GOST 22483 is an interstate standard that establishes requirements for the current-carrying conductors of cables, wires and cords. The current edition is GOST 22483-2021 (IEC 60228:2004, MOD). In Kazakhstan, the standard is in force as a national one: by order of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology dated 23.11.2023 No. 462-NQ, GOST 22483-2021 was introduced as a national standard of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the previous edition, GOST 22483-2012, was applied until 01.01.2025. The standard is modified in relation to the international IEC 60228:2004.
The practical value of GOST 22483 is a unified classification of conductors by flexibility. It is the conductor class (from 1 to 6) that determines whether the cable can be bent during installation, with which tool it should be terminated, what bending radius the line can withstand and how convenient it is to lay it in cramped conditions.
What GOST 22483 Regulates
The standard specifies the nominal conductor cross-sections (up to 2500 mm² inclusive), the number and diameter of wires in the conductor, the DC electrical resistance at +20 °C, as well as requirements for tensile strength for aluminium conductors. The document answers the question: which specific conductor is inside the cable and how it will behave during installation and operation.
The scope is directly stated in the text: solid and stranded conductors of copper, aluminium and aluminium alloy, intended for cable products for fixed installation, self-supporting insulated and protected wires for overhead lines, as well as flexible conductors. The standard does not apply to conductors of communication cables, radio-frequency cables, bare wires and winding wires.
Which Cable Products It Covers
The scope of GOST 22483 covers virtually all power and control cables with copper and aluminium conductors. Typical types for which the conductor class is specified in the technical specifications: VVG, VVGng, AVVG, VBShv, PPGng, KG, KVVG, as well as wires PuGV, PuV and similar. For power cables for fixed installation, classes 1 and 2 are typical. For flexible cables and wires — classes 5 and 6.
The standard applies to conductors of round and shaped cross-section, compacted and non-compacted. Shaped conductors (sector and segment) are used to reduce the cable diameter at large cross-sections — this issue is analysed in the material about round and sector conductors. The number of conductors in a cable can be from one to several tens; the choice between single-core and multi-core design is a separate engineering task, analysed in the article about single-core and multi-core cable.
Key Requirements: Conductor Classes 1–6
The standard divides conductors into six classes. The class determines the conductor design and its flexibility.
| Class | Conductor design | Area of application | What it means in practice |
| 1 | Solid | Cables for fixed installation | Rigid conductor. Minimum flexibility. Terminating tools for solid conductors are required for installation. |
| 2 | Stranded (twisted) | Cables for fixed installation | Rigid, but more technologically convenient at large cross-sections. Used where a solid conductor is too stiff for installation. |
| 3 | Flexible | Flexible cables | Increased flexibility. Allows multiple bends during installation. |
| 4 | Flexible | Flexible cables | Higher flexibility than class 3. Used in cables for rolling stock and portable devices. |
| 5 | Flexible | Flexible cables | High flexibility. The typical class for KG, PuGV cables, welding and instrumentation wires. |
| 6 | Extra-flexible | Flexible cables | Maximum flexibility. For cables operating under frequent bending: robotics, portable tools, flexible cords. |
Source: GOST 22483-2021, sections 5–6. Conductors of classes 1 and 2 are intended for cable products for fixed installation. Conductors of classes 3, 4, 5 and 6 are intended for flexible cable products, but their use for fixed installation is permitted.
The key parameter for all classes is the DC electrical resistance of the conductor at +20 °C. It is standardised in the tables of the standard and checked during testing. For copper conductors, the resistance is higher in flexible classes: the more wires in the conductor, the higher the resistance at the same cross-section due to an increase in the total length of the wires and the contact resistances between them. This is taken into account when calculating voltage drop on long lines.
For aluminium conductors, the standard additionally standardises tensile strength. The values depend on the cross-section: for conductors of 10 and 16 mm², the strength is higher than for 70 mm² and more. The check is carried out on the wires before the conductor is twisted.
What the Standard Does NOT Regulate
GOST 22483 does not establish requirements for insulation, sheath and protective coverings. These parameters are regulated by GOST 31996-2012 for power cables with plastic insulation and by other standards for specific types.
The standard does not specify permissible continuous currents for specific installation conditions. The tables of permissible currents in the PUE RK and GOST R 50571.5.52 are compiled for standardised conditions: air temperature +25 °C, ground +15 °C, single cable. If the actual conditions differ, correction coefficients are introduced.
GOST 22483 does not regulate the selection of cross-section by voltage drop and does not replace the thermal stability check during a short circuit. The conductor class affects the design and flexibility, but does not cancel engineering calculations for heating, voltage drop and the short-circuit thermal impulse.
