 400.2 standard, crucial for field testing of shielded medium-voltage (MV) power cables, including Instrumentation Cables, Fire Resistant cables, and optical fiber hybrid cables, has seen a major update in 2024. With increasingly complex grids integrating coaxial cables, RS485 cables, and armoured data cables, testing protocols must evolve.
IEEE 400.2 outlines Very Low Frequency (VLF) testing methods for shielded cable systems rated 5–69 kV, including Power & Control cables and Railway Cables MVB/WTB. It applies to:
Acceptance testing post-installation
Preventive diagnostics
Pre-failure insulation assessments
It's especially relevant for cables insulated with XLPE, TR-XLPE, or EPR, and increasingly intersects with Fire Resistive Fiber Optic Cables and hybrid composite cable trays.
| Category | 2013 Edition | 2024 Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Static PDF text | Interactive digital with hyperlinks |
| Waveform Guidance | Cosine-rectangular | Includes sinusoidal & damped AC |
| Voltage Tables | By insulation class | Tailored to age & type |
| Pass/Fail Criteria | Vague | Quantified metrics |
| PD (Partial Discharge) | Optional | Encouraged |
| Optical Fiber Impact | Not covered | Acknowledged and addressed |
Though IEEE 400.2 doesn’t test optical fiber directly, it influences environments that use Fire Resistant CAT6, EN 50200 cables, and XP C 32 - 321 French Standard cables. Applications include:
Wind/solar farms (SCADA using fiber)
Smart substations (protection systems)
OPGW and ADSS hybrid installs
Over the past decade, global power infrastructure has adopted distributed generation, cable telemetry, and condition-based monitoring. Regulatory bodies now demand better integration with IEC 60502 and IEC 60229. The 2024 update responds by:
Recommending PD tools during commissioning
Using real-time waveform monitoring
Improving compatibility with EN 50288-7 cables and AS/NZS standard cables
To comply with IEEE 400.2-2024, cable professionals working with DVI composite cables, shielded instrument cables, and profibus cable systems should:
Update VLF test plans per 2024 edition
Use digital tools supporting sinusoidal VLF signals
Assess proximity impacts on embedded fiber
Document results using defined voltage-drop criteria
IEEE 400.2-2024 modernizes field testing of MV shielded cables in smart grids. It’s a pivotal resource for ensuring safe integration of instrumentation, power, and fire-resistant cables in digitally managed electrical environments. For organizations using Coaxial, RS485, and armoured data cables—often near optical fiber cables—this standard offers a roadmap to reliable and compatible system deployment.
