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Industrial applications often operate under severe environmental conditions exposing machinery and equipment to chemical materials and reactions which can cause early deterioration and mechanical failure. Machinery used in hazardous is subject to further precarious conditions, especially equipment used in the petrochemical and offshore drilling industries and corrosion is a common problem due to exposure to chemical and environmental hazards.
Section 9 of IEC guideline stipulates that electrical cables and cable accessories which includes cable glands need to be positioned in a manner that helps prevent exposure of equipment to chemical substances, mechanical damage and heat. It also stipulates that in industrial operations where such exposure are unavoidable, property owners are required to take additional protective measured to prevent occupational health hazards arising from mechanical damage and chemical attack to the machinery.
Use of Cable Glands
In the early 19th century, the conduit system was developed as a way of protecting electrical installations in hazardous areas. Sealing fittings were also introduced to seal off the input-output cables of flameproof equipment enclosures. However the traditional method of protecting equipment and machinery suffered from several disadvantages, primary among them being the fact that it was impossible to recover or reinstate the cables in case of any maintenance or repair work since the cables were completely sealed into the sealing fitting.
The introduction of cable glands in a way revolutionized safety measures related to health and occupational hazard for equipment operating in hazardous areas. The advent of cable glands made the entire process of installation easier, faster and far more cost effective by aligning in/out cable conduits with junction boxes and their entry and exit. But the most significant impact of the introduction of cable glands was the fact that cables could now be recovered in case of machinery reinstatement.
Role of Cable Glands
Cable glands have become a necessary component of electrical installations for equipments operating in not only hazardous areas, but also in any kind of any industrial environments where there is likelihood of mechanical damage or chemical reaction to equipment. Cable glands play a protective role, its primary functions being
- Preventing dust and moisture in the air from penetrating the equipment enclosure by preventing from by sealing the outer cable sheath
- Metal constructed cable glands, like the armored cable glands help facilitate earth continuity
- In operations requiring high intensity ingress protection, cable glands ensure additional sealing on ingoing cable into the enclosure,
- Provide an additional level of environmental sealing at the point of cable entry to maintain specified ingress protection rating of the enclosure
- They are particularly useful in hazardous areas to ensure adequate level of protections is provided to equipment and machinery as specified by regulatory agencies.
Even in normal industrial applications, there is likelihood of partial or complete damage to cables due to mechanical or manual failures. Cable glands manufactured by BICC provide additional mechanical protection to ensure cables are not damaged upon accidental impact. BICC specializes in providing metallic cable glands in the shape of conduits that allow provide individual protection to separate insulated cables or even unarmored but sheathed cables.
Why to use cable glands?
cable glands are manufactured to world class standards and ensure cables are terminated as per specifications into flameproof equipment, particularly in hazardous areas. High quality cable glands manufactured by BICC ensure the sealed connection between equipment and cable is weather proof and gas-resistant. They are also designed to provide reliable cable armor grounding as well as to prevent the cable from being twisted or pulled out in case of an accident. Cable glands represent one of the most effective solutions to mechanical damage and chemical reaction to machinery, yet very often they are not given the importance they deserve. Trying to save pennies by installing substandard cable glands can end up costing you dearly when they fail to perform to protect machinery leading to breakdown and its associated costs. Choosing a reliable manufactured like BICC allows you to enjoy the benefits arising from a high performing cable gland that provide full proof protection to your equipment from any kind of mechanical damage or chemical deterioration. Advanced features like Deluge seal, RAC ring etc ensure that all foreign matter, including dust, gas and moisture are kept away from equipment enclosure, increasing the lifespan of machinery and reducing the lifetime operating cost of equipment. Installing cable glands also helps significantly reduce installation and inspection as well as maintenance time.
The best part about working with cable glands is that they can be easily assembled and installed just as easily disassembled for regular inspection and maintenance making repair work easy and far more cost effective. The cost of machine failure can be severely damaging to the business which is why it makes sound business sense to use BICC manufactured and quality certified cable glands that minimize the risk of occupational hazards keeping both people and property safe.
BICC Components Limited (BICC) is an expert and renowned manufacturer and distributor of cable gland, cable cleats, cable connector and cable accessories that are specially designed to protect from mechanical damage and chemical attack in Hazardous Industrial Areas. Keeping constant improvement as a goal, BICC group comes up with innovative cable glands and fittings modelled for the industrial area. To know more, visit https://www.bicccomponents.uk.com/. You can also visit https://www.bicccomponents.uk.com/contact-form/ to solve your queries or get a quote or drop an email to info@bicccomponents.uk.com
