Flat PVC Insulated PVC Sheathed Cable (BVVB / RVVB / BLVVB)
Twin & Earth Cable
Flat sheathed 2-core and 2-core + earth cable for fixed wiring in houses, flats and small commercial buildings
Twin & earth is a flat cable with two insulated conductors and an earth conductor laid side by side under one PVC sheath. It is used for fixed wiring of lighting and socket circuits where a sheathed cable is clipped along walls, run in voids or buried in plaster, where local wiring rules permit, instead of pulling single wires through conduit. We make it as BVVB (solid copper), RVVB (stranded or flexible copper) and BLVVB (aluminium), with a bare or insulated earth core.
What is Twin & Earth Cable?
The word flat is the point. Twin & earth puts the live, neutral and earth conductors in one row under a single sheath, so the cable lies flat against a wall or joist and, where local wiring rules permit, can be clipped directly without conduit. The sheath gives it the mechanical protection that single-core building wire does not have.
In our factory table the 2+1 design is listed under BVVB with solid copper cores, and under RVVB with stranded or flexible copper cores. The earth core can be bare copper or an insulated copper core; state which one your local wiring rules expect. The same flat construction is also made as 2-core (no earth) and as 3, 4 and 5 core flat cable, and BLVVB is the aluminium 2-core version.
Certification is narrower than the production range. Our CCC certificate 2002010105016710 covers BVVB at 300/500 V in 0.75–10 mm² with 2 or 3 cores, and BLVVB at 300/500 V in 2.5–10 mm² with 2 or 3 cores. RVVB, 4 and 5 core flat cable, larger sizes and higher voltages are made to the standard on your order without that certificate.
This page covers flat sheathed cable for fixed wiring. For single insulated wires pulled through conduit, see Building Wire. For round flexible cords and fine-stranded leads to equipment, see Flexible Electrical Wire. For a separate green/yellow earth conductor, see Earth / Ground Cable.
Key features
- Rated voltage 300/500 V, 450/750 V or 0.6/1 kV
- 2, 2+1 (twin & earth), 3, 4 and 5 core flat construction
- Solid copper or aluminium (BVVB / BLVVB); stranded or flexible annealed or tinned copper (RVVB)
- Earth core: bare copper or insulated copper
- PVC insulation; PVC outer sheath, LSZH sheath optional
- PVC insulation and sheath rated 70 °C continuous; a 90 °C rating needs a separately confirmed XLPE or special insulation construction
- FR, FRLS, LSZH, LSOH, LSHF and anti-termite versions available
Typical applications
- Lighting and socket circuits in houses and apartments
- Surface-clipped and in-wall fixed wiring without conduit, where local wiring rules permit
- Small shops, offices and site accommodation
- Rewiring and housing projects where the specification calls for flat 2-core + earth cable
Flat Twin & Earth Cable Models
Source: Huanghe factory product data
Voltage for all models: 300/500 V, 450/750 V, 0.6/1 kV. Cross-sections are the factory family range, not a list of certified or stocked combinations; see the certificate table for the CCC-covered scope.
Custom sizes available on request — send us your project specification.
| Model | Type | Description | Cores | Nominal cross-section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BVVB | Flat twin copper wire | Solid copper core, PVC insulated / PVC sheathed | 2 | 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300, 400 mm² |
| BVVB | Flat twin and earth cable | Solid copper core, PVC insulated / PVC sheathed + earth core (solid bare copper or insulated copper) | 2+1 | 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300, 400 mm² |
| BVVB | Flat copper wire | Solid copper core, PVC insulated / PVC sheathed | 3, 4, 5 | 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300, 400 mm² |
| RVVB | Flat twin copper wire | Stranded or flexible copper core, PVC insulated / PVC sheathed | 2 | 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300, 400 mm² |
| RVVB | Flat twin and earth cable | Stranded or flexible copper core, PVC insulated / PVC sheathed + earth core (stranded or solid bare copper, or insulated copper) | 2+1 | 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300, 400 mm² |
| RVVB | Flat copper wire | Stranded or flexible copper core, PVC insulated / PVC sheathed | 3, 4, 5 | 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300, 400 mm² |
| BLVVB | Flat twin aluminium wire | Solid aluminium core, PVC insulated / PVC sheathed | 2 | 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240, 300, 400 mm² |
Verified Factory Documents — Flat Sheathed Cable
Source: China Compulsory Certification (CCC) certificates issued by CQC to Henan Huanghe Wire & Cable Co., Ltd.
