Mechanical Protection for Flex cables

attached is the photo of the installation .flex.png

In terms of BS7671 it will only tell you that the cable needs to be suitable for the environment. That in turn is a decision that depends on how it is to be used and the design authority on the ground. Is that you ?

Now in the specific case of pits in garages for example, other rules apply if there is a risk of fuel vapour settling in the pit, as the atmosphere may then become dangeous.  I am not sure of railways, but I'd be very surprised if there was not some railway specific standard. In any case, if people are moving in the pit and or using hand tools, then the risk of the cable snagging or being struck is clearly higher than a normal ceiling lamp for example. If the luminaire is fixed to the pit walls, I'd expect the wiring to be as well.


Edit, just seen the picture - started to reply before you posted . OK, so not ATEX ratings then!!  It does look a bit out of place. I'd wait for our railway types to comment.

I had the job of wiring the lighting in prefabricated inspection pits in the fabrication workshop, these huge steel pits fully fitted out so a hole can be dug in a workshop floor then the pits dropped in and the floor made good around them. Some were sectional and when eventually assembled three buses or lorries could be over them at the same time for inspection on a production line basis in a government test centre.


I questioned the wiring specification and ATEX requirements, however was told it was what the customers had asked for. They were wired in SY cable supported on the long runs within steel tube welded to the sides of the pits, but without elbows or tube into the light fittings with the SY cable not enclosed.


After a couple of days I became very quick at making CXT glands for SY cable.


Andy B.

Looking at your photo I cannot see why it does not just go straight into the light fitting with a galvanised steel fitting rather than having a loop that people and tools may get caught up on.


Andy B.