Lead-Free EPR Insulation for Industrial Medium-Voltage Cable
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Why is General Cable removing lead from Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) medium voltage insulation?
A:
General Cable is committed to reducing our environmental footprint in the manufacture and supply of cable
and assemblies; the reduction of hazardous materials, including lead, is one of our goals. As compounding
technology has improved over time, General Cable’s compound development team has worked diligently to
develop a proprietary medium-voltage, lead-free EPR formula that meets or exceeds all industry standard
requirements, delivering not only the performance you demand, but also reducing the overall impact to the
environment.
Separately, several pieces of legislation, including RoHS, California Proposition 65 and REACH all restrict
the use of lead. The EPA is not currently restricting lead content in medium-voltage EPR insulation as it is
below the threshold limit; however, with the continued worldwide focus on environmental impact and
sustainability, it’s likely those limits will be reduced in the future.
Q:
Why was lead used in the first place?
A:
Lead oxide is used in modern EPR formulations in relatively small amounts to provide electrical stability in
wet conditions by offering better moisture stability and lower dielectric loss. Given the minimal amount of
lead as compared to the volume of other ingredients, leaded EPR compounds have always been able to
pass the leachable lead content protocol per EPA 40 CFR, Part 261. As a result, these leaded EPR
compounds are not considered toxic waste.
Q:
Will there be any change in wet electrical performance with the new lead-free EPR compound?
A:
General Cable has spent years developing a lead-free stabilization package that would provide equivalent or
better wet electrical performance when compared to both General Cable’s and competitors’ existing leaded
insulation compounds, all without impacting the other physical and electrical characteristics. Additional
support data is available upon request.
Q:
What color is the lead-free compound?
A:
The new General Cable lead-free EPR is white in color. The red/pink shade commonly associated with
medium-voltage EPR insulation is due in part to the addition of red lead oxide as a stabilizer. Without the
red lead oxide additive, the compound takes on its “natural” color, which is this case is white. Please be
advised that there may be other white EPR compounds that utilize lead-based stabilizers, so the white color
does not, in itself, guarantee a lead-free compound.
Q:
Are there any special requirements involved in using General Cable lead-free EPR?
A:
No. General Cable’s lead-free EPR insulated medium-voltage cables will perform identically to our existing
product lines in terms of fit, form, and function and should be considered a functional equivalent to our
existing leaded EPR construction. Additionally, this new generation of lead-free EPR insulated cables can
be used with the same lubricants, lugs, terminations, and splices as our current cable designs.
4 Tesseneer Drive, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076-9753
GENERAL CABLE is a trademark of General Cable Technologies Corporation.
©2014. General Cable Technologies Corporation. Highland Heights, KY 41076
All rights reserved.
Printed in USA
Telephone: 888.295.5896
E-mail: info@generalcable.com
www.generalcable.com
Form No. INS-0170-1114
Lead-Free EPR Insulation for Industrial Medium-Voltage Cable
Frequently Asked Questions - continued
Q:
Are there any compatibility issues between lead-free and leaded EPR?
A:
No. General Cable lead-free insulated cables can be spliced into circuits with existing leaded cables or vice
versa, with the two insulation types being 100% interchangeable.
Q:
Are lead-free EPR products UL listed?
A:
All shielded medium-voltage cable designs, including General Cable’s Uniblend , UniShield , and Duralox
armored products, are manufactured with the new lead-free EPR, are UL listed as Type MV-105 per UL File
# E90501, and meet the same requirements as our previous leaded insulation.
Q:
Should I specify lead-free EPR insulation only?
A:
As mentioned previously, the current leaded EPR compounds are not currently considered hazardous waste
and will likely be supplied in the cable industry for many years to come. However, with no electrical or
physical performance differences associated with using these lead-free insulated products, specifying cable
with lead-free EPR insulation does promote environmental sustainability.
Q:
With many years of experience with leaded EPR, should I be concerned with the long-term performance of
lead-free EPR?
A:
General Cable has performed all applicable long-term physical and electrical testing as required by ICEA,
AEIC, and UL. Notably, the lead-free EPR has undergone an accelerated water treeing test, which
measures electrical performance in water, under voltage for a 360-day period to validate long-term electrical
stability and breakdown strength.
®
®
®
Additionally, long-term internal and field testing was performed to confirm that the lead-free EPR was both
robust in design and delivered performance characteristics that met or exceeded that of leaded EPR cables,
ensuring reliability for the design and service life of the cable.
Q:
Is the new lead-free EPR more expensive than current leaded EPR?
A:
No. General Cable’s development team has worked tirelessly to produce a lead-free EPR compound that
delivers exceptional physical and electrical characteristics, all without increasing the cost of the compound
or the final product.
Q:
Can I still purchase leaded EPR from General Cable?
A:
Yes. General Cable can still provide all designs using our current leaded EPR insulation on a make to order
basis. Should you require a leaded insulation for any industrial medium-voltage product, please contact
your local General Cable Sales Representative.
4 Tesseneer Drive, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076-9753
GENERAL CABLE is a trademark of General Cable Technologies Corporation.
©2014. General Cable Technologies Corporation. Highland Heights, KY 41076
All rights reserved.
Printed in USA
Telephone: 888.295.5896
E-mail: info@generalcable.com
www.generalcable.com
Form No. INS-0170-1114