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Product

UL 2225 / UL 1569 Type MC-HL 600 V cableUL 2225 & UL 1569 Type MC-HL600 V · Class I, II, III Div 1Welded Corrugated Al Armour

MC-HL Instrumentation Metal-Clad Instrumentation CableUL 2225 600 V continuously welded corrugated aluminium armoured Class I Div 1 cable

Impervious 600 V Type MC-HL Metal-Clad Hazardous Location instrumentation cable certified to UL 2225 and UL 1569 with 90 °C XHHW-2 (XLPE) cores, individual/overall Al/PET shields, continuous welded corrugated aluminium armor and PVC or LSZH jacket.

Low-EMC design
EMC screen
Oil-resistant
Outdoor & humid
Order designation
MC-HL-INST 4P×16AWG IS/OS
Outer Ø ≈
20.8 mm
Copper weight
146 kg/km
Total weight ≈
452 kg/km
Min. bend R (fixed)
208 mm
All sizes (15)
Request a quoteDatasheetWhatsApp
Engineering reply in 2 business hoursCut-to-length export drumsEN 10204 3.1 certificate per drum
Rated voltage
600 V rms
UL 2225 MC-HL & UL 1569 MC
Metallic sheath
CWCMC Aluminium
continuously welded corrugated
Hazardous area
Class I Div 1/2
Class II & III Div 1 · Zone 1/2
Temperature
−40…+90 °C
wet & dry XHHW-2 · +250 °C SC
Shielding
OS or IS+OS
100 % Al/PET foil + drain wires
Bend radius
10 × OD
fixed · 12 × OD during pulling

Typical values for this cable type, based on UL 2225 / UL 1569 / NEC Articles 330, 501.10(A) & 505 — confirmed in the datasheet and quotation for your order.

Application fit

Is MC-HL Instrumentation right for your machine?

The definitive North American hazardous-location instrumentation cable for Class I, II and III Division 1 and Zone 1/2 petrochemical units, offshore production platforms, LNG plants and direct-burial trenches of any pair count.

Fixed installation

Suitable

Approved for Class I, II & III Division 1 and Zone 1/2 cable trays, racks and open runs without any diameter restriction.

TBM gantry & advancing tunnel reel

Suitable

Impervious continuously welded aluminium sheath and Polymeric jacket are UL listed for direct burial and concrete encasement.

Offshore platform & shipboard deck trays

Suitable

100 % impervious to moisture, liquid hydrocarbons, sour gas and corrosive offshore salt atmospheres.

Energy chain / drag chain

Not suitable

Corrugated metallic sheath is engineered for fixed hazardous-location installations only.

PUR Drag-Chain Control Cable
Typical machinesGulf of Mexico & Offshore Production PlatformsClass I Division 1 Refinery & Chemical UnitsLNG Export & Regasification TerminalsGrain, Coal & Class II/III Dust Hazard PlantsDirect-Burial & Substructure Process Trunks

Construction

Layer by layer

Shown: MC-HL-INST 4P×16AWG IS/OS with 7-strand tinned/bare copper pairs, 600 V 90 °C XHHW-2 insulation, bare/insulated grounding conductor, individual & overall Al/PET shields, continuously welded corrugated aluminium armour and Black PVC/LSZH outer jacket.

123456
Schematic, not to scale — generated from the layer data
#LayerMaterial & reference
1Stranded copper conductors + equipment ground18 AWG, 16 AWG, 14 AWG or 12 AWG Class B stranded copper pairs/triads plus UL 1569/2225 equipment grounding conductorFull fault-current return path required for Class I Div 1
2600 V 90 °C XHHW-2 cross-linked polyethyleneThermoset XLPE (UL 44 XHHW-2) colour-coded Black/White numbered pairs (or Black/White/Red triads)Low capacitance (~85 pF/m) and +90 °C wet/dry thermal rating
3Individual & overall 100 % Al/PET shieldsIsolated Aluminium/PET pair shields (IS) + overall Al/PET shield (OS) with tinned copper drain wiresEliminates pair-to-pair and external EMI noise
4Polymeric core binder tapeHelical thermal & mechanical barrier tape over the shielded core bundleProtects core bundle during sheath welding and corrugation
5Continuously welded corrugated aluminium sheathSeamless longitudinal TIG/laser-welded and annularly corrugated aluminium tube (316L stainless steel or copper-alloy optional)100 % impervious to gas, vapour, water and liquid hydrocarbons; passes 2,000 lbf crush
6Sunlight & Oil Resistant PVC or LSZH jacketFlame-retardant PVC (or CPE / LSZH) extruded over the corrugated aluminium armour, Black or Ex-i BluePasses UL 1685 / IEEE 1202 (70,000 BTU/hr) & CSA FT4 vertical flame tests

