This recommended practice is for single or multiconductor cables, with or without metal armor and/or jacket, and rated 300 V to 35 kV ac (RMS phase-to-phase) or up to 2000 V dc, intended to be installed aboard marine vessels, fixed and floating offshore facilities, and in accordance with industry installation standards and the regulations of the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ). The recommendations define what is considered good engineering practice with reference to the reliability and durability of the cable.

IEEE Std 1580 provides a consensus of recommended practices for the construction and testing of electrical power, signal, control, data, and specialty marine cable systems on shipboard. For cable application and installation guidelines refer to IEEE Std 45.8 for shipboard applications and API RP14F or API RP14FZ, as applicable, for fixed and floating offshore facilities. Other cables not listed in this document are provided in IEEE Std 45.8, API RP14F, and API RP14FZ.