Cable Glands for Armoured Cable: Everything You Need to Know
In the electrical installation world, cable glands are an unnoticed yet crucial component. Though small in size, they have a tremendous influence on safety, reliability, and performance, particularly on armoured cables. Wherever applied in industrial facilities, renewable energy installations, or infrastructure networks, cable glands keep connections protected, safe, and up to international standards.
What Are Cable Glands?
Cable glands are mechanical devices intended for attaching and anchoring the end of an electrical cable to equipment that it is connected to. They ensure strain relief, a firm connection, and electrical continuity. In armoured cables, which have an extra metallic protection, the gland further protects and bonds, and earths the armour to avoid faults or unsafe discharges.
Why Armoured Cable Requires Special Glands
Armoured cables have a metal armour (steel wire, aluminium wire, tape, braid, etc.) to further protect the internal conductors from mechanical damage, pressure or environmental conditions. In these systems:
● The gland must clamp the armour to prevent it from slipping or loosening under loads.
● The gland must maintain electrical continuity (when the armour is connected as a ground or a shield).
● The gland must maintain sealing and protection despite the tougher construction of the cable.
● The gland often must also meet standards/certifications for use in a hazardous or challenging environment.
● A standard gland that works for unarmoured cables (which do not require armour clamping) is not suitable for an armoured cable.
● Manufacturers often call these armoured cable glands (and sometimes “SWA cable glands,” “AWA cable glands,” or “armour cable entries”).
Types and Variants of Armoured Cable Glands
There are different designs and materials of armoured cable glands to accommodate different types of cables, conditions of use, and standards. The primary variants include:
Based on Compression / Sealing Arrangement
1. Single compression (single seal) — The simplest arrangement, for use where a single seal is required (typically internal or less demanding areas)
2. Double compression (duel seal) — The assembly has two seals (for example, one for the insulation and one for the outer sheath), providing a better level of ingress protection. This is usually suited for more demanding and/or outdoor use.
Material Types
1. Brass - Typical use, good mechanical strength, and reliable in many general-purpose industrial applications (for example, bulkheads).
2. Nickel-plated brass - Used where corrosion resistance is required.
3. Stainless steel - Commonly used where corrosion is an issue, typically in more aggressive environments (for example, marine/chemical plants/offshore).
4. Aluminium - Ideally suited for lighter construction with cable glands being lighter than other materials and sometimes selected for this reason, although less typical for heavy-duty industrial type installations.
5. Plastic / Nylon - Very rare to find a cable dependent on an armoured cable, more suited for lighter or non-metallic cable applications. There are some, more Niche approaches to a plastic/nylon body with armoured support or protection.
Special / Certified Types
1. Flameproof / explosionproof glands - Designed for general use in hazardous areas (Zones, Ex/ATEX/IECEx) and providing containment / prevention of ignition inside.
2. EMC / screening glands - for cables requiring electromagnetic shielding, to provide a proper ground and shield termination.
3. Weatherproof / IP rated glands - for outdoor and harsh settings (e.g. IP66, IP68 ratings) to withstand water, dust, immersion etc.
Materials and Quality Standards:
Glands made from high-grade materials are usually made from either brass, stainless steel, or aluminum alloy with nickel or chrome plating to improve resistance to corrosion. Braco Electricals produces its cable glands in accordance with international standards (BS 6121, EN 50262 and IEC 62444) being made for durability in service, conductivity, and product safety in all operational conditions.
Choosing the Right Cable Gland
The decision of which gland to use is based on:
● Type of cable (SWA, AWA, unarmoured)
● Environment (indoor, outdoor, hazardous zone)
● Ingress Protection (IP) Rating
● Thread Type and Size
Choosing the right gland ensures compliance and longevity of the installation of the electrical system.
Braco Electricals - A Trusted Global Manufacturer
With a wealth of experience and a strong presence throughout India and into some international markets, Braco Electricals is recognized as a trusted manufacturer of high-quality cable glands, accessories, and electrical connectors. Each product is manufactured with precision engineering to provide a reliable connection you can trust. It is designed with advanced manufacturing processes and goes through rigorous quality testing to test and verify reliability.