This Standard sets out a method for cable selection for those types of electrical cables and methods of installation that are in common use at working voltages up to and including 0.6/1 kV at 50 Hz a.c.

Three criteria are given for cable selection, as follows:

(a) Current-carrying capacity.

(b) Voltage drop.

(c) Short-circuit temperature rise.

This Standard provides sustained current-carrying capacities and voltage drop values for those types of electrical cable and installation practices in common use in New Zealand. A significant amount of explanatory material is also provided on the application of rating factors that arise from the particular installation conditions of a single circuit or groups of circuits. Also, provided in Section 5 is information on cable selection based on short-circuit temperature limits.

NOTE: A number of worked examples on cable selection are included in Appendix A.

This Standard does not take into account the effects that may occur owing to temperature rise at the terminals of equipment and reference is necessary to AS/NZS 3000 and the individual equipment Standards.

NOTE: For ease of reference, an index of the Tables included in this Standard is provided in Appendix B.