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Protection Equipment
EPL Group Performance of protection Zone Conditions of operation
Typical (SWA) Braided Cable afforded Protection Level
Two independent means of protection
Single Wire The cable entry device Very High EPL Ga Group II or safe even when two faults occur 0
Equipment remains functioning in
Zones 0, 1 and 2
Armour Cable must provide mechanical independently of each other.
cable retention by gripping Two independent means of protection
Equipment remains functioning in
the outer cable sheath in Very High EPL Da Group III or safe even when two faults occur 20
Zones 20, 21 and 22
the case of braided and independently of each other.
unarmoured cables, as Suitable for normal operation and
Equipment remains functioning in
Provides environmental protection by excluding dust and moisture from the electrical / instrument enclosure. defined in AS/NZS 60079.0 High EPL Gb Group II frequently occurring disturbances or 1
Zones 1 and 2
equipment where faults are normally
Facilitates earth continuity - in the case of armoured cables. Annex A (). The cable will
Suitable for normal operation and
also usually need to be Equipment remains functioning in
Provides a holding force on the cable to ensure cable pull out resistance. High EPL Db Group III frequently occurring disturbances or 21
clamped externally to Zones 21 and 22
equipment where faults are normally
Provides explosion protection at the cable entry point, by maintaining the integrity of the mating equipment via a ensure the safety integrity Equipment remains functioning in
of the installed equipment. Enhanced EPL Gc Group II Suitable for normal operation 2
gas-tight/flameproof seal. Zone 2
Equipment remains functioning in
The cable entry device shall always maintain the integrity of the equipment that it is connected to, including the Enhanced EPL Dc Group III Suitable for normal operation 22
Cable Outer Sheath Zone 22
ingress protection rating. Users should follow the prevailing Installation Standard, e.g. AS/NZS 2381 or IEC 60079-14.
Key to EPL Codes : G = Gas, D = Dust. For further information on cable glands certified for explosive dust hazards please consult CMP Products.
It is evident that some cables do not always resemble their corresponding design data sheets, or their catalogue illustrations when
considering shape, compactness, filler consistency, and uniformity of the inner bedding and overall diameters along the whole of the cable
Cable Glands for IEC protection concepts Ex d, Ex e, Ex n Compatibility of Equipment, Cable and Cable Gland length, or from drum to drum of the same cable. For these reasons relying only on data sheets for evaluation of the cable may lead to issues
of non compatibility and it is therefore recommended that for hazardous area installations, the cable is examined physically before a suitable
cable gland is chosen. The selected combination of cable and cable gland must maintain the integrity of the equipment installed, taking the
Equipment & Cable Gland Compatibility physical cable construction into account. Below are cross sectional illustrations of five cables that could be encountered during electrical
Cable Gland for cables entering Ex e equipment installations, but which would be suited to explosion protected equipment in hazardous area situations ?
In order to ensure the safety of installations and maintain the integrity of equipment in line with the corresponding certification
(Increased Safety Enclosure Type e) documents it is necessary always to consider the compatibility of the cable and the cable gland together with the associated equipment. Cable A Cable B Cable C Cable D Cable E
The Minimum Requirements for Ex e Cable Glands
It should be recognised that whilst there are no IEC hazardous area certification procedures for cables, the careful selection of cable
Impact Strength 7 Nm, plays a vitally important role in the compatibility analysis. For offshore and marine installations, IEC 61892-4 sets out to aid the selection
Outer Seal Entry Thread Sealing Washer process for cables. Graphical illustrations of some of the typical cable gland constructions available for three of the most common forms
Ingress Protection Rating IP54
Single Seal of equipment protection used in hazardous areas are shown opposite. Regardless of which brand of cable gland is to be used it is
important to follow the detailed requirements for selection which are described in the prevailing installation standard applicable to the
Notes
situation, e.g. IEC 60079-14 or AS/NZS 2381. Following only the information referenced in the equipment certification documents,
Trend is to use Double Seal (Inner/Outer). without consulting the installation requirements will usually result in non-conformance. For cables installed in conjunction with
Sealing Washer at cable entry interface is recommended. Flameproof Type d Enclosures, a representation of the AS/NZS 2381.2:2006 requirements is included below. Cable A would not allow a sealing ring to perform around it due to its incorrect non circular shape. Cables B, C & D do not have extruded inner
SWA bedding and, with the white areas representing gaps in the cable, fillers are not present, meaning that a sealing ring would not be effective for
Cable
Note : Whilst the minimum Ingress Protection rating to every type of equipment protection, and there would be a distinct possibility of gas migration along the cable length. Of these five cables Cable
Cables selected for hazardous areas should be evaluated carefully to ensure that they meet criteria laid down in the prevailing installation
achieve Ex e certification under AS/NZS 60079.7 is IP54, E is the only one that appears to have the correct construction properties as it has an extruded inner bedding which is substantially compact
standards. Clause 9.3 of IEC 60079-14 indicates that Cables with low tensile strength sheaths (commonly known as easy tear cables) and without any gaps.
