H05VV-F / H07VV-F
International standard flexible cord.
H05VV-F and H07VV-F are IEC 60227-5 flexible cords — multicore Class 5 copper, PVC insulated and sheathed, for portable appliances, equipment connections, and flexible installation. The most widely used flexible cord specification globally. Equivalent to IS 694:2010 multicore flexible built to the international voltage designation.
H05VV-F and H07VV-F — the code system explained.
Both follow the IEC 60227 harmonised code system: H = harmonised · 05/07 = voltage class (300/500V or 450/750V) · V = PVC insulation · V = PVC sheath · F = flexible (Class 5 stranded conductor).
| Designation | Voltage | Application | IS 694:2010 Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| H05VV-F | 300/500V | Household appliances, portable tools, extension cords, light fittings | IS 694:2010 Multicore Flexible (lighter) |
| H07VV-F | 450/750V | Industrial equipment connections, portable power tools, machine cable feeds | IS 694:2010 Multicore Flexible (standard) |
Construction and electrical characteristics — IEC 60227-5.
| Parameter | H05VV-F | H07VV-F |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | H05VV-F: IEC 60227-5 / EN 50525-2-11:2011 · H07VV-F: manufacturer designation — EN 50525-2-11 design extended to 450/750V (no harmonised 450/750V cord type; NYMHY-type practice) | |
| Rated voltage | 300/500V | 450/750V |
| Conductor | Annealed copper — IEC 60228 Class 5 (fine-stranded) | |
| Conductor sizes | 0.75mm², 1.0mm², 1.5mm², 2.5mm² | 1.5mm², 2.5mm², 4mm², 6mm² |
| Core count | 2, 3, 4, 5 core (standard) · with or without earth | |
| Insulation | PVC Type TI2 (EN 50363-3) — colour coded per IEC 60445 | |
| Sheath | PVC Type TM2 (EN 50363-4-1) — round construction · black, white, or colour | |
| Max conductor temperature | 70°C continuous · 160°C short circuit (5s) | |
| Test voltage | H05VV-F (300/500V): 2.0kV AC · H07VV-F (450/750V): 2.5kV AC | |
| Min bending radius (flexing) | 8 × OD (flexing service) — per manufacturer datasheet practice | |
| Flame retardant | IEC 60332-1-2:2004 | |
| Operating temperature range | −5°C to +70°C (flexing) · −40°C to +70°C (static storage) | |
Easy-Peel Construction for High-Speed Assembly
To support high-volume appliance manufacturing, our multicore flex includes a talcum powder separation layer between the core insulation and the outer sheath. This prevents "sleeving" and allows for effortless machine-stripping on OEM harness lines.
Conductor resistance and typical insulation for H05VV-F / H07VV-F.
| Size (mm²) | Class 5 resistance (Ω/km) | H05VV-F insulation (mm) | H07VV-F insulation (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.75 | 26.0 | 0.6 | — |
| 1.0 | 19.5 | 0.6 | — |
| 1.5 | 13.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 2.5 | 7.98 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| 4.0 | 4.95 | — | 0.8 |
| 6.0 | 3.30 | — | 0.8 |
Standard configurations — H05VV-F and H07VV-F.
Approximate OD and weight. Exact values subject to manufacturing tolerance ±5%. Class 5 fine-stranded conductor throughout.
| Cores | Size (mm²) | OD H05VV-F (mm) | Weight H05VV-F (kg/km) | OD H07VV-F (mm) | Weight H07VV-F (kg/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0.75 | 6.3 | 57 | - | - |
| 2 | 1.0 | 6.6 | 65 | - | - |
| 2 | 1.5 | 7.4 | 84 | MTO | MTO |
| 2 | 2.5 | 9.1 | 130 | MTO | MTO |
| 3 | 0.75 | 6.7 | 68 | - | - |
| 3 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 78 | - | - |
| 3 | 1.5 | 8.1 | 108 | MTO | MTO |
| 3 | 2.5 | 9.9 | 163 | MTO | MTO |
| 3 | 4.0 | 11.3 | 227 | MTO | MTO |
| 4 | 1.0 | 7.9 | 100 | - | - |
| 4 | 1.5 | 9.0 | 134 | MTO | MTO |
| 4 | 2.5 | 10.8 | 201 | MTO | MTO |
| 5 | 1.5 | 10.0 | 166 | MTO | MTO |
| 5 | 2.5 | 12.6 | 243 | MTO | MTO |
H05VV-F OD and weight values are nominal published figures for the harmonised type (manufacturer datasheet basis). H07VV-F (450/750V) builds are made to order — dimensions quoted per project, as no harmonised 450/750V cord dimensional table exists.
IEC 60445 / EN 50525-2-11 — harmonised core identification.
Flexible cord cores are colour-coded per IEC 60445 (adopted in EN 50525-2-11). Green/Yellow is reserved exclusively for the protective earth conductor across all core counts.
| Core count | Core 1 | Core 2 | Core 3 (Earth) | Core 4 | Core 5 | Typical circuit use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-core | Brown (L) | Blue (N) | — | — | — | Class II appliances — no earth |
| 3-core | Brown (L) | Blue (N) | Green/Yellow (E) | — | — | Class I appliances, single-phase with earth |
| 4-core | Brown | Black | Green/Yellow (E) | Grey | — | 3-phase star (no neutral) with earth |
| 5-core | Brown (L1) | Black (L2) | Green/Yellow (E) | Grey (L3) | Blue (N) | 3-phase + neutral + earth |
H05VV-F vs H07VV-F — which to specify and where.
