3M Shrinkable Tubing for Bus Bar
BBI-A Series 5-35kV
Data Sheet September 2013
TM
Description
3M Heat Shrinkable Tubing for Bus Bar BBIA Series is designed for insulating rectangular,
square and round bus bar rated from 5 kV through 35 kV. It will also cover and insulate inline
bolted connections of rectangular bus bars. The tubing meets the requirements of ANSI/IEEE
Standard C37.20. The standard tubing lengths are 20 feet (6,1 m) and 50 feet (15,2m).
3M BBIA Tubing is made of a specially formulated cross-linked polyolefin. The tubing is colored
orange-red. The material has high resistance to splitting, good solvent resistance and excellent
tracking resistance properties. The tubing shrinks easily with industry standard methods, forming
an aesthetically appealing insulation cover.
Specially formulated cross-linked polyolefin
Features
Excellent physical properties
Excellent dielectric strength
Excellent tracking resistance
Excellent chemical resistance
Good thermal endurance
Flame retardant; self extinguishing
Flexible; conforms to bends
Heat shrinkable design
Each tube fits a range of bus bar sizes and voltage ratings
Tight fit provides good heat dissipation
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For insulating electrical bus bars per ANSI/IEEE Standard C37.20:
Applications
For 5, 8, 15, 25 and 35 kV voltage ratings
For rectangular, square and round bus bars
For inline bolted connections of rectangular bus bars
For copper or aluminum bus bars
For use in metal-clad switchgear
For use on metal-enclosed bus bar
For use with substation switchgear
Engineering/ All straight sections of bus bar, and inline connections of rectangular bus bars, shall be insulated in
Architectural accordance with the instructions included with the 3M Heat Shrinkable Tubing for Bus Bar BBIA
Specifications Series. This coverage shall include all copper and aluminum, rectangular, square and round bus
bar's rated at 5, 8, 15, 25 and 35 kV.
All straight sections of bus bar shall be insulated with 110C (230F) rated heat shrink tubing
Product
Specifications which meets the requirements of ANSI/IEEE C37.20. The tubing shall be made of specially
formulated, cross-linked polyolefin, orange-red in color. The tubing shall be rated for the same
voltage-rating as the bus bar, up to 35 kV. The insulation shall be designed for use on rectangular,
square and round bus bars, and it must be designed to cover and insulate inline bolted
connections of rectangular bus bars. The product must be packaged with complete installation
instructions.
Performance Dielectric Withstand Tests (ANSI/IEEE C37.20):
Tests Tests were performed on BBI Series Tubing installed on rectangular bus bar, on both straight
sections and inline bolted connections. The 2 and 3 in. (51 and 76 mm) bars were 10 ft. (3,05 m)
long, and all other bars were 12 ft. (3,66 m).
Power Frequency and Impulse Withstand Tests:
The samples were inserted through a grounded 3 ft. (0.9 m) long duct and positioned to required
air gap clearance from one duct wall.
Test for Bus Bar Insulation:
The samples were wrapped with a half-lapped layer of 3M Scotch_ 24 Electrical Shielding Tape
to establish a ground plane in contact with the BBI insulation.
Corona Tests (ANSI/IEEE 454):
Corona (partial discharge) testing was performed on BBI insulated bus bar which was inserted
through a grounded 3ft. (0.9 m) long duct. The bar was positioned to the required air gap
clearance from one duct wall. The test results suggest that the air gap between the bar and duct
is so large in relationship to the air gap between the bar and insulation, that no corona condition
exits in the normal testing range up to 38 kV.
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