it should be considered that the cable gland is required to shall not be used in hazardous areas unless installed in conduit. Clause 9.3.1 (a) of IEC 60079-14 states that Cables with
maintain the integrity of the equipment enclosure which is thermoplastic, thermosetting, or elastomeric material used for fixed wiring shall be circular, compact, have extruded bedding and fillers, Shielded or Screened Instrument Cables which have figure of eight twisted pairs are very rarely filled effectively along the cable length, so the
CMP CWe invariably higher. use of a cable gland with a sealing ring on the cable inner bedding may not be the correct choice when the cable enters Flameproof Type d,
if any, shall be non hygroscopic. Clause 10.4.2 (b) of IEC 60079-14 states that where a cable, in compliance with 9.3.1 (a) is Pressurised Type p, or Restricted Breathing Type nR enclosures. Special consideration should be given to the construction of optical fibre
substantially compact; a flameproof cable gland, in compliance with IEC 60079-1, may be utilized, providing this incorporates a sealing cables, and the selection of suitable cable glands for them.
It can also be noted that IEC 60079-14, section 11.3 states
ring and is selected in accordance with the flow chart below.
that threaded cable entry devices connected into threaded Please refer to the selection requirements of the prevailing Installation Standards, e.g. AS/NZS 2381.2:2006 as referenced below.
Outer Seal Entry Thread Sealing Washer
cable entry plates or enclosures of 6 mm or greater
thickness need no additional sealing between the cable
entry device and the entry plate or enclosure, providing the
axis of the cable entry device is perpendicular to the
external surface of the cable entry plate or enclosure. This
is true only when the cable entry device is correctly Flameproof Type d Compound Barrier Cable Glands Cable Gland selection according to AS/NZS 2381.2:2006 Section 3.6
tightened and the available thread engagement of the cable
Unarmoured
entry device is equal to, or greater than, the depth of
Cable
threads provided in the entry plate or enclosure. Compound Barrier Cable Gland for Armoured Cables Direct cable entries used in conjunction with Flameproof Type d enclosures
CMP Products recommends the use of a CMP Entry Thread Before selecting cable glands for use with hazardous area equipment the cable should be
Sealing Washer, which when installed at the cable entry Flame Path evaluated to ensure that it meets the particular requirements of AS/NZS 2381.2 as stated below
Exhaust Routes
CMP A2e or A2F * interface, between the equipment enclosure and the cable
entry device offers protection in excess of IP66. These
components have been independently 3rd party tested in
Alternative Double Seal Cable Gland Option, Type SS2K, is available for single Ingress Protection tests to IEC 60529. Where a cable that is sheathed with thermoplastic,
or double sheathed unarmoured cables. Direction of thermosetting, or elastomeric material is used and it is
Pressure, Flame
Cable Gland for armoured cables entering Ex d equipment & Hot Gases
circular, substantially compact, with extruded bedding, and
fillers, if any, are non-hygroscopic, a Flameproof Type d
Start
cable gland may be utilised provided that it is selected in
(Flameproof Enclosure Type d) The Minimum Requirements for Ex d Cable Glands
accordance with this flow chart
Screwed entry threads must maintain Flame Path.
Inner & Outer Seals
Barrier
Optional Entry Thread Sealing Washer 5 full threads engaged with mating equipment.
Inner Sealing Ring must be Flameproof & Gas Tight. CMP PX2K Flame Path Compound
Does this
Cables selected must prevent gas migration & Yes enclosure
No
explosion transmission. Compound Barrier Cable Gland for Unarmoured Cables contain an
Notes internal source
SWA
Trend has been to use Dual Certified Ex d / Ex e options Flame Path of ignition?
Cable Exhaust Routes
Conditions of Certification usually exist.
Installation standards, e.g. IEC 60079-14 or
AS/NZS 2381.2 must be carefully followed.
CMP E1FW *
Sealing Washers may be used but are not essential for
Direction of
this type of equipment protection.
Pressure, Flame Yes Does the No
& Hot Gases hazardous
Cable Gland for armoured cables entering Ex nR equipment gas require IIC
apparatus?
