What are your thoughts regarding safety on this equipment cable entry?

Guinea Pig said:

It is like it has been made to be as difficult to install nicely as possible! 

Possibly designed for US market, and enclosure provided to try and fit in with EU/UK market?

Did not think of that but you might well be correct.  It does however have CE and UKCA certification, and is from a global manufacturer.

Guinea Pig said:

Thoughts appreciated.

Well, it must be for fixed wiring only because it requires a high-integrity earth connection - therefore the installation standard in the UK would be necessary for the selection of the equipment, and its erection - i.e. BS 7671.

Others have pointed out that it doesn't appear (on the face of it) to meet the IP ratings required by BS 7671 without modification - so the only options are:

• housing in a suitable enclosure where access restricted to skilled or instructed persons (electrically) - i.e. access by tool or controlled key
• modifying cable entry (which from your other replies so far is difficult or impossible)?

As this is construction work, it's potentially a CDM risk being addressed, and perhaps the Client ought to be involved as they will have responsibilities going forward?

On the face of it, those entries provide IP2X protection, but what the IP ratings do not make clear is the degree of force which is required to overcome it.

If you put 2 cables through one hole, I feel sure that it would meet the IP2X rating even with the strongest of finger pokes. The others could be blanked over. Alternatively, tie a short length of cable or similar round object to each cable at the point of entry.

From memory the 3c16 cable are 28mm diameter

Sounds like a lot - 3C 16mm² SWA is less than 20mm dia.

  - Andy.

The H07 at CEF is listed as just over 23mm diameter https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/2015174-16mm-3-core-ho7rnf-rubber-flexible-cable-cut-length-sold-by-the-mtr?

So a gland of M32 should just about do it - if of course there was any room for the nut, but in a 35mm high box no chance.

Mike

You could make a plate 35mm high with two holes in it (as AJJ said) which could be threaded to accept the stuffing gland without the nut. You could use the nuts on the outside, flat to flat, to give a bigger footprint than the gland flange might have, to hold on to the box better.

Or holes with grommets, but I would then be looking at cable restraints drilled and bolted into the flat plate below. 

Any such modifications might need the manufacturer's approval, but it sounds like they haven't really thought about it so might welcome solutions.

This could well be a good way to go.  Might just fit 2x H07 into a 6mm aluminium plate - thick enough for decent level of threads. 1x S/T screw in each corner would hold the plate in place...

Another suggestion - find a stepped grommet or similar that could squash down to the existing oval hole and let the cable through, but solid rather than slotted, so fingers can't be pushed though - e.g. this kind of thing https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-power/12312/grommet-sleeve-20-00mm-x-1-60mm/dp/CBBR5841 (not the right size, but in principle) or https://cpc.farnell.com/hylec/hyc1456238/cable-retention-grommet-m40/dp/CB13368 (just random Google finds).

   - Andy.