Cable guide
Chinese Cable Codes Explained: BV, BVR, RV, BVV and RVV
Quotes from Chinese factories use short codes such as BV 2.5 or RVV 3×1.5. Each letter stands for one feature of the cable. Once you know the letters, you can match a code to its IEC 60227 or European equivalent.
Updated 12 November 2026
What the letters mean
| Letter | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| B (first letter) | 布线 | Wire for fixed installation (building wire) |
| R | 软 | Flexible conductor |
| V | 聚氯乙烯 | PVC. The first V is the insulation; a second V is the sheath |
| L | 铝 | Aluminium conductor. No letter means copper |
| B (last letter) | 扁 | Flat cable |
| Y | 聚乙烯 / 聚烯烃 | Polyethylene or polyolefin |
| J | 交联 | Cross-linked insulation, as in BYJ or YJV |
| S | 双绞 | Twisted pair, as in RVS |
| P | 屏蔽 | Shielded, as in RVVP |
The numbers after the code give the size: BV 2.5 is one 2.5 mm² core; RVV 3×1.5 is three cores of 1.5 mm².
Common codes and their IEC equivalents
| Chinese code | What it is | Rated voltage | IEC 60227 type | European code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BV | Single-core copper wire, PVC-insulated, solid or stranded | 450/750 V | 60227 IEC 01 | H07V-U / H07V-R |
| BLV | As BV, with an aluminium conductor | 450/750 V | — | — |
| BVR | Single-core copper wire, PVC-insulated, with a more flexible stranded conductor | 450/750 V | — | Nearest: H07V-R or H07V-K |
| RV | Single-core flexible copper wire, PVC-insulated | 450/750 V (300/500 V in small sizes) | 60227 IEC 02 (06) | H07V-K (H05V-K) |
| BVV | Copper cable for fixed wiring, PVC-insulated and PVC-sheathed | 300/500 V | 60227 IEC 10 | — |
| BVVB | Flat PVC-sheathed cable, two or three cores | 300/500 V | — | — |
| RVV | Flexible copper cord, PVC-insulated and PVC-sheathed | 300/500 V (300/300 V light duty) | 60227 IEC 53 (52) | H05VV-F (H03VV-F) |
BLV, BVR and BVVB are Chinese industry types (JB/T 8734) with no IEC 60227 code. Many projects accept them, but check your specification first.
Fire-performance prefixes
Codes often start with a prefix for fire performance, following the Chinese standard GB/T 19666:
- Z: flame-retardant in the single-cable test (as IEC 60332-1). ZR is an older general mark for flame-retardant cable.
- ZA, ZB, ZC, ZD: flame-retardant in the bunched-cable test, categories A to D (as IEC 60332-3). Category A is the most demanding.
- W and D: halogen-free (W) and low-smoke (D). WDZ-BYJ, for example, is a halogen-free, low-smoke, flame-retardant building wire with cross-linked polyolefin insulation.
- N or NH: fire-resistant, meaning the cable keeps its circuit working for a set time in a fire.
A Chinese prefix is not a certificate for your market. If your project needs test reports to IEC 60332 or IEC 60754, ask for them by name.
Reading a quote line
- ZC-BV 450/750V 1×2.5 brown: flame-retardant (bunched category C) single-core copper wire with PVC insulation, 2.5 mm², brown.
- RVV 300/500V 3×1.5: three-core flexible copper cord, PVC-insulated and PVC-sheathed, 1.5 mm² cores.
- WDZ-BYJ 450/750V 1×4 blue: halogen-free, low-smoke, flame-retardant single-core wire with cross-linked polyolefin insulation, 4 mm², blue.
Colours
Older Chinese practice marks the three phases yellow, green and red. Most export markets follow IEC 60445 instead: brown, black and grey for the phases, blue for neutral and green-and-yellow for earth. State the colours you need in the order rather than relying on the factory default.
Ordering
Send your list with Chinese or European codes, whichever you have. We match each line to its IEC type and confirm the construction, marking and colours in the quote.
Send us your cable listFAQ
What is the difference between BV and BVR?
Both are 450/750 V single-core copper wires with PVC insulation. BV usually has a solid conductor in the small sizes; BVR has a stranded conductor with more, finer wires, so it bends more easily and is often used in distribution boards. BV has an IEC 60227 type (01); BVR does not.
What is the difference between RV and RVV?
RV is a single insulated flexible core. RVV has two or more flexible cores inside a PVC sheath, so it can be used as a cord or a light-duty cable.
Is BV wire the same as THHN?
No. THHN is a North American wire made to UL 83, sized in AWG and rated 600 V, with a nylon jacket over the PVC insulation. BV is made to IEC 60227 in metric sizes and rated 450/750 V. Use the type your local electrical code requires.
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