24/09/2020
There are a huge variety of cable containment systems available to help neatly and safely organise wiring in an electrical installation but they tend not to be exclusively used for a certain type of wiring and are instead determined by the budget and practicalities of the building it is being installed into. With such an array of cable management options available, the choice of fixings needs to factor in the weight of the cable and the containment so that it can be fixed to an appropriate surface with safety.
Cable Trays
One of the most common cable containment systems is a cable tray which is a unit of set of units and fittings that support electrical cable and raceways. These safely transport wires across open spaces and forms the structural component of a buildings electrical system.
Conduits
Electrical conduits are tubes used to protect and route wiring which are made from several different materials. These are then secured using saddles, either known as space bar saddles or distance saddles. Hospital saddles are another variation that allow easier cleaning around the conduit in places where hygiene is a concern. Conduit cable containment systems also allow for wiring systems ‘drops’ to yet to be installed electrical equipment meaning building work can go ahead with cables being pulled into place later on.
Trunking
Mostly used for insulated cable, trunking can be bent and jointed into different configurations making it a versatile way to carry many types of cable around a building. All trunking cable containment systems are given an Internal Protection rating (IP) that denotes the degree of protection they provide against external agents. The IP Code is made up of 4 digits, with the first number being 0-6, or x which denotes the protection level of persons against access to the hazardous parts inside. Th second number is 1-8 or the letter x and shows to the level of protection against equipment ingress by solid foreign objects. The third letter, A, B, C or D denotes the protection of the equipment against the penetration of water and the fourth letter, H, M, S or W denotes the level of protection against hazardous parts.