Written by Andrew Reid on December 12, 2019
Engineering Manager Andrew Reid explains why our NEC® Series Glands are the world's first to boast an NEC® Compliant, non metallic, fully inspectable Elastomeric Compound Pot.
Introducing the world’s first Cable Gland boasting an NEC® Compliant, non metallic, fully inspectable Elastomeric Compound Pot.
Find out from our expert team what makes the NEC® Compliant series a world first breakthrough in technology and how installation and inspection is simplified.
- Hawke International are proud to launch the world's first NEC Compliant, fully transparent, non-metallic compound pot.
- Accurate installation is quickly achievable, and inspection is simplified with reduced costs.
- The resin is fully inspectable during installation. This allows voids to be addressed without waiting for the compound to set. With a metallic compound pot, the resin is not visible in this way.
- Further inspection can be carried out easily at any time with no damage to the pot. Metallic pots must be destroyed in order to perform inspection.
- The silicone compound pot is compressed on installation, so does not rely on maintaining flame path clearances.
- If any damage occurs to the flame path of a metallic compound pot, the whole gland must be discarded. Our clear compound pot can simply be replaced, if required, without the need to replace the whole gland.
- The range is ATEX and IECEx certified for use globally and boasts Ingress Protection IP66, IP67, IP68 and for the first time IP69.
- The NEC Compliant range of cable glands has been designed to offer our customers ease of use whilst providing the unparalleled safety you expect from all Hawke International cable glands.
What are the historical limitations to using a metallic compound pot?
In the past, in order to inspect a traditional brass compound pot, it had to be cut open and destroyed. Following inspection, it had to be remade using a new gland. The Hawke International NEC® Compliant Series Cable Gland range is the first of its kind to feature a clear compound chamber, allowing full visibility during installation and inspection. This means you can inspect all installed glands accurately and quickly, without the additional time and money associated with inspecting a traditional metallic pot, which needs to be destroyed in the course of inspection.
Our new range represents a major development in technology and certification. Engineering Manager Andrew Reid gives an insight in to the innovations it incorporates and why the range offers exciting opportunities for our customers in North America and globally. Read on to find why the difference is clear!
What are the benefits of the silicone compound pot over a brass compound pot?
At installation, when potting the silicone compound pot, the resin is visible to the installer, so the process is much more controlled and visible. Any issues such as voids or underfilling can be immediately addressed before the compound cures.
The resin is visible through the compound pot and as such can be inspected without the product being destroyed. Traditional metallic compound pots must be cut off to inspect, discarded and then remade with a new gland. This cost is removed, and time is saved by using a clear compound pot.
Further safety benefits are gained through a shift to a clear compound pot. Traditional metallic compound pots use a flamepath to dissipate any energy occurring from an ignition. If clearance between the metallic pot and gland is too large due to machining tolerances, there is a risk of ignition. The elastomeric compound pot is compressed on installation rather than relying on controlled clearances, removing this risk.
Also, in the event the flamepath surface of a metallic pot is damaged, the whole gland must be cut off the cable and replaced. If damage occurs to the silicone compound pot, the pot itself can be quickly cut off and replaced without damage to the resin.
Meeting the needs of customers requiring NEC® Compliant Cable Glands for use within the United States of America
Matt Ogden, Cable Gland Expert tells us what the change from metallic to non-metallic compound pot means for our customers within the USA market:
“Historically, metallic components have been the only acceptable option for compound pots in the USA. Our NEC® compliant, non-metallic silicone pot represents a huge shift in thinking and opens up an exciting new option to our customers in that market. It’s testament to how much innovation, engineering, manufacturing and testing goes into the development of our cable glands, and to the significant safety benefits of our non-metallic compound pot.”
