The operation of modern electrical installations is widely considered to be reliable. However, their reliability is the result of advanced technology and the work of experts in the field of design. The process of planning cable routes is carried out in accordance with established standards and proven methods that have been developed and improved over the years. Proper planning of cable routes is not only to ensure the efficient operation of the systems, but also their safety and ease of maintenance.
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What legal requirements must cable routes meet?
When planning and implementing cable routes, all electrical devices must be precisely positioned throughout the installation. When designing a cable route, a number of legal requirements must be observed that ensure safety, reliability and compliance with technical standards. In Poland, regulations regarding the management of cable routes include building law and technical standards. The most important of them refer to:
- safety of use,
- protection of human health,
- environmental protection,
- fire protection.
The electrical wiring must be routed in accordance with applicable regulations. Cable route planning is regulated by the PN-EN 50174 standard. It therefore contains detailed guidelines for:
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designing cable routes, - installation of cables in cable ducts,
- protecting cables against mechanical damage,
- environmental conditions.
The low-voltage electrical installation is regulated by the PN-HD 60364 standard, which includes requirements for:
- construction of cable routes,
- protection against electric shock,
- protection against surges and overloads,
- use of appropriate materials and devices.
Cable trays are used in various installations. Cables are laid in trays, thus ensuring their safe and orderly guidance. Trays for running cables should therefore be made of materials resistant to weather conditions, i.e. steel, e.g. Baks KDS/KDSO400H60/3 E90 /3m/ 970140 mesh tray or Baks KLIK KFL50H60/3 snap tray, length 3 running meters 161023 , or stainless steel. In the cable industry, shapes are used to form and protect cables during their installation and operation.
Fire protection requirements for cable ducts
When designing cable routes, it is important to take into account the geographical dependencies of the area and the technical needs of the installation. The materials used to manufacture cable channels must demonstrate appropriate resistance to high temperatures. The use of non-flammable or flame-retardant materials prevents the rapid spread of fire. The required fire resistance classes are defined in regulations and standards, such as:
Planning cable routes often requires the use of various plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or PVC - for example, the white PVC cable duct from Kopos is used.
Cable penetrations through walls and ceilings must be suitably protected to prevent the passage of fire and smoke between rooms. The requirements include:
- the use of fire-resistant penetrations with appropriate seals that retain their properties during a fire,
- compliance with the standard PN-EN 1366-3: Fire resistance tests for technical installations - Part 3: Installation seals.
Cable routes should be laid and arranged in a way that minimises the risk of fire. Therefore, minimum distances should be maintained from other installations, especially those that may be a source of heat or sparks, used in a given area. Cable routes should be run in separate channels in the case of installations for different purposes (e.g. power and telecommunications). This is to avoid mutual interaction during a fire.
Also necessary are:
- smoke and temperature sensors inside cable ducts,
- automatic extinguishing systems,
- cable seals,
- functional tests of fire detection and extinguishing systems.
Cable ducts and fire penetrations should also be subjected to periodic inspections and inspections.
In Poland, it is necessary to adapt to fire protection regulations and standards. Ensuring compliance with the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 7 June 2010 on fire protection of buildings, other construction facilities and areas (Journal of Laws 2010 No. 109 item 719) is necessary to ensure safety in cable trays.
How should cables and wires be marked correctly on cable routes?
Correctly described, clearly marked wires and cables speed up the installation process, and also simplify and shorten the time needed to perform maintenance, repairs and modernization of electrical systems. Cables and wires are most often identified by manufacturers using different colors or color combinations, and in the case of multi-core cables, also using numbers. When we are dealing with many cables or multi-core wires, the situation becomes more complex. In such cases, various elements used to identify them are helpful.
Additionally, commonly used methods for marking cable and wire cores and their sheaths are: the method using ultraviolet lasers or the thermal method using a head marking graphic symbols. You can also find inkjet methods using printers and special font sets, and the thermal transfer printing method using markers, plates and labels.
Application of thermal transfer printing on cable routes
Thermal transfer printing technology involves creating an image on a label by heating the pigment contained in a thermal transfer ribbon, which acts as a coloring ribbon.
Labels designed for thermal transfer printing are extremely durable, especially in industrial conditions, thanks to six layers of materials, including a transparent polyethylene laminate that provides protection against abrasion and temperatures from -80 to 150°C.
However, thermal transfer printing does not have only one function. It can also print on heat shrink tubes, which, when applied to a wire or cable and heated, shorten, providing excellent insulation. These tubes are also resistant to mechanical damage and solvents.