All You Need to Know about Armoured Cable and its Different Classifications!
                     
Armoured Cable is an electrical cable 
coated with an additional sheet of protection 
that secures its inner components from 
abrasion. This cable is rigid other than 
traditional electrical cables and fulfills its 
purpose optimally. Mainly, it is a bunch of 
wires that are encased in a metal coating or 
tube which may be further covered in a 
plastic insulation layer.
The armoured cables can be classified into 
the following. 
● Wire-Braid Armoured Cable: This type 
of cable is also known as basket-weave 
armour. It is mainly utilized when light 
and flexible protections are needed. A 
wire braid cable is designed much like a 
fibrous braid. The metal is pleated over 
the cable as the exterior covering and this 
pleating is made from galvanized steel, 
copper, bronze, or aluminium.
● Steel Wire Armoured Cable: They are 
commonly abbreviated as SWA cable. One 
of the most renowned cables with 
armouring. These cables are favorable for 
high drop areas and can withstand 
superficial mechanical forces and 
extensive tension. Cables with many 
cores use Steel wire armour as it 
withstands high pull loads.
● Steel Tape Armoured Cable: This type of 
Armoured cable is favorable for wiring 
applications whose current requirement does 
not exceed more than 35kV. It is ideal if you 
want to work on some wiring in a vermin and 
termite-infested area. It is popularly used in 
wiring installations associated with 
construction, underground mines, and 
petrochemical applications. 
● Aluminum Wire Armoured Cable: The cables 
are commonly abbreviated as AWA. AI Armours 
are ideal for single-core applications because of 
their non-magnetic properties. These cables are 
used in electrical power networks, undercover 
installations, outdoor and indoor applications, 
as well as power and auxiliary control cables for 
cable ducts.
 Uses of these Cables
Armoured Cables are especially used in industrial 
requisitions, like in cable trays and raceways. 
Several towns and municipalities allow the usage 
of these cables in residential and commercial 
applications. They are greatly suitable for 
undercover cabling, such as in sewers or 
underground transport networks, or outdoor walls 
via cable cleats.
While these cords are utilized in public places, 
they should feature a special sheath which is 
known as Low Smoke, Low Halogen. So that in fire 
cases, this sheath generates less smoke and 
halogen, thus making it a safer choice than 
standard cables.
Steel wiring is utilized only in multicore cables. 
These are utilized to prevent the cable from 
getting overheated, thus it might lead to catching 
fire. So, for these reasons single core aluminium is 
generally preferred.