Feature Specifying enclosures


Solutions for protecting equipment S


Selecting the right enclosure for the application is critical to ensure it withstands the demands faced – whether indoors, outdoors or in hazardous environments. CE-TEK takes a look into the solutions available


electing the right type of enclosure is paramount when it comes to protecting important equipment. So, when specifying an enclosure, there are many factors to consider to ensure it protects the contents while withstanding the conditions faced by the environment in which it is to be used. Among the many points that a designer will need to think about are the enclosure material, whether it needs to withstand liquid, dust, or cold/hot temperatures, and whether it will be placed in a hazardous environment.


For domestic and The ACEX range with hinged doors


industrial applications, enclosures manufactured from aluminium, ABS, polycarbonate, GRP (glass


reinforced polyester) or mild/


stainless steel with an ingress protection (IP) rating between IP44 and 66 will meet most uses. Aluminium Si 12 alloy, ABS and polycarbonate materials are light in weight yet offer high impact strength and corrosion resistance. GRP and mild/stainless steel enclo- sures are heavier in weight but also robust enough to withstand external mechanical damage; and mild steel enclosures are often powder coated to prolong their life against corrosion.


The new CEA range


In hazardous areas, selecting the right enclosure becomes more critical, and the European ATEX Directive (100a Directive 94/9/EC) determines the precise level of protection in terms of temperature and gases/dusts that may be present. All the enclosure types mentioned above are available from Derbyshire-based CE-TEK, a manufacturer of industrial and hazardous area enclosures. The company also manufactures enclosures which can be temporarily submerged underwater (IP67) and permanent submersion (IP68) from shallow depths up to 300m. High voltage junction boxes and fire-rated enclosures are also specialist areas for CE-TEK.


Withstanding the operating environment


CE-TEK produces a wide range of enclosures, including aluminium versions which are suitable for applications including terminal housings/junction boxes, and for housing high value electrical and electronic equipment. Its rugged ABS and polycarbonate enclosures, meanwhile, are suitable for housing equipment used in both industrial and domestic environments, such as sensors, tracking and monitoring equipment, and lighting/luminary control. The company’s GRP prod- ucts are highly resistant to corrosion, meeting the highest standards of protection demanded by a wide range of applications. For hazardous areas, the company produces ATEX/IEC Ex enclosures which are manufactured from mild and stainless steel, aluminium (including marine grade copper free aluminium), and GRP. These are therefore suitable for use in potentially hazardous environ- ments, including those in the oil and gas industry, flour and paper mills, paint shops, chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and so on.


New introductions


Products recently introduced by the company include the CEA range of aluminium enclosures which offers protection to IP66 as standard, and IP67 or IP68 as options.


Design Solutions OCTOBER 2013


Despite being lightweight, these Si 12 alloy die cast aluminium boxes offer high impact and corrosion resistance. Finish options include: unpainted, painted, a hard anodised sea water resistant coating, and RFI shielding for EMC compliance (2004/108/EC).


These are offered in 30 sizes ranging from 50 x 45 x 30mm to 400 x 310 x 110mm and have a standard working temperature range of -40˚C to +80˚C, although this can be increased to -50˚C to +120˚C by means of an optional silicon gasket. In addition, these are available with ATEX 100a Directive 94/9/EC Ex e, Ex ia and Ex ib certification, and a temperature classification of T5 or T6.


The CEA range of ‘Shoe Box’ design enclosures makes them aestheti- cally suitable for a wide range of applications such as terminal housings and junction boxes, for mounting keypads and electronic displays, and for the housing of high value electrical and electronic equipment. Furthermore, their simple design offers many opportunities for customising and populating the enclosure whilst meeting the highest standards of protection demanded by electrical and electronic designers working in industry and aerospace. Another recent new solution is the company’s TV Shield enclosures, which offer security and protection for screen sizes 19 to 2in, 30 to 47in and 50 to 60in. Televisions and monitors are frequently used today both indoors and outdoors to provide vital information, instruc- tions and data. They are often used in industrial and possibly harsh and hazardous areas where the equipment needs to be protected from unau- thorised interference and the elements. These are constructed from HMWP plastic – a material that is used in the construction of children’s playground slides – which offers good rigidity and a high level of durability and impact resistance. The front cover is manufactured from LEXAN polycarbonate – a shatter resistant mate- rial used in the construction of bullet-proof police riot shields.


When closed, this unit is waterproof and dust- proof, while two chambered barrel locks ensure that it is also tamperproof. When unlocked a riveted top mounted piano hinge allows access to


the housed apparatus.


Accessories for the range include cooling fans, solar-control film, non-abrasive polycarbonate cleaning and polishing products, and a dehumid- ifying gel that combats damp in high humidity areas.


Select the right solution


The consequences of not selecting the correct type of enclosure can be huge, both financially and in terms of installa- tion slippages.


An example of this was where archi- tects had specified fire-rated enclosures for a luxury hotel group. The electrical contractors, however, installed less expensive industrial enclosures that were not fire-rated. This meant not only was time wasted but there were costs involved as product replacements were needed to meet the required standards.


CE-TEK UK T: 01298 872233 www.ce-tek.co.uk


Enter 223 SUPPLEMENT: Enclosures & enclosure furniture Fire rated enclosures 31


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