CABLE ENCLOSURES
These are housings for cables. They cover and protect the cables against mechanical damages. There are
three main types of cable enclosures namely:
1) Conduits –steel and pvc BS 4568
2) Trunking
3) Ducting (duct) BS 4878
Advantages of cable enclosures
1. It provides mechanical protection to cables
2. It minimizes the risk of fire
3. It provides excellent circuit protective conductor (cpc) ( some)
4. Where there is need for rewiring the system is easier provided inspection boxes are installed
properly.
Conduits
A conduit is tube ,channel or pipe in which insulated and non insulated conductors are contained.
Types of conduits
1. None metallic conduits
2. Metallic conduits
Metallic conduits
1. Steel conduits
2. Flexible conduits
3. Copper conduits
4. Alluminium conduits.
Metal conduits are available in lengths of 3.75m or 4m and in sizes of 19mm, 20mm, 25mm and 32mm.
They are manufactured to BS 4568 standard.
Steel conduit
Welded type :- This is mostly used in general installation e.g. domestic installation work. It has an
invisible seam running longitudinally along the conduit.
Solid drawn :- This seamless conduit is installed where the installation is required to be gas tight. It is
also used for flame proof purposes such as when connecting petrol pumps.
Galvanised type :- The steel pipe is hot dipped in zinc to prevent corrosion hence it is used in
environments which are dump or for external works. It is relatively expensive.
Sheradised :- This type of conduit is impregnated with zinc and provides excellent resistance to
corrosion and has proved to be a better conduit than galvanized pipe.
Black enamel ;- This the finish on a conduit. The conduit has black coating on the outside. It is mainly
used to prevent rusting of the conduit. When making bends or offsets the enamel usually flakes off and
it is required that bitumen paint should be used to paint where the enamel would have flaked off.
Copper conduits:- It provides excellent c.p.c. Copper resists corrosion thus it is mostly used in damp
environments e.g. boilers. It can also be used where there is risk of fire. This conduit is expensive and
accessories are mainly copper or brass.
Alluminium conduits:- It provides an excellent c.p.c. it is light and easy to handle. It is liable to corrosion
than steel. It gives good earthing continuity and it is non magnetic
Flexible conduit :- It consist of galvanized steel strips. It provides a useful means of connection to
motors where vibrations or rigid connections cannot be possible. It is mainly used in domestic
connections on cookers and geysers. No offsets or bends are needed on this conduit. Flexible conduit
should be used on short runs where mechanical damage is not likely to occur. A separate cp.c. is to be
installed.
NONE METALLIC CONDUITS
These are mostly known as pvc conduits meaning polyvinyl chloride. The conduits are found in sizes of
19mm, 20mm, 25mm and 32mm external diameter. The main advantages are that they are resistant to
corrosion, water proof, resistive to acids, alkalis and oxidizing agents, easy to work with and cheap to
buy.
The disadvantages are : poor mechanical strength, easily affected by sunlight, not fire proof, cannot be
used as c.p.c.
They are used in domestic installations, commercial, agricultural and industrial areas.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL CONDUIT SYSTEMS
1. Conduits should be erected before cables are drawn.
2. Conduits should be fixed and protected against mechanical damage.
3. Inspection boxes should accessible.
4. The number of cables drawn in the conduits should allow for easy drawing and space factor of
45% should not be exceeded. Space factor is expressed as : Total CSA of installed cables /
internal CSA of the conduit and expressed as a%.
5. The inner radius of the bends should not be less than 2,5 times the outside diameter of the
conduit and should not be less than 4 times the diameter of the largest cable installed.
6. Solid elbows and Tees may only be used at ends of conduits immediately behind the accessories
and light fittings. Reg. 529-4
7. When an AC supply is used the live wire and the neutral must be drawn in same conduit so as to
cater for eddy currents.
8. The cables of extra low voltages should not be drawn in the same conduit with cables of power
and lighting. Reg. 521-7. Joints of conduits should be reamed at all points, cleaned, free of all
cuttings, oils and made tight to ensure good earth continuity.
