Electrical installations that are particularly exposed to the harmful effects of external factors should be additionally protected. For this purpose, protective pipes made of various materials are used. The selection of the appropriate variant depends primarily on the location and parameters of the cables. The issue of the diameter of the cables also requires special attention. What should be remembered?
In this article you will learn:
- what types of cable protection pipes do we distinguish,
- what should be the diameter of the casing pipe,
- what casing pipes can be found in the Onninen offer.
Cable protection pipes – manufacturing and construction
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is most often used for the production of casing pipes . It is used primarily due to its impressive durability and wide operating temperature range. It is also resistant to destructive atmospheric factors and most chemical compounds. This type of casing pipe is used to protect: • low and medium voltage power cables, • copper and fiber optic telecommunications cables, • cable television networks. HDPE works perfectly in demanding environments where cables are subject to significant external loads. For this reason, casing pipes made of this material are used, among others, in all types of soils - including irrigated and chemically aggressive ones. The exceptional flexibility of polyethylene effectively relieves stresses resulting from ground subsidence.
HDPE casing pipes can also be used to protect cables laid outdoors. Other materials are also often used for this purpose. The key parameter in this case is resistance to UV radiation. Therefore, cables of this type are manufactured in black and contain an additive that protects against ultraviolet light, which accelerates the wear of materials. When assembling the installation, frequent changes in temperature must also be taken into account, causing changes in the length of casing pipes in this environment.
In addition to installation pipes for running cables in the ground and in the open air, there are also covers for cables in building installations available on the market. They are made of polypropylene (PP). This material is characterized by mechanical strength and significant stiffness, which decreases with increasing temperature. Even better parameters are characterized by polyamide (PA6), which is resistant to abrasion and effectively dampens vibrations. For this reason, it is used in extremely difficult operating conditions.
In stores, you will also come across galvanized steel casing pipes. They are used to protect electrical cables, run alongside hydraulic and pneumatic lines, as well as in floor installations in industrial rooms. It is also worth mentioning:
- steel casing pipes with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyamide (PA6) jacket – protecting against acids, alkalis and other aggressive chemical substances,
- casing pipes made of non-flammable, self-extinguishing, halogen-free materials – used in facilities with increased fire risk.
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Installation pipe systems – what to pay attention to during installation?
When choosing protective pipes for various electrical installations, it is necessary to take into account some nuances regarding their design and even appearance:
- Protective pipes with a double-walled structure are used to protect low and medium voltage cables. They can have corrugated or smooth surfaces. This solution guarantees the installation lightness and flexibility, while at the same time a high level of mechanical strength.
- During assembly, individual sections of protective pipes are connected with double connectors or sockets made of the same material. Cables can be pulled in using smooth internal surfaces of the cables or pilot lines.
- In the case of underground cable pipelines, the color of the pipes is of great importance. Blue characterizes the conductors protecting low-voltage cables, while red characterizes medium-voltage cables.
Selecting the diameter of cable protection pipes – what should you remember?
In order to create a complete, efficient electrical cable protection system, various parameters of the protected cables and the specifics of the environment in which they operate must be taken into account. We have already written a lot about the installation location in the first part of the article, so let's now consider how the properties of the cable itself affect the selection of covers. Among the key factors, we can certainly mention the type of electrical cable and its diameter.
These parameters will primarily determine the diameter of the casing and its wall thickness. Remember that the inner diameter of the casing pipe should be 1.5 times larger than the outer diameter of the power cable and 2 times larger than the outer diameter of the fiber optic cable.
The type of cables used in the electrical installation will also affect the required IP tightness of the protective cables. Detailed regulations regarding this parameter can be found in the EN 60529 standard.
Cable protection pipes in the Onninen offer
If you are working on an electrical installation that requires additional protection, you will find high-quality protective pipes from the Q-SYSTEMS brand in our online wholesaler's offer. This is a manufacturer that supplies the market with complete pipe systems and accessories for cable protection. It is impossible to deny their experience and attention to the smallest details.
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Q-SYSTEMS casing pipes are created by a team of professionals committed to continuous improvement of their products. The production process is supported by the latest technology, which translates into a guarantee of reliability while maintaining competitive prices.
Numerous Q-SYSTEMS brand products are available in the Onninen offer. Among them you will find:
- Red corrugated pipes in coils – these are 160 mm diameter cables used to protect medium voltage cables laid in the ground. They are made of polyethylene, which makes them perfect for demanding environmental conditions. They can be easily bent, which allows them to be conveniently adapted to the shape of the trench. Despite their high resistance, the pipes are lightweight and suitable for manual assembly.
- Blue cable casing pipes – corrugated pipes used to protect low-voltage cables laid in the ground. They are characterized by a smaller diameter of 40 mm. In addition, due to the use of polyethylene in their production, they are very similar to the variant of red corrugated pipes described above.
- Smooth-walled fiber optic pipes – 32 mm diameter pipes used to protect optical and copper telecommunications cables. Internal corrugation and a slip layer allow for easy installation of long sections of the network using both pneumatic and mechanical methods. They are available in versions with longitudinal stripes in various colors, consistent with their intended use.
- Sealing inserts – elements used to improve installation efficiency, available in various diameter ranges.
- Connectors for fiber optic pipes – accessories enabling quick and convenient connection of cables of different diameters.
As you can see, thanks to the Q-SYSTEMS brand assortment, available at the Onninen electrical wholesaler , you can easily design and implement a complete electrical cable protection system!
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