What is Cable Cleats and Why Do We Use Them?

Cable cleats are devices designed and tested to ensure the retention and support of cables, and have been used for many years all over the world.

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It was not until with the emergence of the standard EN , that any standard for cable cleats existed. This not only highlighted the retention and support that cable cleats provided to cables, but more importantly highlighted the protection of the cable management system and the potential risk to human life without the use of cable cleats. Prior to EN both cable and cable cleat manufacturers provided testing to their own standards.

This was then followed up with the publication of IEC in and superseded by a new standard in which further highlighted the importance of cable cleat products, and correct cable cleating.

IEC – Cable Cleat

‘Cable cleat’ according to IEC defined as: “A device designed to provide securing of cables when installed at intervals along the length of cables.”

“Note: A cable cleat is provided with a means of attachment to a mounting surface but does not rely on an unspecified mounting surface for the retention of the cables. Examples of mounting surfaces that may be specified are ladder, tray, strut, or rail, wire and beam. Where declared, cable cleats provide resistance to electromechanical forces.”

CMP cable cleats are designed to ensure the retention and support of cables and conductors, reducing the load that the cable may be exposed to under its own weight.

By ensuring the cables are fixed, retained and supported correctly this protects all of the cable terminations by reducing the mechanical load exerted on them. CMP cable cleats are designed and tested so that in the event of short circuit fault conditions, they will contain the cables without causing damage; enabling the circuit to be restored once the fault has been rectified.

Cable cleats are for those whose core values include operating responsibly, safeguarding people, protecting the environment, and delivering on their zero harm HSE policies.

For more information, please visit Cable Clamps.

BS: IET Wiring Regulations Seventeenth Edition:

‘522.8.3 – The radius of every bend in a wiring system shall be such that conductors or cables do not suffer damage and terminations are not stressed.’

‘522.8.4 – Where the conductors or cables are not supported continuously due to the method of installation, they shall be supported by suitable means at appropriate intervals in such a manner that the conductors or cables do not suffer damage by their own weight.’

‘522.8.5 – Every cable or conductor shall be supported in such a way that it is not exposed to undue mechanical strain and so that there is no appreciable mechanical strain on the terminations of the conductors, account being taken of mechanical strain imposed by the supported weight of the cable or conductor itself.’

• Reduce the mechanical load a cable may be exposed to due to electrical fault conditions.

Can I Use a Circuit Breaker Instead of Cable Cleats?

Although circuit breakers are capable of instantaneous protection, damage to the cables under fault conditions occurs within the first quarter cycle of the fault. Within this period of time the circuit breaker cannot open to suspend the fault, resulting in cable management system damage. A typical circuit breaker interrupts the fault after three cycles. Whilst this may protect the equipment, the cables however may have already been damaged within this short duration and depending on the size of the short circuit,
need replacing.

The replacement of any cables comes at a high price as this includes the expensive cable costs themselves, the labour time of decommissioning, the reinstallation of the cable management system and the cost of operational downtime.

The latest standard for cable cleats IEC lays down the standardised method for testing and certification of cable cleats to prove they can withstand one or more short circuit tests: 6.4.4 resistant to electromechanical forces, withstanding one short circuit, 6.4.5 resistant
to electromechanical forces, withstanding more than one short circuit.