SY or CY cable may or may not be suitable for a hazardous area- it all depends on the specifics of the hazard.

For example Is there strong UV  -perhaps used to set adhesives or to sterilize things - though actually this makes all soft skilled PVC unsuitable, not just SY/CY  There are cables more common in the middle east and other sunny places of a screened construction but with a black UV bllocking outer. The outer sheath fails in a few years anyway of course but the inner does not start to degrade until it does.

Are there solvents present that will attack PVC - note that most do not -  things like most kinds of paint thinners and petrol are OK in small doses.

The flexible construction is a good thing if the cables are being twisted or wound and unwound on a regular basis. This precludes a more rigid armour or coarser stranded cores.

Then there is the question of glanding and termination. If you have aggressive or explosive vaporous present you need glands that form an all round compression seal, much like a stuffing gland, and these may need to be of specific materials that will not be attacked, At the same time the braid of the CY or SY should be earthed to obtain maximum benefit from it, otherwise you may as well use a more conventional flex with a strength core such as the sort used for railway works. The braid should not be the sole CPC however, as it is the first part to suffer from mechanical damage.

So what hazards are present in the area - is it just a store for jet fuel or something, or a bigger problem ?

Mike.

SY or CY cable may or may not be suitable for a hazardous area- it all depends on the specifics of the hazard.

For example Is there strong UV  -perhaps used to set adhesives or to sterilize things - though actually this makes all soft skilled PVC unsuitable, not just SY/CY  There are cables more common in the middle east and other sunny places of a screened construction but with a black UV bllocking outer. The outer sheath fails in a few years anyway of course but the inner does not start to degrade until it does.

Are there solvents present that will attack PVC - note that most do not -  things like most kinds of paint thinners and petrol are OK in small doses.

The flexible construction is a good thing if the cables are being twisted or wound and unwound on a regular basis. This precludes a more rigid armour or coarser stranded cores.

Then there is the question of glanding and termination. If you have aggressive or explosive vaporous present you need glands that form an all round compression seal, much like a stuffing gland, and these may need to be of specific materials that will not be attacked, At the same time the braid of the CY or SY should be earthed to obtain maximum benefit from it, otherwise you may as well use a more conventional flex with a strength core such as the sort used for railway works. The braid should not be the sole CPC however, as it is the first part to suffer from mechanical damage.

So what hazards are present in the area - is it just a store for jet fuel or something, or a bigger problem ?

Mike.