A cable gland secures a cable, seals its entry into an enclosure, and keeps the earth path intact. To choose one, match five factors: cable type, hazardous-area zone, ingress protection, material, and entry thread. Then confirm certification and accessories.
This guide by Cabex India shows how to select cable gland sizes, types, and materials for industrial, marine, and hazardous-area projects. Think of it as a cable gland selection guide for engineers and buyers in any country.
- How it works: The gland clamps the cable, compresses a seal around it, and bonds the armour to earth.
- Types: Use armoured glands for SWA cable and Ex-certified glands in gas or dust zones.
- What it involves: Learning how to select cable gland products starts with measuring the cable. Next, set the zone and IP target. Cost rises with certification and stainless steel.
What Is a Cable Gland and Why Does Selection Matter?
A cable gland is also called a cable connector or cable fitting. It fits into the entry hole of a junction box, control panel, or motor terminal box. It does three jobs.
First, it holds the cable so pulling force never reaches the terminals. Second, it seals the entry against dust and water. Third, on armoured cable, it bonds the armour to earth.
A wrong choice breaks one of those jobs. For example, an undersized seal lets water into the enclosure. As a result, the enclosure loses its IP rating, even if the box itself is rated higher. In a hazardous area, the wrong gland can also void the enclosure’s explosion-protection certificate.
Standards give buyers a common reference. The IEC 62444:2010 standard sets construction and test requirements for cable glands. According to the IEC webstore listing for IEC 62444, it covers glands with IEC 60423 metric entry threads. It also excludes glands for mineral-insulated cables. This means a buyer sourcing for mineral-insulated cable must look beyond that standard. Knowing how to select cable gland products protects the whole installation, not just one entry.
How to Select Cable Gland: The 7-Step Process
Follow these seven steps in order. Each step narrows the choice until one gland fits your cable, enclosure, and environment.
Step 1: Identify the Cable Type
Start with the cable, because it decides the gland family. Every later choice in how to select cable gland types flows from it. Armoured cable has steel wire armour (SWA) or aluminium wire armour (AWA). It needs an armoured cable gland that clamps the armour and bonds it to earth.
Unarmoured cable needs a simple compression gland with a seal. Screened or braided cable may need an EMC gland. That gland makes full contact with the screen. Mineral-insulated cable needs a specialised gland.
Step 2: Measure the Cable Diameters
Next, measure the cable yourself, because how to select cable gland sizes depends on real data. Datasheets list nominal values. However, real cable varies from batch to batch, so measure a sample.
Record the overall diameter over the outer sheath. For armoured cable, also record the diameter under the armour and the armour wire size. Then compare both values with the cable gland size chart. Both measured values must sit inside the gland’s stated range. Never squeeze a cable into a gland that is too small.
Step 3: Define the Hazardous Area Zone
Then ask whether the location is hazardous. Gas zones are numbered 0, 1, and 2. Dust zones are numbered 20, 21, and 22. Ask the site safety team for the area classification drawing.
If the area is non-hazardous, choose an industrial gland. If it is hazardous, you need an Ex-certified gland that matches the enclosure. A later section explains this in full.
Step 4: Set the Ingress Protection Target
Write the cable gland IP rating into your specification. IP66 suits most outdoor and washdown areas. IP68 suits continuous immersion. In short, the rating must match the worst condition the gland will face.
Step 5: Pick the Material
Choose between brass, stainless steel, and nylon. A brass cable gland suits most industrial sites. The environment decides how to select cable gland material. Salt air, chemicals, and heat all push the choice toward metal. The material comparison below covers each option.
Step 6: Match the Entry Thread
The gland thread must match the enclosure thread exactly. Thread choice is a key part of how to select cable gland entries. Metric is common under IEC standards. NPT is common in North America. BSP and PG appear on older or regional equipment.
If threads differ, use a thread adaptor. However, in hazardous areas the adaptor must also be certified.
Step 7: Confirm Certificates and Accessories
Finally, check the paperwork, because that is how to select cable gland suppliers you can trust. Ask for test reports and certificates that match your zone and standard. Then list the accessories. Typical items include locknuts, earth tags, sealing washers, and PVC shrouds.
