Cable Gland Installation Standards: Everything You Need to Know

When setting up cables and electrical connections within an industrial environment, there are few priorities more important than ensuring that the entire setup is safe, reliable and properly protected from the elements. This is why cable glands and cable protection products are seen as an essential part of many industrial installations.

Cable glands attach to the end of an electrical cable to help secure and protect its connection to a device. These high-quality components are manufactured using robust materials and offer invaluable insulation, grounding, bonding and sealing protection, especially in environments where exposure to water, dust, dirt and debris are a common risk.

To get the most out of cable glands, it is important to ensure they are properly installed and secured in line with industry guidelines and requirements. In order to help achieve this, Northern Connectors has put together this guide to cable gland installation standards, which will help you to ensure that your setup has been properly installed and secured.

What are the guidelines for safe cable gland installation?

Before installing a cable gland, it is important to first make sure that you have the right product for the job. This means checking the specifications and protective capabilities of the cable gland in question, and ensuring they are suitable for your needs.

You should ask yourself the following questions:

• Is the gland being used indoors or outdoors?
• Is the setup exposed to extreme or variable temperatures?
• Is the surrounding environment damp or dusty?
• Are there any nearby risks of explosion or corrosion?
• What is the cable diameter?
• Does the solution need to cater for single or multi-entry?
• How much fixing space is needed on the panel?
• Will you need to terminate a shield?

Once you have sourced the right cable gland for your application, taking the following precautions will ensure that the component is installed safely and securely:

• Ensure that installation is handled by a competent professional with the necessary skills and knowledge
• Turn off all of the electrical equipment and disconnect any live wires
• Make sure that the cable glands and connections are not exposed to solvents, chemicals, dirt or other foreign bodies during the installation process
• Screw in the cable gland carefully without applying too much pressure, to avoid causing damage to the threads
• Do not mix and match cable gland components from different manufacturers, as they often will not be compatible, and could cause safety issues

What international standards apply to cable gland installation?

As with most electrical components intended for industrial use, cable glands are subject to exacting safety and design regulations to ensure that every product meets the highest possible standard of safety, performance and long-term reliability.

The primary standard applying to the design and installation of cable glands for businesses in the UK and Europe is IEC and EN 62444:2013, which provides exacting requirements and tests for the construction and performance of these components. The following standards may also apply, depending on the specific conditions of use:

• IEC 60079 - applies to environments with potentially explosive atmospheres
• IEC 61892 - for mobile and fixed offshore units
• IEC 60092 - for electrical installations in ships

If you are looking for cable glands that will deliver the right level of performance and durability for your application, you must ensure that the product is fully compliant with all of these relevant standards.

Find out more

If you want to know more about cable glands or need guidance with selecting a suitable solution for your application, Northern Connectors is here to help.

We supply cable glands to businesses in a variety of sectors including broadcasting, energy, food & beverage, surveillance and water technology.

You can explore the glands & cable protection section of our website, call us on 01744 815001, or complete our online contact form and we will be in touch at the nearest opportunity.