MC-HL OS (Single Pair / Triad)

1P or 1T (18–12 AWG) with overall Al/PET shield and welded corrugated aluminium armour

MC-HL IS/OS (Multi-Pair Trunk)

2P to 36P with individual & overall Al/PET shields and welded corrugated aluminium armour

MC-HL 316L Stainless / LSZH

Continuously welded corrugated 316L stainless steel sheath with halogen-free LSZH jacket

Technical data

Ratings & operating limits

Typical values: Typical values for this cable type, based on UL 2225 / UL 1569 / NEC Articles 330, 501.10(A) & 505. Values for your order are confirmed in the datasheet and quotation.

Electrical

Rated voltage
600 V rms (Type MC-HL) · 300 V rms (Type ITC-HL)
Dielectric test voltage
2000 V AC rms for 5 min
Insulation resistance
≥ 2000 MΩ·km at +20 °C
Shielding effectiveness
Dual-layer: internal Al/PET foil + 360° solid welded Al tube

Thermal

Operating temperature
−40 °C to +90 °C (wet or dry)
Short-circuit conductor temperature
+250 °C (XHHW-2 thermoset XLPE)

Mechanical

UL 2225 crush & impact rating
≥ 2,000 lbf (8.9 kN) crush · ≥ 50 ft-lbf (68 J) impact
Sheath pressure tightness
100 % air-pressure & weld-integrity tested continuous tube
Min. bending radius
10 × OD (fixed) · 12 × OD (pulling)

Resistance

Flame test ratings
UL 1685 · IEEE 1202 (70,000 BTU/hr) · IEC 60332-3-22 · CSA FT4
Chemical & hydrocarbon barrier
100 % impervious welded metallic sheath (zero permeation)

Reference standards

UL standards
UL 2225 (Type MC-HL / ITC-HL) & UL 1569 (Type MC)
NEC & Coast Guard
NEC Art. 330, 501.10(A)(1)(c), 502, 503, 505 · USCG / API RP 14F

Identification

Core identification
Black / White numbered pairs + Green equipment ground
Outer jacket colour
Black (or Blue for Ex-i)
Customs tariff (HS)
8544.49

Sizes

15 standard MC-HL 600 V Metal-Clad instrumentation cable sizes

Approved for Class I, II & III Division 1 and Zone 1/2 across all single-pair and multi-pair sizes without OD restriction.

Dimensions & weights
Order designationConfigurationShieldingOuter Ø ≈
mm		Copper
kg/km		Weight ≈
kg/km		Min. bend R
fixed mm		Enquiry
18 AWG (0.82 mm²) XHHW-2 — 600 V Type MC-HL
MC-HL-INST 1P×18AWG OS1 Pair × 18 AWG + GNDOS13.228178132
MC-HL-INST 2P×18AWG IS/OS2 Pairs × 18 AWG + GNDIS+OS16.452265164
MC-HL-INST 4P×18AWG IS/OS4 Pairs × 18 AWG + GNDIS+OS19.296378192
MC-HL-INST 8P×18AWG IS/OS8 Pairs × 18 AWG + GNDIS+OS24.1182610241
MC-HL-INST 12P×18AWG IS/OS12 Pairs × 18 AWG + GNDIS+OS28.2268845282
MC-HL-INST 24P×18AWG IS/OS24 Pairs × 18 AWG + GNDIS+OS37.65151,490376
16 AWG (1.31 mm²) XHHW-2 — 600 V Type MC-HL
MC-HL-INST 1P×16AWG OS1 Pair × 16 AWG + GNDOS14.042202140
MC-HL-INST 2P×16AWG IS/OS2 Pairs × 16 AWG + GNDIS+OS17.678308176
MC-HL-INST 4P×16AWG IS/OS4 Pairs × 16 AWG + GNDIS+OS20.8146452208
MC-HL-INST 8P×16AWG IS/OS8 Pairs × 16 AWG + GNDIS+OS26.2278735262
MC-HL-INST 12P×16AWG IS/OS12 Pairs × 16 AWG + GNDIS+OS30.84101,020308
MC-HL-INST 24P×16AWG IS/OS24 Pairs × 16 AWG + GNDIS+OS41.27951,810412
14 AWG (2.08 mm²) XHHW-2 — 600 V Type MC-HL
MC-HL-INST 1P×14AWG OS1 Pair × 14 AWG + GNDOS15.264245152
MC-HL-INST 4P×14AWG IS/OS4 Pairs × 14 AWG + GNDIS+OS22.8224575228
MC-HL-INST 8P×14AWG IS/OS8 Pairs × 14 AWG + GNDIS+OS29.0428945290
  • Typical values for this cable type; dimensions and weights for your order are confirmed in the quotation.
  • Terminate with UL 2225 listed MC-HL potted/elastomeric barrier connectors (e.g. TMCX) in Class I Division 1 enclosures.

