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IS 694:1990 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for pvc insulated cables for working voltages up to and including 1100 v. IS 694 specifies the requirements and test methods for PVC insulated cables (both unsheathed and sheathed) with copper or aluminum conductors for voltages up to 1100 V. It is an essential standard used by electrical engineers to specify electrical wiring for residential, commercial, and control panel applications.
Specifies requirements for single-core and multi-core PVC insulated and PVC sheathed cables for fixed wiring in electrical installations up to 1100 V.
Quick Reference — Top IS 694:1990 Values
Key conductor resistances, insulation/sheath thicknesses, mechanical properties, and test acceptance criteria for PVC insulated cables up to 1100V.
✓ Verified 2026-04-27
Reference
Value
Clause
Rated Voltage— AC or DC voltage between conductors or to earth.
Up to 1100 V
Cl. 1.1
Max. Conductor Temp (Normal)— For general purpose PVC Type A insulation.
70 °C
Cl. 6.1
Conductor Resistance (Cu, 1.5 mm²)— Max DC resistance at 20°C for Class 1 or 2.
≤ 12.1 Ω/km
Table 1
Conductor Resistance (Cu, 2.5 mm²)— Max DC resistance at 20°C for Class 1 or 2.
≤ 7.41 Ω/km
Table 1
Conductor Resistance (Al, 2.5 mm²)— Max DC resistance at 20°C for Class 1 or 2.
≤ 12.1 Ω/km
Table 1
Conductor Resistance (Al, 4.0 mm²)— Max DC resistance at 20°C for Class 1 or 2.
≤ 7.41 Ω/km
Table 1
Nom. Insulation Thickness (1.5 mm²)
0.7 mm
Table 2
Min. Insulation Thickness (1.5 mm²)— Calculated as (0.9 * t_nom) - 0.1 mm.
0.53 mm
Table 2, Note 2
Nom. Insulation Thickness (4.0 mm²)
0.8 mm
Table 2
Min. Insulation Thickness (4.0 mm²)— Calculated as (0.9 * t_nom) - 0.1 mm.
0.62 mm
Table 2, Note 2
Nom. Sheath Thickness (for 10mm dia)— For calculated dia over laid-up cores.
1.4 mm
Table 3
Min. Sheath Thickness (for 10mm dia)— Calculated as (0.8 * t_nom) - 0.2 mm.
1.02 mm
Table 3, Note 2
Insulation Tensile Strength (Min)— For PVC Type A insulation.
12.5 N/mm²
Table 4
Insulation Elongation (Min)— For PVC Type A insulation.
150 %
Table 4
Sheath Tensile Strength (Min)— For PVC Type ST1 sheath.
12.5 N/mm²
Table 4
Sheath Elongation (Min)— For PVC Type ST1 sheath.
150 %
Table 4
Insulation Resistivity (Min, 27°C)— Volume resistivity for PVC Type A.
1 x 10¹⁴ Ω-cm
Table 4
Insulation Resistivity (Min, 70°C)— Volume resistivity for PVC Type A.
1 x 10¹¹ Ω-cm
Table 4
Ageing Test Variation (Insulation)— Max variation in tensile strength after ageing.
±25% of unaged value
Table 5
High Voltage Test (AC)— Routine test applied between conductors and screen/water.
3 kV for 5 min
Cl. 11.1.2
Hot Deformation (Max Indentation)— Type test at 80°C for Type A insulation.
≤ 50 %
Cl. 11.3.6
Flammability Test (Max Burn Time)— Period of burning after removal of flame.
< 60 s
Cl. 11.3.11.2
⚠ Verify against the latest BIS/IRC publication and project specifications. Amendment Slips may modify values.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Always verify if the project requires FRLS (Fire Retardant Low Smoke) or ZHFR (Zero Halogen Fire Retardant) properties. These require adherence to additional specifications/tests beyond basic IS 694.
! For flexible cables used in portable appliances, ensure multi-strand Class 5 conductors as per IS 8130 are explicitly specified.
! Do not confuse with IS 1554, which applies to heavy-duty PVC insulated power cables (such as armored cables for underground routing).
Updates & Amendments5 amendments
Amendment 1
Amendment 2
Amendment 3
Amendment 4
Amendment 5
Consolidated list per BIS. For the text of each amendment, refer to the BIS portal link above.
PVCCopperAluminumInsulation
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
IEC 60227 SeriesIEC (International)
HighCurrent
Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V
Covers PVC insulated and sheathed cables for fixed wiring, but with a lower maximum voltage rating (450/750V).
BS 6004:2012+A1:2020BSI (UK)
HighCurrent
Electric cables - PVC insulated and PVC sheathed cables for voltages up to and including 300/500 V, for electric power and lighting
Closely harmonized with IEC 60227, covering PVC cables for general wiring in the UK.
AS/NZS 5000.2:2006Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand (Australia/New Zealand)
HighCurrent
Electric cables — Polymeric insulated — Part 2: For working voltages up to and including 450/750 V
Specifies requirements for PVC insulated cables for building wiring, harmonized with IEC standards.
UL 83UL (US)
MediumCurrent
Thermoplastic-Insulated Wires and Cables
Covers single conductor thermoplastic insulated wires (e.g., THHN/THWN) for building wiring, but with different construction, testing, and voltage classes (e.g., 600V).
Key Differences
≠Rated Voltage: IS 694 covers a working voltage up to 1100V (rated 650/1100V), whereas the most common equivalent, IEC 60227, specifies cables for rated voltages up to and including 450/750V.
≠Core Colour Coding: IS 694:1990 specifies the old Indian colour code (e.g., Red, Yellow, Blue for phases; Black for neutral). The IEC and harmonized standards like BS 6004 mandate a different scheme (Brown, Black, Grey for phases; Blue for neutral).
≠Standard Structure: IS 694:1990 is a single comprehensive document covering single-core, multi-core, sheathed, and unsheathed cables. The IEC equivalent is a multi-part standard (e.g., IEC 60227-1 for general requirements, IEC 60227-3 for fixed wiring cables, etc.).
≠High Voltage Test: The AC voltage test requirement in IS 694 for 650/1100V cables is 3 kV (rms) for 5 minutes. For the comparable 450/750V cables in IEC 60227, the test voltage is lower at 2.5 kV (rms).
Key Similarities
≈Primary Insulation Material: Both IS 694 and its international equivalents like IEC 60227 are fundamentally based on Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) as the primary insulation material for general wiring cables.
≈Conductor Construction: Both standards define requirements for conductors based on the same classes: Class 1 (solid), Class 2 (stranded for fixed installation), and Class 5 (flexible), referencing their respective national/international conductor standards (IS 8130 and IEC 60228).
≈Temperature Rating: The standard operating temperature for general-purpose Type A PVC insulation in IS 694:1990 is 70°C, which is identical to the standard PVC type (TI 1) in the IEC 60227 series.
≈Fundamental Testing Regime: Both standards mandate a similar suite of type, acceptance, and routine tests to ensure quality, including conductor resistance, insulation resistance, and high voltage tests, reflecting a common approach to cable safety and performance verification.
What is the maximum voltage rating covered by IS 694?+
It covers cables for AC voltages up to and including 1100 V, or DC voltages up to 1500 V to ground.
What is the difference between IS 694 and IS 1554?+
IS 694 is primarily for lighter duty/wiring cables (unarmoured house and panel wiring), while IS 1554 covers heavy-duty PVC insulated power cables, including armoured variants.
What conductor standards are mandated by IS 694?+
Conductors must conform to IS 8130. They can be solid/stranded for fixed wiring (Class 1 or 2) or flexible for portable applications (Class 5).