Industrial Fieldbus technology and Fieldbus cable overview — Cable standards and electrical qualifications

The purpose of this paper is to educate operators, facility and design engineers about Fieldbus technology and Fieldbus communication in industrial and Petro-Chemical facilities. Fieldbus technology is a rapid growing infrastructure for automation and field control in North America and around the world. The technology is governed by standards that allow the freedom to choose and power to integrate field devices, cables, host systems. Fieldbus Foundation, a not-for-profit organization created standards that improve safety, operability and reduce cost when adopting Fieldbus technology. Fieldbus Foundation tests and registers Fieldbus devices to ensure that they meet Fieldbus Foundation specifications and marked with √FF for interoperability assurance. In addition to Fieldbus technology and the function of Fieldbus Foundation, the paper will explain and educate about Fieldbus cables technology and cable construction. The paper will review the governing cable standards in Europe and US (IEC, Fieldbus Foundation, ISA), cable electrical specifications and the types of Fieldbus cables that are available for locations such as Class I DIV 1 and off shore platforms.