Professional cable glands for potentially explosive atmospheres

Directive 2014/34 EC
The new directives 2014/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States adress manufacturers and users of equipment and protective systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Since 20 April 2016 only products approved according to the new directions and with EC declaration of conformity can be brought to the market. The old certificates according to the former directives 94/9/EC remain valid. A recertification according to the directives 2014/34/EU is not necessary.

IECEx
The international IECEx scheme likewise serves for the conformity assessment and certification of equipment, systems and services for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Introduced in 1996, the IECEx system supports the international harmonisation of standards and the issue of country- and regionneutral certificates of conformity (CoC) to simplify the free movement of goods around the world. There is already an extensive agreement between the European ATEX directives and the IECEx regulations as regards classes and requirements. This all means that ATEX could one day be replaced.

In those countries which recognise IECEx, certified equipment, apparatus and systems can be put into service without additional tests. Today, IECEx is recognised not only in Europe but in many additional countries including Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, USA... You can find further information about the IECEx system and its rules as well as regulations, handbooks and procedures at www.iecex.com.

“Equipment” refers to machines, apparatus, fixed or mobile devices, control components and instrumentation thereof and detection or prevention systems which, separately or jointly, are intended for the generation, transfer, storage, measurement, control and con- Version of energy for the processing of materials and which are capable of causing an explosion through their own potential sources of ignition.

“Components” refers to any item essential for the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems but with no autonomous function.

An “explosive atmosphere” is a mixture with air, under atmospheric condi-tions, of flammable substances in the form of gases, vapours, mists or dusts in which, after ignition has occurred, combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture.

A “potentially explosive atmosphere” is one which could become explosive due to local and operational conditions.

The manufacturer must take great care to provide sufficient information and instructions necessary for the proper operation and maintenance of equipment.


Prerequisites for certification
In the annex of directives 2014/34 EC various modules for the commercialisation of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres are defined. Modules III and IV are often used and applied at AGRO as well, and from them two certificates result:

• EC type-examination certificate
• Recognition of production quality assurance

Both certificates are issued by accredited testing facilities after tests have been successfully completed.

EC type-examination certificate
The EC type-examination certificate is the document which is issued on the base of successfully passed technical testing according to the requirements of module B.

Recognition of production quality assurance
Module D demands tested and monitored production. It ensures that products placed on the market are identical with the test samples used for the EC type-examination certificate. The quality management system must be tested and certified according to EN/ISO/IEC 80079-34.

CE declaration of conformity
The CE declaration of conformity is based on the EC type-examination certificate and QS approval. With it, a manufacturer declares that it has observed all applicable standards, instructions and regulations. This is made visible with the CE symbol, which is a part of the marking.

Standards
Numerous standards which address explosion protection exist around the world. The scope of standards is, however, subject to continuous updates which reflect technical advances and increased societal requirements regarding safety. International harmonisation efforts around the world have as their goal globally unified safety standards to help break down trade barriers.
Equipment is differentiated by the corresponding series of standards:

• IEC / EN 60079 for electrical equipment (gases, vapours and dust)
• EN 80079 for non-electrical equipment
  
  

Which type of ignition protection a manufacturer selects depends on the type and intended function of the equipment. All standardised types of ignition protection within a given category are equivalent. A manufacturer confirms with the EC type-examination certificate, which belongs to the technical documentation, that its product conforms to ATEX directives.

Certification
Equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres may only be brought to market if they have undergone the conformity assessment procedures dictated in the directives. EC typeexamination certifications from a designated European testing facility are recognised within the entire EC.

Ex e II principle
In the case of ignition protection with an increased safety type, operation is based on the equipment preventing ignition of the explosive atmosphere which can also leak into the housing. The equipment may not reach temperatures which are above the temperature class of gases which could potentially arise in the place of use, and sparks caused by electrical or mechanical means may also not occur. In electrical machines, electrical-thermal testing is thus of particular importance. In operation, protection against overloading is essentially important to maintaining explosion protection.

Important design parameters

• There are special protection requirements for non-insulated active components.
• Air and creepage gaps are dimensioned larger than is generally the case in industry. Special requirements apply to the IP protection classes which must be maintained.
• More stringent requirements apply to windings with mechanical stability and insulating capacity, and the windings must be protected against elevated temperatures.
  
