entry threads Glands with no sealing These products (formerly known as BW cable glands) are now referred to as armour glands, and compliance with requirements is demonstrated by testing in accordance with the new edition of BS 6121 Part 1 (there is not an EN standard for these products). New and Old Standards Philosophy In one important respect the old and new standards are the same: Neither of them require third party certification. In both cases it is enough that the manufacturer certifies or declares that his products conform. In nearly every other way, the philosophy of the new standards differs from the old ones, as follows: New Standards Pre-2000 BS 6121 Standards Are performance and safety standards. The EN plus amendment A1 is currently harmonised under the Low Voltage Directive. (A1 is mandatory for compliance after 1/4/2003). Was a construction and type test compliance standard. Are written primarily for test house use, except for BS 6121 Part 5, so users need only buy the new revision of BS 6121, Part 5. Was written in such a way as to be readily understandable by specifiers as well testers. Are generally entitled "Cable Glands for Electrical Installations". Were generally entitled "Mechanical Cable Glands". Do not specify any named types of cable glands. Specified distinct types of product (e.g. BW, CW, E1W etc). Are not prescriptive about design (they are not blue-prints). Specified dimensional properties (they were blue-prints). Require classifications by manufacturer (some being mandatory and some optional). Some classifications have defined to represent levels of performance, whilst some simply specify a minimum and leave the manufacturer to declare a higher performance. Required simply that the products met the tests specified in the standard.
Definitions General requirements General conditions for test (not for products themselves, just for testing) Classification (what it is intended for and how it performs) Marking and documentation Construction Mechanical properties Electrical properties Electro-magnetic compatibility External influences (weather, temperature and salty or sulphurous atmospheres) Scope and Definitions Types of Gland and Sizes of Gland Marking Materials and Construction Dimensions Type Tests Annex: Information required when ordering Annex: Proof torque test Annex: Load test for type A glands Annex: Armour clamp tensile test Annex: Electrical continuity test Annex: Seal test Annex: Tests for insulated adaptors Test Requirements lists the actual test requirements of the new EN, compared to those of BS 6121, Part 1 (metal glands). Classifications shows the classifications available to manufacturers under the new standards. cross-refers to some common BS6121 glands, showing what a user should look for if he is used to ordering a particular BS 6121 gland type. Information Information which must be supplied by the manufacturer or user includes: New Standards Pre-2000 BS 6121 Standards On the Product: name, logo or registered mark of the manufacturer or supplier identification of the product the standard number (BS 6121 only) the entry thread size and type (BS 6121 only) In the Literature: sealing range (maximum and minimum cable dimensions) installation torques, if any entry thread length, if any clearance hole diameter type of cable retention (and range, if armour retention is declared) On the Product: standard number gland size gland type the letter "R" on packing where a compound seal is used In the Literature: nothing From user with order: the standard number the type and size of gland the standard number of the cable the type, size and voltage rating of