BS EN 62491:2008

What is BS EN 62491 – Labelling of cables and cores about? 

BS EN 62491 is a European standard that discusses the labelling of cables and cores for industrial systems, installations and equipment and industrial products. Single-core cables are extensively used for domestic purposes such as household electrical appliances. They are used for wiring that is responsible for the transfer of electricity in gadgets, computers, and control panels. 

BS EN 62491 provides rules and guidelines for the labelling of cables and cores/conductors used in industrial installations, equipment and products, to maintain a clear relation between the technical documentation and the actual equipment and for other purposes. 

The following methods are described and designated: 

• Use of coloured cables and designated cores 
• Additional identification labelling 
• Additional connection labelling and 
• Additional signal labelling. 

Note: The physical design of the labels, the material to be used for the labels as well as cable manufacturers’ product bound marking of cables and cores are not part of BS EN 62491. 

Who is BS EN 62491 – Labelling of cables and cores for? 

BS EN 62491 on labelling of cable and cores applies to: 

• Manufacturing of cables 
• Quality testing of cables 
• Electrical engineer 
• Suppliers and distributors of electrical cables 

Why should you use BS EN 62491 – Labelling of cables and cores? 

A cable is an assembly of one or more conductors and/or optical fibres, with a protective covering and possibly filling, insulating and protective material. The core is an assembly comprising a conductor with its insulation (and screens if any). 

BS EN 62491 provides you with additional labelling of cables and cores that requires within larger systems or installations with many cores of the same colour or with many cables, and where therefore the use of the designations provided by the cable manufacturer only would be ambiguous. 

By applying BS EN 62491 standard you are given the additional labelling of cables and cores that gives the advantages such as: 

• The possibilities to communicate and identify signals and connections across different involved engineering disciplines and departments like process engineering, software engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical/fluid engineering, and control engineering. 
• Minimizing the time used to locate an eventual error (and the reason for it) in the test phase 
• Saving time when locating an eventual error (and the reason for it) in the service and maintenance phase 
• Remove the doubt about which core should be connected to which terminal when replacing components that are placed close to each other 
• If used in pre-planning, it gives a clear view for panel-builders, electricians/technicians, service/maintenance and system controllers which will minimize misunderstandings regarding connections. 

BS EN 62491 provides you with comprehensive guidance useful throughout the process of labelling cables and cores for industrial systems.