BIS STANDARD REFERENCE · IS 1554
IS 1554 Parts 1 & 2 — PVC-insulated armoured power cables up to 1100 V
What is IS 1554?
IS 1554 is the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for PVC-insulated (heavy-duty) cables for working voltages up to 1100 V. The standard is published in two parts:
- IS 1554 Part 1: PVC-insulated, PVC-sheathed (PVCS) armoured cables — the standard specification for indoor and outdoor power distribution up to 1100 V.
- IS 1554 Part 2: PVC-insulated, heat-and-oil-resistant flame-retardant (HOFR) sheathed cables — for applications requiring enhanced resistance to oil, grease, or elevated temperatures.
IS 1554 cables are armoured — they include a layer of steel wire armour (SWA) or steel tape armour (STA) between the inner and outer sheaths, providing mechanical protection for underground burial, conduit runs where cables may be under tension, and industrial environments with physical damage risk.
Scope: what products does IS 1554 cover?
- Single-core, 2-core, 3-core, 3.5-core, 4-core armoured power cables
- Conductor sizes: 1.5 mm² to 630 mm²
- Conductor class: Class 2 (stranded, for fixed wiring) or Class 1 (solid, smaller sizes)
- Voltage rating: 650/1100 V (suitable for 415 V and 230 V distribution networks)
- Armour: steel wire armour (SWA) for flexible runs; steel tape armour (STA) for fixed installations
When is IS 1554 cable required?
IS 1554 armoured cable is specified for:
- Sub-main feeders: Main LT panel to sub-DB in multi-floor commercial and residential buildings.
- Underground distribution: Below-ground cable runs in building compounds, road-crossings, and outdoor LT networks. Armour provides mechanical protection in lieu of conduit.
- Industrial panel feeders: Machine feed cables in factories and processing plants where physical damage risk is high.
- Pump and motor feeds: Direct burial or surface-run cable from LT panel to pump rooms, lift machine rooms, and HVAC plant rooms.
NBC 2016 Part 8 Section 2 does not mandate IS 1554 by name for specific occupancies — the specifying MEP consultant selects IS 1554 based on the routing, burial method, and mechanical risk assessment.
Key test methods under IS 1554
| Test | Method / limit |
|---|---|
| Conductor resistance | Per IS 8130:2013 Class 2 limits at 20 °C |
| Voltage test | 3.5 kV AC for 5 minutes (1100 V rating) |
| Insulation resistance | As per IS 694:2010 method, applied to IS 1554 dimensions |
| Armour continuity | Low-resistance test on SWA or STA layer |
| Flame test (STA/SWA) | Single-wire per IEC 60332-1 (self-extinguishing) |
| HOFR sheath (Part 2) | Oil immersion test, elevated-temperature elongation per IS 10810 Pt 5 |
IS 1554 vs IS 694:2010 — which to specify?
| Criteria | IS 694:2010 (house wire) | IS 1554 (armoured power cable) |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Internal conduit wiring, sub-circuits | Sub-mains, underground, industrial feeders |
| Armour | None | Steel wire or steel tape armour |
| Min size | 0.5 mm² | 1.5 mm² |
| Max size | 16 mm² | 630 mm² |
| Burial-rated | No (unarmoured) | Yes (with SWA/STA) |
| BIS CM/L required | Yes | Yes (separate CM/L) |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between IS 1554 Part 1 and Part 2?
IS 1554 Part 1 covers standard PVC-insulated, PVC-sheathed armoured power cables for general use up to 1100 V. IS 1554 Part 2 covers cables with HOFR (heat-and-oil-resistant flame-retardant) outer sheath — used in environments with oil splash, elevated ambient temperature, or where the sheath must resist hydrocarbon contact (pump rooms, compressor areas, petrochemical plant).
Can IS 1554 cable be directly buried without conduit?
IS 1554 armoured (SWA or STA) cable can be directly buried in the ground without additional conduit protection, provided the burial depth meets the relevant electrical safety regulations (typically ≥ 750 mm in open areas, ≥ 600 mm in roads per IS 732:1989 and IS 1255 for HV). The armour provides mechanical protection against inadvertent digging damage.
Which conductor class is used in IS 1554 cables?
IS 1554 armoured power cables use Class 2 (stranded, non-flexible) conductors per IS 8130:2013 for most sizes. Class 1 (solid) conductors may be used for smaller sizes (typically ≤ 2.5 mm²). Class 5 fine-stranded flexible conductors are not specified for IS 1554 — they are for IS 694:2010 flexible cords.
Does IS 1554 cable require a separate BIS CM/L from IS 694:2010?
Yes. BIS Conformity Marking Licences are product-scope specific. A manufacturer's IS 694:2010 CM/L does not authorise them to mark IS 1554 cable as ISI-compliant. They must hold a separate CM/L for IS 1554 Part 1 (and another for IS 1554 Part 2 if applicable). Verify the specific IS 1554 CM/L on manakonline.in before procurement.
METHODOLOGY
Updated weekly by the cablepriceindia.com price-research desk. Last verified: 17 July 2026. Sources cited inline. We are an independent price-discovery service. Verify any BIS Conformity Marking Licence (CM/L) at bis.gov.in.