Page 110 - Offshore Electrical Engineering Manual

Transits, Glands and Connectors 97

FIGURE 2.8.2
Illustration of a typical cable transit.
Courtesy Hawke Cable Glands Ltd.

GLANDS
Glands are normally of the flameproof type with inner and outer seals, as shown in
Fig. 2.8.3. Flameproof barrier glands may be used where the inner seal is replaced
by a setting compound which forms a seal around individual cores. The benefit
of being able to use more economical cable constructions through the use of bar-
rier glands is usually outweighed by the disadvantage that installation, particu-
larly compound filling, is more difficult, and the cable can only be freed from the
gland by cutting it off at the entry point. In either case the gland must be correctly
assembled and installed (without cutting or tampering with its components) if cer-
tification is to remain valid.

CONNECTORS

Connectors of various types may be used, particularly for diving and subsea appli-
cations. Some connectors are designed to be connected with circuits live under-
water. Some may be hazardous area certified, although in this case the circuits
would need to be intrinsically safe or provided with some means of preventing live
disconnection.