Considerations regarding the choice of cable glands for electrical equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres

National Institute for Research and Development in Mine Safety and Protection to Explosion – INSEMEX Petrosani - Romania

^* Corresponding author: marcel.rad@insemex.ro

Abstract

The evaluation of explosion-proof electrical equipment for certification is particularly important given the risk of explosion and must be minimized. This in order to ensure the safety of life, health of workers, to prevent damage to goods and the environment when they meet the essential security requirements at European level. Directive 2014/34 / EU states that equipment used in explosive atmospheres must be designed to operate without endangering the environment for which it is intended. This paper presents a comparison between the different types of cable glands for electrical apparatus by comparing some common characteristics that are important for maintaining the integrity of explosion protection. Consequently, this paper intends to be the precursor of a practical guide for the selection and implementation of different types of protection on the apparatus intended for use in areas with hazard of explosive atmospheres, both for designers and manufactures. This state of fact is negatively more emphatic because, lately, the groups of standards from this field in the world, Europe and Romania have a peculiar dynamic caused especially by the homogenisation and generalisation process opened and maintained by IEC.