Gas Tight Cables IEC 60079-14: Annex E
Not all cables are suitable for installation in an ATEX environment. The standard IEC 60079-14:2014
contains a special addition describing specific requirements for the testing of cables used in EX-d
applications: Annex E.
IEC 60079-14: 2014 Annex E requires preventing the entrainment of combustible gases through the cable, a
requirement that most cables are unable to fulfil satisfactorily.
The reason for this is that cables do not have a fully compact structure. Open spaces may exist between
cores and fillers, allowing combustible gases to flow in, or even spread. The risk is even higher when the
cable contains porous fillers such as flow tissues and fibrous materials, which exhibit hygroscopic behavior.
The new GAS TIGHT cables by Camuna Cavi for use in explosive areas, not only fulfil the traditional
requirements for cables used in explosive areas in terms of mechanical, chemical and thermal loads, but
also in terms of gas transmission through the cable. Thanks to their special construction, can effectively
prevent gas or vapour migration through the interstices between individual cores when the cable leads to a
non-hazardous area or between different zones.
The requirement of IEC 60079-14 ANNEX E specifies that a cable with a length of 0,5 m should be type
tested when installed into a sealed enclosure of 5 l. The cable is considered acceptable if the time interval
required for an internal overpressure of at least 0,3 kPa to drop by 0,15 kPa is not less than 5 s.
Camuna Cavi can provide in-house testing solution and test report certificate of our “gas tight” cables
according to IEC standard Annex E for instrumentation, control and power cables.