  

Applications
Installation materials such as junction boxes and distribution boxes, terminal compartments for heaters, storage batteries, transformers, inductive ballasts, electrical motors, squirrel cage induction motors, lighting fixtures. Cable glands for increased safety are tested according to IEC/EN 60079-7 for the following points:

• mechanical design
• electrical-thermal testing

1 Entry threads
Long entry threads in metric designs allow maximum safety with respect to the quality of attachment.

2 Compact design
The compact design allows space-saving assembly on equipment, and the large clamping range reduces the number of different types.

3 Guaranteed sealing capability
The ingenious sealing insert and matching inner contours ensure a targeted deformation of the insert and thus guarantee its tightness. Protection Class IP68 (30 bar) facilitate optimal usage.

Testing standards
IEC 60079-0:2011 / EN 60079-0:2012
IEC 60079-1:2007 / EN 60079-1:2007
IEC 60079-7:2006 / EN 60079-7:2007
IEC 60079-31:2008 / EN 60079-31:2009

Principle
In the case of ignition protection with an increased safety type, operation is based on the equipment preventing an ignition of the explosive atmosphere which can also leak into the housing. The equipment may not reach temperatures which are above the temperature class of gases which could potentially arise in the place of use, and sparks caused by electrical or mechanical means may also not occur. In electrical machines, electrical-thermal testing is thus of particular importance. In operation, protection against overloading is essentially important to maintaining explosion protection.

Important design parameters

• Special protection requirements for non-insulated active components.
• Air and creepage gaps are dimensioned larger than is generally the case in industry. Special requirements apply to the IP protection classes which must be maintained.
• More stringent requirements apply to windings with mechanical stability and insulating capacity, and the windings must be protected against elevated temperatures.

Applications

Installation materials such as junction boxes and distribution boxes, terminal compartments for heaters, storage batteries, transformers, inductive ballasts, electrical and squirrel cage induction motors, lighting fixtures. Cable glands for increased safety are tested according to IEC/EN 60079-7 for the following points:

• mechanical design
• electrical-thermal testing

1 Short, long or special entry threads
Progress^® cable glands with short or long entry threads in metric or Pg designs can be used with existing threads or, in the case of drilled through holes, with locknuts.

2 Visible safety
The small bead on the sealing insert confirms the proper tightening torque.

3 High distortion protection
The integrated retaining grooves in the lower part and in the sealing insert ensure protection against twisting.

4 Guaranteed sealing capability
Inner contours matched to the sealing insert ensure a targeted deformation of the insert and thus guarantee its tightness. Protection Class IP68 to 10 bar as well as IP69K allow a wide range of uses.

Certified according to
IEC 60079-0:2011 (Ed. 6)  / EN 60079-0:2012 + A11:2013
IEC 60079-7:2015 (Ed. 5) / EN 60079-7:2015
IEC 60079-31:2013 (Ed. 2) / EN 60079-31:2014

Principle
In the case of ignition protection with an increased safety type, operation is based on the equipment preventing an ignition of the explosive atmosphere which can also leak into the housing. The equipment may not reach temperatures which are above the temperature class of gases which could potentially arise in the place of use, and sparks caused by electrical or mechanical means may also not occur. In electrical machines, electrical-thermal testing is thus of particular importance. In operation, protection against overloading is essentially important to maintaining explosion protection.

AGRO combination conduit glands provide an optimal mix if you want to feed cables inside a conduit into an enclosure and at the same time want a secure seal and strain relief for the cables.

Attention!
Only metallic or metal-braided conduits may be applied!

Important design parameters

• There are special protection requirements for non-insulated active compo-nents.
• Air and creepage gaps are dimensioned larger than is generally the case in industry. Special requirements apply to the IP protection classes which must be maintained.
• More stringent requirements apply to windings with mechanical stability and insulating capacity, and the windings must be protected against elevated temperatures.

Applications
For installations where cable protection is important such as metalworking ma-chines or where mechanical damage can occur or effects due to weather must be excluded. Conduit glands for increased safety are tested according to IEC/EN 60079-7 for the following points:

• mechanical design
• electrical-thermal testing

1 Short entry threads, metric
Progress^® cable glands with short entry threads can be used with existing screw threads.

2 Grounding
The screened tap connection is accomplished with a brass contact sleeve instead of the gasket (3a) over 360°.

3 Guaranteed sealing capability
The sealing capability of the combination conduit gland is ensured not only between the conduit and the conduit gland (3a) but also through the sealing insert in the cable gland (3b) at the entrance into the housing.

Certified according to
IEC 60079-0:2011 (Ed. 6)  / EN 60079-0:2012 + A11:2013
IEC 60079-7:2015 (Ed. 5) / EN 60079-7:2015
IEC 60079-31:2013 (Ed. 2) EN 60079-31:2014