9. In damp situations threads and fittings should be coated with metallic paint to prevent corrosion.
10. Conduits subjected to wide temperature changes should be provided with drainage outlets at
the lowest point of the conduit.
11. Spacer bar and distant saddles should be used to prevent damp material from collecting
between conduits and walls.
12. In flash installations outlets mist be sealed to prevent blockages materials which may fall into
the conduits. If it is suspected that water has entered into the conduits, it should be dried out by
swabbing.
13. Flexible conduit should not be used as a protective conductor. Reg. 543-11.
Spacing of supports
SIZE OF CONDUIT MAXIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN SUPPORTS
Rigid metallic conduit Rigid non metallic (pvc) Flexible conduit
Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical
19mm to25mm 0,75m 1m 0,75m 1m 0,3m 0,4m
32mm 1,75m 2m 1,5m 1,75m 0,6m 0,8m
TRUNKING
A trunking is an enclosure provided for the protection of cables. It is normally square or rectangular in
cross section and having one removable side. Trunking can be metallic or non metallic. Trunking is
provided in 3m lengths and of cross sections of 50mm x 50mm up to 300mm x150mm. For metallic
trunking a strip of copper is bolted across every joint to ensure proper continuity of earthing.
The following should be considered:
- When trunking is run on its side, it should be fitted with clips to prevent cables falling out when
the cover is removed.
- Vertical runs should be fitted with pins to prevent weight falling on other points.
- IEE Regs. require a space factor of 45%
- Fixing brackets are usually fabricated on site
- Compartmented trunking is used where segregation of circuits is required.
Advantages of trunking
1. Lighter than the same capacity of conduit.
2. Fewer fixing is required
3. Wiring is easier (cables are simply laid in the trunking)
4. Installation time is reduced
5. It accommodates more cables
6. Possible to segregate circuits
Disadvantages
1. More expensive as compared to conduit
2. Extra links across the joints are needed to ensure proper earthing continuity.
3. Most suitable for industrial and commercial applications.
Overhead bus bar trunking
This is a system of wiring industrial installations where equipment and machines are frequently moved
around as production requirements change. It contains copper bus bars fixed in positions by insulating
supports or spacers. The individual supplies are connected to the bus bars by tap off units which are
secured by bolts and nuts to the bus bars.
Advantages of overhead bus bar
- Installation work can be carried out before actual position of the machine is known
- Easy to tap off power to various points
- Fewer fixing is required
- Erection time is reduced.
Types of trunking
Skirting trunking- mostly used in commercial buildings, hospitals ,offices and laboratories to supply
power to socket outlets ,feed telephone points ,computer etc.
Mini trunking- very small pvc trunking, ideal for domestic and commercial installations. It has sizes of
16mm x16mm, 25mm x16mm and 38mm x16mm.
Trunking can be used for segregation of circuits.
Segregation of circuits
This is the separation of circuits according to their voltage ranges and placing them in different
enclosures. Where an installation comprises a mixture of low voltage and extra low voltage circuits such
as lighting, power circuits, telephone and fire alarm circuits, they must be separated or segregated to
prevent electrical contact. Circuits are segregated according to their categories.
Category 1- low voltage circuits (mains voltage circuits)
Category 2-telephone, radio, bell, alarm circuits
Category 3- emergency circuit for fire alarm and emergency lighting circuits.
These three categorized circuits can be wired in a compartmented metal trunking where there is a metal
screen between the compartments.
Ducts and cable ducting.
A duct is a closed passage formed underground or in a structure intended to accommodate one or more
cables. Cable ducting is a manufactured enclosure of metal or pvc material intended for the protection
of cables which is concealed but not intended to be part of a building. Cables are drawn in ducts. The
ducting system re-wiring can be done without disturbing any part of the floor.
Advantages of the duct
Major part of the duct can be done during construction
A concealed wiring is provided.
The space factor for ducting is 35% owing to the heat produced inside the duct.
Cable trays
Cable tray is a sheet steel channel with multiple holes. The most common finish is hot –dipped
galvanized sheet but pvc coated tray is also available. It is mostly used on large industrial and
commercial installation for supporting armoured cables. Cable trays should be adequately supported
using some brackets.