Cable Management Into the danger zone
There are a lot of products we see during our daily life that we don’t pay much attention to, especially when it comes to electrical installations. Think plug sockets, light switches and cable trunking.
H
ere, Lee Frizzell, technical director of CMP Products, talks to EW about cable glands. Whether in a large data centre, a wind turbine or a petrochemical plant with a potentially explosive atmosphere, these unassuming products play a vital role in any electrical installation’s functionality, safety and performance.
Cable glands are unobtrusive products; so much so that asking a typical civilian to locate them in an electrical installation and explain their
purpose would most likely lead to a blank stare. So, what are they and what do they do? In a nutshell, cable glands are mechanical cable entry devices that are used throughout all industries in conjunction with cable and wiring used in the electrical, instrumentation, control and automation systems.
They provide environmental protection, facilitate earth continuity, are able to withstand a short circuit fault current, and they maintain a restraining force on the cable to prevent slippage, which ultimately prevents cable pull loads being applied to the cable conductor terminations inside the enclosure.
Cable glands also provide additional sealing on the part of the cable entering the enclosure and maintain the ingress protection (IP) rating of the enclosure.
“It’s clear that there’s no room for error – especially in explosive atmospheres. Therefore, put your trust in the experts and don’t leave anything to chance.”
There are a huge variety of electrical installations and diff erent cable types, therefore the construction of cable glands varies enormously. At the most basic level, this can be seen in the material they are manufactured in, which can be metallic or polymeric. From there, diff erences include everything from the required level of ingress protection to fi re retardancy. Cable glands used in explosive atmospheres
can diff er signifi cantly from cable glands manufactured for normal industrial use – and it’s easy to understand why when you consider the way explosive atmospheres are categorised, defi ned and governed by industry regulations. Cable glands are typically installed in Zone 1 or Zone 2. Zone 1 is where an explosive gas atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally (e.g. 10 to 1,000 hours per year). Examples: Around the openings of storage tanks, near process pipework, fi lling or emptying points. Zone 2 is where an explosive gas atmosphere
is not likely to exist under normal operating conditions, but if it does it will exist only for a short period of time (e.g. less than 10 hours per year).
There’s then Equipment Protection Levels (EPL Code), which classifi es equipment according to the level of protection it provides against ignition. The EPL clarifi es the suitability of equipment for use in Zones 0, 1, and 2 (and their dust equivalents). Finally, there’s IEC 60079-14, which sets out the rules for installers of cable glands in explosive atmospheres.
When used in explosive atmospheres, it’s crucial that cable glands are appropriately certifi ed and selected correctly according to the specifi ed installation code or standard requirements, taking into account any certifi cation limitations or conditions of use. They must also be approved for the type of cable selected and be suitable for the specifi c application, expected ambient temperatures, local climate, environmental exposure and any other adverse conditions.
The easiest, fastest and most cost-eff ective way of ensuring the safety of electrical equipment is to use high quality cable glands from manufacturers whose products are tried, tested and trusted in all environments. Electrical installations are vital wherever they’re found; operating equipment is costly; and installation is time-consuming and can only be carried out by experts. Take all that into account and then consider that an electrical installation failure can impact people, businesses and property; it’s clear that there’s no room for error – especially in explosive atmospheres. Therefore, put your trust in the experts and don’t leave anything to chance.
ewnews.co.uk
October 2025 electrical wholesaler | 31
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