Related Standards and Norms
GOST 22483 works in conjunction with other documents. Without these connections, the classification remains a set of numbers.
| Normative document | How it relates to GOST 22483 |
| IEC 60228:2004 | The international standard in relation to which GOST 22483-2021 is modified. The classification of conductors 1–6 corresponds to IEC 60228. |
| GOST 31996-2012 | Establishes requirements for power cables with plastic insulation. For cables under this standard, the conductors must comply with GOST 22483. |
| TR CU 004/2011 | Technical regulation of the EAEU “On the safety of low-voltage equipment”. GOST 22483-2021 is included in the list of standards for the regulation. |
| GOST 31565-2012 | Fire safety requirements for cables. The conductor class does not determine the fire properties, but is related to the cable design as a whole. |
| PUE RK | Establish permissible currents and installation conditions. The conductor class affects the choice of cable for a specific installation method. |
In Kazakhstan, the national standard GOST 22483-2021 is in force, introduced by order of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology dated 23.11.2023 No. 462-NQ. The previous edition, GOST 22483-2012, was applied until 01.01.2025. Designers and procurement specialists, when referring to the standard in documentation, should indicate the current edition — that of 2021.
Practical Application
For the Designer
The conductor class determines the permissible bending radius of the cable. For cables with conductors of classes 1 and 2, the bending radius is larger than for classes 5 and 6. If the route has turns in cramped conditions, this can become a limiting factor. In the project, the conductor class is specified in the technical requirements for the cable: for power lines of fixed installation — class 1 or 2, for flexible connections — class 5.
For the Procurement Specialist and Buyer
In the procurement documentation, it is sufficient to specify the cable type and the conductor class according to GOST 22483-2021. If the supplier offers a cable “according to technical specifications”, it is worth requesting confirmation of the conductor class compliance with the standard. Replacing class 2 with class 5 at the same cross-section changes the flexibility and electrical resistance of the conductor, which affects voltage drop on long lines.
For the Installer
Conductors of classes 1 and 2 are terminated using crimp lugs or bolted connections. Conductors of class 5 require either crimping with sleeves or the use of spring terminals designed for stranded conductors. Attempting to clamp a flexible conductor in a terminal intended for a solid one leads to damage to the wires and overheating of the contact.
For the Test Specialist
During acceptance tests, the DC resistance of the conductor is measured and compared with the table of GOST 22483-2021 for the corresponding class and cross-section. For aluminium conductors, tensile strength is additionally checked. The results are documented in a report.
The conductor class is related to the material: copper conductors are used in all classes, aluminium — in classes 1 and 2 for fixed installation. An analysis of the differences between copper and aluminium conductors is given in a separate material. The number of conductors in a cable is an independent parameter that is not determined by GOST 22483, but affects the line design: 3, 4 or 5 cores: how to choose the number of cores of a power cable.
FAQ
Which conductor class should be chosen for a power cable for fixed installation?
Classes 1 or 2 are used for fixed installation. Class 1 — solid conductor, class 2 — stranded. For cross-sections up to 16 mm² for copper conductors, class 1 is more often used; at larger cross-sections — class 2, since a solid conductor becomes too stiff for installation.
What is the difference between class 5 and class 6?
Class 6 is more flexible than class 5. The conductor of class 6 has more wires of smaller diameter. Such a conductor withstands more bending cycles, but has a higher electrical resistance at the same cross-section. Class 6 is used for cables operating under frequent bending: portable tools, robotics, flexible cords.
Can a flexible class 5 cable be used for fixed installation?
Yes, GOST 22483-2021 permits the use of conductors of classes 3–6 for fixed installation. However, flexible conductors have higher resistance and require special terminals. For long lines of fixed installation, class 1 or 2 is preferable from the point of view of voltage drop.
Is GOST 22483-2012 in force in Kazakhstan?
GOST 22483-2012 was applied in Kazakhstan as a national standard from 01.07.2014, but its application was limited to a period until 01.01.2025. The current edition is GOST 22483-2021, introduced as a national standard of the Republic of Kazakhstan by order No. 462-NQ dated 23.11.2023.
How does the conductor class affect voltage drop?
Flexible conductors (classes 5 and 6) have a higher DC electrical resistance than conductors of classes 1 and 2 at the same cross-section. For long lines, this increases the voltage drop. When calculating a line with a flexible cable, the resistance value from the tables of GOST 22483-2021 for the actual conductor class should be used.
Normative Sources Used
- GOST 22483-2021 (IEC 60228:2004, MOD) “Current-carrying conductors for cables, wires and cords” — in force, introduced 01.09.2021, amendments of 20.04.2022 and 19.06.2022 — official text on meganorm.ru
- Order of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 23.11.2023 No. 462-NQ — introduction of GOST 22483-2021 as a national standard of the Republic of Kazakhstan — IPS “Adilet”
- GOST 22483-2012 (IEC 60228:2004) “Current-carrying conductors for cables, wires and cords” — replaced by GOST 22483-2021, was applied in Kazakhstan until 01.01.2025 — official card of the standard
- TR CU 004/2011 “On the safety of low-voltage equipment” — in force — official portal of the EAEU
- GOST 31996-2012 “Power cables with plastic insulation for rated voltages of 0.66; 1 and 3 kV” — in force — official text of the standard
- Electrical Installation Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2015, as amended by the order of the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 31.10.2022 No. 340 — in force — IPS “Adilet”
