ATEX equipment and gland hole drilling

Roger Bryant:

The Hawke documentation states:

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b) The enclosure may be ready supplied with cable entries. Where the customer drills cable entries they must be installed in accordance with

the component certificate BAS06ATEX0116U or IEC Ex No: BAS06.0027U and enclosure limitations, these specify a maximum clearance on

the entry thread of 0.7mm for plain holes and where adjacent cable entries are installed suficient clearance must be maintained to allow

for the fitting of sealing/retaining washers and the rotation of the cable gland hexagons, and leave a minimum of material between

adjacent holes in line with the above certificate number(s).

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https://hubbellcdn.com/installationmanuals/HKE_AI273 PL6 Junction Box (Issue Y 03-19).pdf


As I read this you would have to be able to make the hole to the required tolerance -0, +0.7mm and be able to confirm this with a calibrated go -no go gauge. You would also have to demonstrate that you have met the requirements for spacing of adjacent holes in accordance with the stated certificate.


On a purely practical basis you will not be able to acheive those tolerances with a hand held hole saw. A rigid bench drill or mill with an appropriate cutter will be required.

Yes, 0.7mm is the typical maximum clearance hole for metric glands (comes from a standard, can't remember which off top of my head)

When I looked at the documentation for the component certified enclosure ( BAS06ATEX0116U) last night, it doesn't actually give the required information. It refers to another drawing which I didn't see on their website. I wondered if this might be the point where the OP contacted them?

Then their advice might be correct based on what he told them, or there might have been a misunderstanding.  It all depends on where he lies in the supply chain or end user.

Roger Bryant:

The Hawke documentation states:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

b) The enclosure may be ready supplied with cable entries. Where the customer drills cable entries they must be installed in accordance with

the component certificate BAS06ATEX0116U or IEC Ex No: BAS06.0027U and enclosure limitations, these specify a maximum clearance on

the entry thread of 0.7mm for plain holes and where adjacent cable entries are installed suficient clearance must be maintained to allow

for the fitting of sealing/retaining washers and the rotation of the cable gland hexagons, and leave a minimum of material between

adjacent holes in line with the above certificate number(s).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

https://hubbellcdn.com/installationmanuals/HKE_AI273 PL6 Junction Box (Issue Y 03-19).pdf


As I read this you would have to be able to make the hole to the required tolerance -0, +0.7mm and be able to confirm this with a calibrated go -no go gauge. You would also have to demonstrate that you have met the requirements for spacing of adjacent holes in accordance with the stated certificate.


On a purely practical basis you will not be able to acheive those tolerances with a hand held hole saw. A rigid bench drill or mill with an appropriate cutter will be required.

Yes, 0.7mm is the typical maximum clearance hole for metric glands (comes from a standard, can't remember which off top of my head)

When I looked at the documentation for the component certified enclosure ( BAS06ATEX0116U) last night, it doesn't actually give the required information. It refers to another drawing which I didn't see on their website. I wondered if this might be the point where the OP contacted them?

Then their advice might be correct based on what he told them, or there might have been a misunderstanding.  It all depends on where he lies in the supply chain or end user.