Which Cable Gland Material Should You Choose?
Brass is the default metal for industrial work. It machines well, conducts earth current, and resists most corrosion. Nickel plating adds extra protection outdoors.
Stainless steel suits marine, offshore, chemical, and food sites. Nylon suits light-duty indoor work where cost matters most. If you want to know how to select cable gland material, start with the corrosion risk.
| Feature | Brass (plain or nickel-plated) | Stainless steel (316) | Nylon (polyamide) |
| Best for | General industrial, outdoor panels | Marine, offshore, chemical, food | Light-duty indoor work |
| Corrosion resistance | Good; plating improves it | Excellent | No corrosion; needs UV grade outdoors |
| Armour earth bonding | Yes, on armoured types | Yes | No, plastic does not conduct |
| Relative cost | Moderate | Highest | Lowest |
| Strength and heat limit | High | Highest | Lower |
Source: general industry practice. Always confirm limits in the manufacturer’s datasheet.
Cabex India makes a full brass cable gland range for export projects. A brass cable gland is also available in nickel-plated and stainless steel finishes on request.
How Do You Match the Gland Type to the Cable?
The gland type must suit both the cable and the location. Therefore, check the cable construction before you check the catalogue name.
| Gland type | Suited cable | Typical use | Key point |
| A2 | Unarmoured, round | Indoor and outdoor power and control | Seals on the outer sheath |
| BW | SWA or AWA armoured | Indoor, dry or protected areas | Clamps the armour; add a shroud for extra protection |
| CW | SWA armoured | Outdoor and industrial areas | Clamps the armour and seals the outer sheath |
| E1W | SWA or AWA armoured | Outdoor and harsh areas | Seals inner bedding and outer sheath |
Source: BS 6121 type conventions. Seal layouts vary by manufacturer, so confirm in the datasheet.
For example, a plant exposed to rain should use CW or E1W glands, not BW. Likewise, a dry indoor panel rarely needs the extra cost of a double-seal type. These are the main types of cable glands for armoured cable. Cabex India explains the BW versus CW difference in a separate guide. To pick an armoured cable gland, start with the cable and the weather.
What Does an IP Rating Mean for a Cable Gland?
An IP rating shows how well an enclosure resists solids and water. The code comes from the IEC 60529 standard. Its first digit covers solids, and its second digit covers water.
For example, IP66 means dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets. IP67 allows temporary immersion. IP68 allows continuous immersion under conditions the manufacturer states.
According to RS Components’ IP rating guide, the second digit states the exact moisture protection. That is why “waterproof” alone is too vague. In practice, write the full IP code into every purchase order. That is how to select cable gland IP rating targets without guesswork.
Remember that a cable gland IP rating covers the whole entry point. The gland, the cable, and the enclosure must work together. As a result, one weak part lowers the rating for all three. Unused entries also need certified blanking plugs. Cabex India lists these in its industrial cable gland range.
How to Select Cable Gland Types for Hazardous Areas
An explosion proof cable gland protects sites where gas, vapour, or dust can ignite. Typical sites include refineries, chemical plants, mines, and grain stores. Here, certification is mandatory, not optional.
First, learn the common protection types:
- Ex d (flameproof): The enclosure contains an internal explosion and stops it spreading.
- Ex e (increased safety): The design prevents sparks and hot surfaces.
- Ex t (dust protection): The enclosure keeps combustible dust out.
Next, read the marking. A code such as Ex eb IIC Gb names the protection type, the gas group, and the equipment protection level. Match it to the enclosure certificate and the zone.
In the European Union, the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU governs this equipment. According to the European Commission’s ATEX page, the directive covers equipment and protective systems for potentially explosive atmospheres. This means a certified gland, not a lookalike, is required.
Outside Europe, many buyers ask for IECEx certification. According to Nemko’s IECEx overview, IECEx can open access to more than 30 member countries. That means one certificate can support several national approvals. You can learn more about the scheme at the IECEx website.
