By TEBAOFLEX Jyen. Originally published on October 12, 2026.
AS/NZS 1802 and AS/NZS 2802 address mining reeling and trailing cables, but their scopes are not simply “underground” versus “surface.” Start with the mine environment and the machine duty, then establish the applicable cable standard, construction and installation requirements with the responsible electrical engineer.
Understand the two scopes
AS/NZS 1802 addresses reeling and trailing cables for underground coal mining. AS/NZS 2802 addresses mining and general use other than underground coal mining, including relevant underground metalliferous applications as well as surface equipment. WorkSafe WA guidance also notes that AS/NZS 1802 types may be considered for suitable underground metalliferous installations. This is not permission to interchange every type without review.
Confirm the edition and amendments required by the project and jurisdiction. State requirements may refer to particular editions or recognized standards. A catalogue label alone does not establish legal compliance of the mine’s complete electrical installation.
Select a type from the complete construction
- Match system voltage and earthing conditions to the declared cable voltage rating.
- Specify power-conductor size, protective conductors, pilot/control cores, screens and the required termination arrangement.
- Match trailing, reeling or other movement to the manufacturer’s construction and handling limits.
- State temperature, abrasion, oils, water, sunlight and applicable fire-performance requirements without assuming one material name guarantees all of them.
A type number is not a substitute for the approved drawing and data sheet. Different cable types can have different screen, earth and pilot arrangements. Do not infer mandatory composite screens, a central pilot or an identical insulation thickness across all types.
Treat protection as a coordinated system
The protective-earth path, pilot supervision, earth-fault relay, neutral earthing arrangement, switching equipment and cable terminations must operate together. Pilot supervision can detect relevant continuity faults when correctly designed, but a pilot core alone does not guarantee an operating time or eliminate shock risk.
Relay pickup, delay, end-of-line components and permissible earth-loop conditions must follow the approved protection study and equipment instructions. Do not apply a universal resistance threshold or trip time to every mine. Commission the complete protective system and maintain the required records under the mine’s procedures.
Current rating on a reel is installation-dependent
Thermal rating depends on conductor loading, ambient conditions, reel geometry, the number and arrangement of cable layers, remaining wound length and operating duty. A free-air current rating cannot automatically be used for a loaded multilayer reel. Likewise, a square-root temperature calculation or a single derating factor is not a complete thermal assessment.
Obtain a documented rating for the actual reel and duty, with the temperature limits of every relevant component. Check voltage drop, short-circuit withstand and protective coordination separately. Specify any operational limits on current while substantial cable remains wound.
Investigate damage without assuming the cause
Bulges, intermittent pilot faults, screen damage and sheath cracks can have several causes: handling, bending, tension, terminations, wear, environmental attack or manufacturing defects. Isolate the equipment and use a competent inspection process. Do not repair a suspected internal fault simply by repositioning the cable until a trip disappears.
Purchase and acceptance checklist
- Record governing standard and edition, type designation, approved construction and declared electrical ratings.
- Provide equipment drawings, movement limits, reel data, termination details and the mine’s protection requirements.
- Agree applicable design qualification, routine and sample tests, with measured results and traceable drum identification.
- Verify any claimed certification against its actual scope; generic factory or laboratory claims do not certify the supplied cable or installation.
This comparison supports specification discussions; final selection, installation and protection settings require the mine’s authorized engineering process.
Sources and scope
WorkSafe WA: trailing and reeling cables, AS/NZS 1802 and 2802 scope
Queensland: recognised mining standards and guidance
These references explain the relevant methods or manufacturer guidance. They do not certify a TEBAOFLEX product or establish results for a supplied batch.
Discuss your specification
For a project-specific cable specification, send the duty, installation drawing and required acceptance criteria to TEBAOFLEX. WhatsApp: +86 185 9591 3361. Request documented product ratings and test evidence before approval.