Only the models, voltage, core counts and sizes written on the certificate are covered. RVVB is not listed on it. The same certificate also lists round BVV / BLVV cable, which is not part of this page.
| Document | Validity | Standard on the certificate | Scope written on the certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCC 2002010105016710 | valid 21 Apr 2023 – 20 Apr 2028 | GB/T 5023.4-2008 / IEC 60227-4:1997; JB/T 8734.2-2016 | BVVB 300/500 V 0.75–10 mm² (2–3 cores); BLVVB 300/500 V 2.5–10 mm² (2–3 cores) |
Twin & Earth Material Ratings
Source: Huanghe factory product data
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| PVC — max. service temperature | 70 °C continuous (90 °C only with a separately confirmed XLPE or special insulation construction, not PVC) |
| PVC — max. short-circuit temperature | 160 °C (max. 5 s) |
| Min. installation temperature | 0 °C |
| Min. service temperature | -40 °C (fixed and protected installations) |
Building to a national twin & earth specification?
Core colours, earth conductor size, sheath colour and dimensions depend on the wiring standard in your market. Send the standard, sizes, core colours and whether the earth is bare or insulated, and we confirm the construction and return a datasheet before production.
What to send us for a twin & earth cable quote
- Model: BVVB (solid copper), RVVB (stranded / flexible copper) or BLVVB (aluminium)
- Cores: 2, 2+1, 3, 4 or 5, and the cross-section of each
- Earth core: bare copper or insulated, and its size
- Core and sheath colours required by your local rules
- Sheath: PVC or LSZH; any FR / anti-termite requirement
- The standard named in your specification
- Coil or drum length, quantity and destination port
Twin & Earth Cable gallery
Factory & delivery capability
Real photos from our production facility — from raw material to container loading.
Production Line
Quality Testing
Warehouse & Stock
Drum Packaging
Container Loading
Ready to Ship
Frequently asked questions about Twin & Earth Cable
Q.Is your twin & earth cable CCC certified?
Partly. CCC certificate 2002010105016710 (valid to 20 Apr 2028) covers BVVB 300/500 V 0.75–10 mm² in 2 or 3 cores and BLVVB 300/500 V 2.5–10 mm² in 2 or 3 cores. RVVB, 4 and 5 core flat cable and sizes above 10 mm² are not on it; they are built to the standard on your order.
Q.What does 2+1 mean on twin and earth cable?
Two insulated circuit conductors plus one earth conductor, laid flat under one PVC sheath. In our range this is the BVVB (solid copper) or RVVB (stranded / flexible copper) 2+1 design.
Q.Is the earth conductor bare or insulated?
Either. Our table lists a bare copper earth or an insulated copper earth core. Tell us which one your local wiring rules require.
Q.What is the difference between BVVB and RVVB?
BVVB uses solid copper conductors; RVVB uses stranded or flexible copper conductors. Both are flat, PVC insulated and PVC sheathed.
Q.Can twin and earth cable be made halogen-free?
Yes. An LSZH outer sheath is available, and FR, FRLS, LSOH, LSHF and anti-termite versions are produced on request.
Q.When should I use twin & earth instead of building wire?
Use twin & earth when the cable is clipped or run in walls without conduit where local wiring rules permit, because its sheath protects the cores. Use single-core building wire when you pull conductors through conduit or trunking.
Q.Do you make flat cable with more cores?
Yes. BVVB and RVVB are also made as 3, 4 and 5 core flat cable, and BLVVB is a flat 2-core aluminium version.
Related products and how they differ
Building Wire (BV / BYJ)
Unsheathed single-core wire for conduit and trunking. Use it when each conductor is pulled separately.
View specifications →Flexible Electrical Wire (BVR / BVVR)
Multi-strand wire and round sheathed flexible cable for equipment leads and tight routing. Twin & earth is for fixed wiring.
View specifications →Earth / Ground Cable
Separate green/yellow protective conductor for bonding and main earthing, not a circuit cable.
View specifications →Related Technical Guides
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Read guide →Ready to source Twin & Earth Cable from the factory?
Send your specs — model / size / conductor class / insulation / colours / coil length / destination port. Quote within 24 hours.
Checking compliance before you enquire? Factory ISO 9001 and CCC certificates and test reports. Product standards and certificates are confirmed per model, market and order.