Finally, consider the cable. When you choose an explosion proof cable gland for Ex d, think about the cable core. Depending on enclosure volume and gas group, an Ex d entry may need a barrier gland or sealing compound. This stops gas moving through the cable core. IEC 60079-14 guides this design work, so check it with your safety engineer. A certified explosion proof cable gland is only one part of the system.
How to Select Cable Gland Size Using a Size Chart
A cable gland size chart lists the cable range each gland size accepts. Read it from the cable outward. In short, you match three cable values to three chart columns.
Here is an illustrative example. Suppose an SWA cable measures 17.4 mm under the armour. Its overall diameter is 23.8 mm. Its armour wire is 1.25 mm.
First, find rows where 17.4 mm sits inside the “under armour” range. Next, keep only rows where 23.8 mm sits inside the “overall diameter” range. Then confirm the armour wire fits the clamp range. The smallest size that passes all three tests is your gland.
Gland sizes usually follow the metric entry thread, such as M25 x 1.5. However, the thread alone never proves the cable fit. Cabex India publishes an armoured cable gland size chart to help you check this. When people ask how to select cable gland sizes, this three-column method is the safest answer. Keep a cable gland size chart on file for every project.
What Are the Most Common Selection Mistakes?
Most failures come from a few repeated errors. Avoid these:
- Ordering by thread size only. The thread does not tell you the cable range.
- Using nylon on armoured cable. Plastic cannot bond the armour to earth.
- Ignoring temperature. Seals have limits, so check both low and high ambient figures.
- Skipping shrouds outdoors. A PVC shroud adds ingress protection to brass glands.
- Leaving entries open. Use certified blanking plugs for every unused entry.
- Mixing certificates. An Ex e gland does not suit an Ex d enclosure.
Knowing how to select cable gland products also means knowing these traps. Treat this part of the cable gland selection guide as a final checklist before you place an order. Check the types of cable glands on your drawing against it.
What Affects Cable Gland Cost?
Budget early when you plan how to select cable gland products. Price depends on a few clear drivers. Material comes first, because stainless steel costs more than brass. Certification comes next, because Ex testing adds cost. Size, finish, and quantity also matter.
However, the cheapest gland is not the cheapest project. Rework, downtime, and failed inspections cost far more than a correct gland. Therefore, send a complete request for quotation, because it speeds up how to select cable gland options. Include these items:
- Cable type, construction, and measured diameters
- Zone classification and protection type
- Required IP rating and standard
- Entry thread type and size
- Material, finish, and accessories
- Quantity and delivery country
A complete brief lets a supplier quote once and quote correctly.
Why Source Cable Glands from a Specialist Manufacturer?
A specialist can show you how to select cable gland options for your exact site. The team can also check your specification before you order. Cabex India manufactures industrial and hazardous-area cable glands in Jamnagar, India. It also makes thread conversion and blanking plugs, plus earthing and lightning protection accessories. Its products reach Europe, the UK, Australia, the Middle East, and the Far East. Ask the team which types of cable glands suit your site.
The company works to BS 6121 and IEC 62444 for industrial glands. It also offers ATEX and IECEx-certified options for hazardous areas. In addition, it builds custom components to your drawings.
Send your cable datasheet and zone drawing to the team. Request a quote from Cabex India and get a matched gland list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first step in how to select cable gland?
Identify the cable type, then measure its overall and under-armour diameters.
How to select cable gland size for a specific cable?
Match your measured cable diameters to the size chart range and the enclosure thread.
Can I use a standard industrial gland in a hazardous area?
No, hazardous zones need an explosion proof cable gland certified to ATEX or IECEx and matched to the enclosure.
What IP rating should an outdoor cable gland have?
IP66 suits most outdoor use, while IP68 suits immersion, so confirm the rating on the datasheet.
Which material is best for marine cable glands?
Stainless steel 316 resists salt corrosion best, though nickel-plated brass suits sheltered marine areas.
Conclusion
Choosing the right gland is a matching exercise. First, identify the cable. Next, set the zone, the IP target, the material, and the thread. Finally, confirm certificates and accessories.
Now you know how to select cable gland products with confidence. Use the seven steps as a checklist for every project. Keep this cable gland selection guide close when you write your next specification. If you need help, contact Cabex India with your cable data and site conditions.