(Restricted Breathing Enclosure Type nR) The Minimum Requirements for Ex nR Cable Glands
Sealing Washer at cable entry interface is essential. Barrier
Inner & Outer Seals Entry Thread Sealing Washer
Restricted Breathing enclosure features of Ex nR CMP PXSS2K Flame Path Compound
equipment must be maintained by the cable entry.
Special vacuum test required to prove enclosure integrity The Minimum Requirements for Ex d Compound Barrier Cable Glands
including the cable entries. Yes Is the No Use a suitable
Screwed entry threads must maintain Flame Path. area of
Notes flameproof cable
Braided 5 full threads engaged with mating equipment. Installation
Cable Apply 10.4.2 d) or e) entry device with
Inner Sealing Ring must be air tight in two directions. # Any space in the Compound Tube must be completely filled with compound. zone 1?
In most cases this a sealing ring,
Some certified Flameproof Type d cable entries do not Notes e.g. for
effectively means
meet the test requirements for Ex nR equipment. The installation of compound barrier cable glands should always be carried out by a highly Non- armoured
the use of a flame
Sealing Rings in cable glands for use with braided cables competent person. proof cable entry cables CMP A2F
CMP T3CDS * must provide a holding force preventing the cable from The compound fill should represent not less than 20% of the capacity of the compound tube. or CMP SS2K and
device with a
being pulled out of the equipment The length of the applied compound shall not be less than 20 mm. compound barrier for Armoured
Sealing Washers may be used but are not essential for this form of protection. seal, e.g. for cables CMP
An Increased Safety (Type e) certified cable gland would not type seals. It should be recognised therefore that not all Ex d, or For ease of user equipment maintenance cable disconnection features are usually included Is the T3CDS, or CMP
Non-armoured
usually be suitable if the part of the cable entering the enclosure Ex e, or Dual Certified (Ex d & Ex e) cable glands are suitable for use in barrier type cable gland designs. cables CMP PXSS2K
Yes volume of No E1FW, or CMP
does not have a sealing ring applied to it. Similarly the sealing with the Restricted Breathing type nR equipment protection concept. CMP recommends, and the NEC requires, that any Flameproof or Explosion Proof cable entry with a the enclosure E1FX, or CMP
and for armoured
requirements for Ex nR enclosures are not always achieved with dis-connectable compound barrier seal, should incorporate a flame path between two metallic greater than E1FU, as shown
Please see further explanation on this subject below. cables CMP PX2K,
some Flameproof Type d cable gland types that include diaphragm components in the cable entry device. 2 litres? opposite
as shown opposite
Note: These CMP PX2K & PXSS2K cable glands are Triple Certified Ex d IIC, Ex e II & Ex nR II. Globally certified product
# If standardisation on one cable gland for both Ex d and Ex nR equipment is required. This condition applies to all types of equipment protection
versions are also available marked with Class I, Division 1 & 2, ABCD and Class I, Zone 1 & 2, AEx d IIC & AEx e II forms
* These cable glands are Triple Certified Ex d IIC, Ex e II & Ex nR II of protection in addition to the IEC Ex triple certification detailed above.
Restricted Breathing Ex nR Equipment Typical Installation Configurations Selection of CMP Products Hazardous Area Cable Glands, for Armoured Cables, in accordance with AS/NZS 2381.2.
Protection Method Type nR (Restricted Breathing Enclosure, from the Ex n Family). When the cable selected is substantially compact, circular with extruded bedding and fillers if any are non-hygroscopic, the following products may be used:-
Metallic Enclosure Light Duty Enclosure with
Usually Ex n equipment contains components that are non sparking, however some equipment with with Threaded Entry Through Clearance Hole
type of protection n can generate high temperatures internally. Recommended Cable Gland Type Options (please consult with CMP Products for information on other types of equipment protection and / or unarmoured cable gland requirements)
Optional Earth Tag* Serrated Washer
Optional Earth Tag*
Restricted Breathing equipment Type nR ensures that the flammable gas is kept away from any internal Locknut
Flameproof Type d (Ex d) Enclosure - Direct Cable Entry Flameproof Type d Enclosure -
hot surfaces. Some of the main characteristics of Ex nR Restricted Breathing equipment are as Restricted Breathing
follows: Gas Indirect Cable Entry Increased Safety Intrinsically Safe
Enclosure Type nR
Zone With Internal Ignition Source
Without Internal
Ex d or Ex de (Flameproof Type e Enclosure Type i Enclosure
(Ex nR) - Direct Cable
1. Usually light weight enclosure of metallic or non metallic construction.
Group Ignition Source
Type d with Increased Safety (Ex e) (Ex ia or Ex ib)
Entry
Issue 1 - 02/09 - Document Ref. TPC179 2009
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