Electrical Contracting News (ECN) July 2017 | Page 31

INGRESS PROTECTION
Cable protection across the rail industry
is vital for efficiency and safety. Its role
within signalling is critical and its failure
due to immersion under water would add to
the maintenance and compensation costs
faced after the event.
In response Network Rail has upgraded
its PADS approval for flexible conduits,
glands and accessories for use in signalling
and infrastructure to include provisions for
applications prone to flooding or prolonged
immersion under water.
It’s also time to reexamine the Ingress
Protection rating system, because some of
the tests may simply not be up to the job
in hand.
Table 1 –
IP ratings.
Can we trust manufacturers’
IP ratings claims?
Whilst BS EN