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DNV-GL certified cables
DNV-GL certified cables
DNV-GL-certified cables: what they are, why they matter, and how to specify them for oil & gas
When the class notation on a drilling rig or FPSO says “DNV GL” (now simply DNV since the 2021 re-brand) every component that carries power, control or data must be traceable to the Society’s rules. For cabling, that traceability is delivered through the DNV Type Approval Programme—a structured design review and test regime that ends with a certificate your installation team can show to flag-state inspectors, insurers and auditors. Below is a concise engineer-to-engineer guide to what DNV-GL-certified cable really means, the documents behind it, and the practical choices you will face on an oil-and-gas project.
1.DNA of the DNV Type-Approval scheme
| Class programme | Cable family covered | Typical offshore use | Key rule references |
| DNVGL-CP-0400 | Light-weight electric cables (≤ 50 kg/100 m) | topside lighting, PA/GA, control |
RU-SHIP Pt.4 Ch.8 Sec.1; OS-D201 Sec.2 ScribdPower and Cables |
| DNVGL-CP-0419 | Fire-resistant & flame-retardant cables | ESD loops, fire pumps | (Referenced in CP-0400 change log & T-certs) Scribd |
| DNVGL-CP-0403 | Data / Cat 6A & fibre-optic cables | PCS, SCADA, CCTV |
Example TAE000044B certificate Webshop voor bekabeling |
Each programme for DNV-GL certified cables prescribes specific design requirements, rigorous type-tests (performed once on a representative construction), and routine-tests (conducted for every production batch). When purchasing DNV-GL certified cables, a project-specific “product certificate” is not required. Instead, presenting a valid Type Approval Certificate for the particular variant you are buying is sufficient. These standards ensure that DNV-GL certified cables consistently meet quality, safety, and performance expectations across marine and offshore applications.
2. What tests must a DNV-approved cable pass?
| Property | Typical test & limit (extract) |
| Flame spread | IEC 60332-3-22 Cat. A for bunched trays; single-cable IEC 60332-1-2 Scribd |
| Circuit integrity | IEC 60331-21/31 (750 °C, 90 min) for CP-0419 group |
| Smoke & toxicity | IEC 61034 (≥ 60 % transmittance) and IEC 60754-1 (HCl ≤ 0.5 %) |
| Oil & drilling-mud | NEK 606 Annex E mud immersion or IEC 60811-404 IRM 902 oil, 100 °C, ΔE ≤ 30 % FS Cables Power and Cables |
| Cold bend / impact | CSA C22.2 –35 °C (for Arctic service) Webshop voor bekabeling |
| Voltage & insulation | 3.5 kV or 6 kV AC for LV; 3 × U0 + 2 kV impulse for MV |
Passing the flame test alone is not enough—DNV insists on post-immersion mechanical retention, long-duration dielectric ageing, and a factory quality-audit before the certificate is signed.
3. Certified cable families you will meet offshore
| Designation | Construction highlights | DNV certificate examples |
| RFOU / BFOU (NEK 606) |
EPR cores + tinned-copper braid + SHF2 mud-resistant LSZH sheath; B-variant adds mica fire-barrier |
UNIKA BFOU P5 0.6/1 kV TA No. TAA000019F UNIKA Cables |
| FRHF / RFA-FRHF |
Lightweight 150/250 V or 0.6/1 kV, halogen-free, flame-retardant and low mass to fit CP-0400 |
Nexans “RFA-FRHF” TA certs Power and Cables |
| SHF1 / SHF2 CAN-bus & control |
Pair-screened data cables with SHF1 or SHF2 jacket for mud/oil; approved up to Cat-6A |
FSCables SHF1 CAN-bus series FS Cables |
| Specialty high-temp |
Electron-beam cross-linked XLPO, 125 °C, flame-/oil-resistant, DNV GL on part numbers |
LAPP ÖLFLEX HEAT 125 C MC products.lappgroup.com |
4. Anatomy of a DNV-certified cable
| Layer | Typical materials | Why DNV checks it |
| Conductor | Class 2 or 5 annealed Cu (tinned where LSZH) | Stranding class controls flexibility and current derating |
| Insulation | XLPE, EPR or EB-cross-linked XLPO | Must survive ≥ 90 °C continuous & pass ageing tests |
| Fire barrier | Mica/glass tape (BFOU) | Gives 90 min circuit integrity under 750 °C flame |
| Screen / armour | TCWB, SWA or bronze wire | EMC plus tensile & impact; screened pairs for data |
| Outer sheath | SHF1 (halogen-free), SHF2 (mud-resistant), neoprene Type N | Swell ≤ 12 % after 56 day mud soak; UV & ozone proof |
DNV’s design review checks every material data sheet and insists on traceable batch numbers; identical compounds must be used during the witnessed type test.
5. From design to certificate: the approval workflow
- Document package – drawings, BOM, material specs, previous test reports go to DNV Høvik (or regional office).
- Design assessment – engineers cross-check against RU-SHIP Pt.4 Ch.8 or OS-D201 requirements. Power and Cables
- Witnessed type tests – carried out at an ILAC-accredited lab; flame, smoke, oil, voltage and mechanical series logged.
- Factory audit (CP-0338) – QA system and routine-test records inspected.
- Certificate issue (Form TA 251) – valid for five years, listing every size/variant; any design change → re-approval.
6. Practical specification checklist for project engineers
- Choose the right CP group – e.g., CP-0400 for weight-critical topsides, CP-0419 for E-stop circuits.
- Verify environmental fit – SHF2 for drilling mud zones, SHF1 for dry machinery rooms.
- Check voltage & current tables – DNV derating differs slightly from IEC 60092; factor this into cable sizing.
- Confirm certificate revision – it must still be within its five-year validity and list your conductor size.
- Request manufacturer’s TA Production Survey Report with each batch delivery to prove routine tests passed.
7. What’s new in 2025?
- Hydrogen-ready jackets – DNV’s upcoming CP addendum will introduce permeation tests for H₂ & NH₃ as green fuels enter the mix.
- Digital certificates – a QR code on the cable drum links to a blockchain-secured Type Approval, reducing paperwork onboard.
- Integrated sustainability metrics – new rule amendments will ask for embodied-carbon disclosure alongside fire- and mud-tests.
Conclusion
A DNV-GL (DNV) logo on the datasheet is more than marketing—it proves the cable has survived a punishing schedule of fire, chemical, electrical and mechanical trials, and that the factory producing it is audited. By matching the correct class programme (CP-0400, CP-0419, CP-0403, …) to the functional need (power, control, data, emergency) and by demanding up-to-date certificates from your vendor, you ensure that every metre laid on deck or inside a hazardous module will remain safe, compliant and insurable for the platform’s life.