| Application | Specification | Typical sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household appliance leads (washing machines, refrigerators, dryers) | H05VV-F | 3 × 1.5mm², 3 × 2.5mm² | IEC 60335-1 requires Class I appliances to use earthed 3-core cord minimum |
| Portable luminaires and floor lamps | H05VV-F | 2 × 0.75mm², 3 × 0.75mm² | Class II (ungrounded) luminaires may use 2-core; Class I require 3-core |
| Extension cords and reels | H05VV-F | 3 × 1.5mm², 3 × 2.5mm² | Must be earthed (3-core); rated to 16A or 25A depending on size |
| Power tools and drills | H05VV-F or H07VV-F | 3 × 1.5mm², 3 × 2.5mm² | H07VV-F for higher-power industrial tools; H05VV-F for consumer grade |
| Industrial machine cable connections | H07VV-F | 3×4mm², 4×2.5mm², 5×2.5mm² | 450/750V rating required where machine switchgear operates at higher transient voltages |
| OEM appliance wiring harnesses | H05VV-F | 3 × 1.0mm², 3 × 1.5mm² | Internal harnesses in cookers, ovens, dishwashers — H05VV-F serves 70°C sections only; runs near heating elements require a heat-resistant cord (e.g. silicone H05SJ-K / PTFE) — verify temperature class |
Maximum sustained current for H05VV-F / H07VV-F in service as a flexible cord.
Values per BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 Table 4F3A for flexible cords in free air at 30°C ambient (6.0mm² per manufacturer data — Table 4F3A tabulates up to 4.0mm²). For conduit or trunking installation, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 Table 4D1A (70°C PVC single core) applies.
| Size (mm²) | 2-core cord Max current (A) | 3-core cord Max current (A) | 4 or 5-core Max current (A) | Max R (Ω/km) Class 5 at 20°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.75 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 26.0 |
| 1.0 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 19.5 |
| 1.5 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13.3 |
| 2.5 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 7.98 |
| 4.0 | 32 | 32 | 25 | 4.95 |
| 6.0 | 40 | 40 | 32 | 3.30 |
Ambient temperature 30°C. For ambient temperatures above 30°C apply the de-rating factors below. Values shown are for cords in free air; bundled or coiled cords require further de-rating (typically 75% of the free-air rating for coiled state).
Where H05VV-F and H07VV-F are specified.
H05VV-F is the single most widely used flexible cord globally for household appliance OEM supply. Any manufacturer exporting appliances into IEC markets needs H05VV-F compliant cord for their power leads.
The IS 694:2010 product H05VV-F and H07VV-F are manufactured from.
H05VV-F / H07VV-F flexible multicore cable — technical questions answered.
Common questions from OEM procurement, electrical engineers, and industrial equipment manufacturers specifying IEC 60227-5 flexible cords for European and international projects.
What is the difference between H05VV-F and H07VV-F?
H05VV-F — 300/500V multicore flexible cord with Class 5 fine-stranded conductors. Designed for light-duty and stationary equipment where lower voltage rating is acceptable. Thinner insulation wall, lighter weight.
H07VV-F — 450/750V multicore flexible cord with identical Class 5 conductor construction. Rated for higher voltage applications: portable tools, construction equipment, machinery requiring greater voltage headroom. Slightly thicker insulation wall.
Common construction: Both use PVC Type A insulation on individual conductors and PVC ST1 sheath. Both are Round, multicore (2–24 cores available). The conductor composition and flexibility characteristics are identical; the difference is voltage rating and insulation thickness.
What are typical applications for flexible multicore cables H05VV-F and H07VV-F?
H05VV-F (light duty): Stationary and semi-stationary equipment: lighting fixtures, HVAC control, low-power instrumentation, fixed plant equipment. Used in industrial panels where flexibility is needed for routing but ambient voltage stresses are low.
H07VV-F (general purpose): Portable power tools, site machinery, construction equipment power cords, temporary site distribution, vehicle-mounted equipment. The higher voltage rating provides safety margin in rough-environment mobile use.
Both can be used indoors or outdoors (when protected from UV), and maximum conductor temperature is 70°C, with ambient derating above 30°C.
Can flexible multicore cable be used in fixed installations instead of rigid sheathed cable?
Flexible cable can be used in fixed installations but is not recommended as a permanent replacement for sheathed cable like NYM or NYMCY. Reasons:
- Mechanical protection: Flexible cord lacks the rigid sheath strength of installation cables; susceptible to damage from abrasion, crushing, or pinching during building works or maintenance.
- Cost: Flexible multicore is more expensive per meter than equivalent rigid sheathed cable.
- Building codes: Many jurisdictions require sheathed installation cable (per national equivalents of IEC 60227-2 or VDE standards) for permanent wiring; flexible cords are explicitly excluded from fixed wiring regulations.
Acceptable fixed use: Flexible cord may be used for semi-permanent installations (equipment patch leads, interconnects between panels, or temporary project wiring) where code allows and mechanical protection is provided (conduit, cable tray, or under-floor routing).
What is the current-carrying capacity and bending radius for H05VV-F / H07VV-F?
Current rating examples (in air, 30°C ambient, BS 7671 Table 4F3A): A 0.75mm² cord carries 6A; a 1.5mm² cord carries 16A. Derating applies above 30°C ambient (0.87 at 40°C, 0.71 at 50°C).
Bending radius: Minimum 8× cable OD in flexing service, per manufacturer datasheet practice. Avoid sharp bends that may crack insulation.
Lifespan under repeated flexing: Typical duty rating is 100,000–500,000 flex cycles depending on bending severity and ambient temperature. Specify contact us for bending-fatigue guidance for machinery with continuous or high-frequency motion.
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