Quality & approvals

Testing & inspection

Routine tests on every production length, sample and type tests per batch — documented on an EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate.

  1. ConductorClass 5 stranding
  2. Spark test100 % in-line
  3. Lay-upCores, earth, fillers
  4. SheathingInner, braid / screen, outer
  5. Electrical testsAC voltage, resistance
  6. DimensionsOD, wall thickness
  7. Inspection documents & dispatchDrum & dispatch
Testing & inspectionTest value / referenceFrequency
Routine tests
Continuous weld-seam eddy-current & air-pressure leak test100 % gas/vapour-tight corrugated aluminium sheath along entire lengthEvery manufactured reel
2000 V AC dielectric test2.0 kV rms AC for 5 min without breakdownEvery manufactured reel
Sample tests
UL 2225 2,000 lbf crush & 50 ft-lbf impact testPass hazardous-location crush and impact testsUL follow-up audit

Inspection certificate

Issued with every drum, listing the routine test results for that length.

Product approvals

UL 2225 & UL 1569 Listed Type MC-HL (600 V)NEC Art. 330, 501, 502, 503 & 505 Div 1 / Zone 1API RP 14F, USCG & ABS Offshore

Company certificates

ISO 9001ISO 14001ISO 45001VDE marks approvalUL / cULCE · LVD / EMC

Marking & supply

Ordering & delivery

Sheath marking

TEBAOFLEX <size> E-FILE (UL) TYPE MC-HL / ITC-HL 600V XHHW-2 90C SUN RES OIL RES I/II DIR BUR FT4
Delivery form
Non-returnable fumigated wooden drums
Standard lengths
500 m · 1000 m standard drums (cut lengths on request)
MOQ
500 m (stock sizes) · 1000 m (custom)
Lead time
2–4 weeks ex-works
Incoterms
EXW, FCA, FOB, CIF, DAP

Technical documents

Downloads

PDFMC-HL Instrumentation Metal-Clad Instrumentation Cable – technical datasheet15 sizes · construction, technical data, approvalsXLSXMC-HL Instrumentation spec data (Excel)All 15 sizes with dimensions and data, for your BOM or quotation
Revision
2026-10-20
Updated
2026-10-20

FAQ

Questions engineers ask first

Not covered here? Send your drawing — an engineer replies within 2 business hours.

Why must Type MC-HL use a continuously welded corrugated metallic sheath instead of an interlocking metal tape armour?
Standard Type MC cable often uses a helically interlocked aluminium or steel strip armour, which leaves spiral gaps that allow explosive gases, vapours, and moisture to migrate along the cable. UL 2225 Type MC-HL mandates a continuously welded, 100 % impervious corrugated metallic tube so that a single barrier gland at the enclosure stops gas migration completely.
How does MC-HL compare with European Lead-Sheathed SWA (BS 5308 Part 1 Type 2 LCL) in refinery trenches?
Like a lead sheath, the continuously welded corrugated aluminium tube of MC-HL provides 100 % zero permeation against benzene, toluene, xylene, and sour H2S condensate in refinery soil, while weighing less than half as much as lead-sheathed SWA cable.
Can Type MC-HL be used for large 12-pair, 24-pair, and 36-pair home-run trunks in Class I Division 1?
Yes. Unlike Type TC-ER-HL (which NEC 501.10(A)(1)(e) limits to 1.0 inch / 25.4 mm OD in Class I Division 1), Type MC-HL has no outer diameter limit under NEC 501.10(A)(1)(c) and is approved for all multi-pair trunk sizes.
How should the screen and drain wire of MC-HL Instrumentation be earthed in instrumentation and Ex-i loops?
To prevent circulating 50/60 Hz ground-loop currents from coupling into millivolt or 4–20 mA signals, the Al/PET screen and tinned copper drain wire of MC-HL Instrumentation should be bonded to the clean instrumentation earth bar at one end only (typically in the control/marshalling cabinet) and insulated against chassis contact at the field transmitter or junction box, in accordance with IEC 60079-14 and EN 50288-7.

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MC-HL Instrumentation Metal-Clad Instrumentation Cable

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