Long term testing of medium voltage polymeric cables: evolution of test regimes and standards

Medium voltage polymeric cables need to provide a service life of 40 years or more. Long term testing should therefore be aimed at proving that the design and quality of a cable are capable of such a performance. Three major factors to be considered in long term testing are: quality of insulation/screen system; design; and water treeing. The author discusses the long term testing under near-service conditions at BICC, accelerated water treeing test in AIEC Specification CS5-87, and European studies