Arctic grade flex is an ordinary PVC flexible cable made with a cold-modified PVC compound, so the insulation and sheath stay pliable instead of going hard and cracking in low temperatures. It is the standard choice for temporary supplies on construction sites, where cable is dragged about, coiled and uncoiled in the open through winter. The bright yellow sheath conventionally marks a 110 V reduced low voltage site supply and blue a 230 V supply.
Key applications
- 110 V site transformer and distribution board tails
- Temporary site lighting and festoon runs
- Portable tools and small plant outdoors
- Cold stores, chillers and freezer rooms
- Agricultural and outdoor seasonal equipment
- Extension leads and reels used in winter conditions
Features and benefits
- Stays flexible well below the point at which standard PVC flex stiffens
- Finely stranded Class 5 conductors tolerate repeated coiling
- Colour-coded sheath gives immediate voltage identification on site
- Cheaper and lighter than an equivalent rubber trailing cable
Specification notes and limitations
Arctic grade is a flexible cable, not a fixed-wiring or buried cable: it must not be used for permanent building installation, direct burial, or concealed work in walls. The low-temperature rating describes cold flexibility, not immunity to mechanical damage, and PVC gives only limited resistance to oils, solvents and prolonged sunlight, so long-term outdoor exposure will chalk and embrittle the sheath. Avoid sharp bends and crushing under vehicle wheels or stacked materials, keep bends generous when the cable is cold, and inspect for sheath splits before every use.
