Testing
Product Testing Methods
Electrical Continuity
Atkore Marco engage the services of York EMC, part of The University of York to measure the resistance of Steel Wire Cable Tray and an MCQC.
The resistance tests are in comparison with requirements EN537:2007 clause 11.1, electrical continuity [1].
An electrical current is passed through the system in order to measure the resistance of the coupler. The lower the resistance, the better the electrical continuity. The maximum Steel Wire Cable Tray impedance per metre is set at 5m Ω , while the value recorded using Atkore Marco’s Steel Wire Cable Tray is 1.3m Ω , over 3 times more effective than the requirement specified. Under the requirements of the standard, couplers must have a maximum resistance of 50m Ω . On average, Atkore Marco couplers are found to have a resistance of 0.44m Ω , over 100 times more effective than the specified requirement. The Steel Wire Cable Tray and coupler exceed the requirements of the BSEN61537:2007 standard for the electrical continuity clause 11.1.
Short Circuit Testing
Atkore Marco has carried out short circuit tests at an independent laboratory in Europe in order to prove that out Steel Wire Cable Tray is designed and manufactured with sufficient strength to withstand a short circuit fault. Steel Wire Cable Tray is tested in accordance with the standard that governs the manufacture of cable cleats, IEC6914:2009 (Cable Cleats for Electrical Installations) in order to prove that the system can be used for installations where there is a fault requirement. During the test, two lengths of MC106450 (106mm high x 450mm wide) Steel Wire Cable Tray are supported and attached at intervals of 1.5 metres to three pieces of strut supports. The Steel Wire Cable Trays were coupled together at 1/5th of the span (300mm from the support) using four MCQC (Atkore Marco quick coupler), on the walls and base of the tray. The cables used to carry the current for the short circuit are placed in a trefoil installation using Ellis Patent’s ‘stainless steel’ Vulcan + cleats positioned at intervals of 500mm along the length of the tray. Testing in accordance with the standard IEC 61914:2009 clause 6.4.3, a current of 106KA is again passed through the same test object, with an inspection once more confirming that there had been no damage to the system.
The tests confirm that Steel Wire Cable Tray is produced with enough strength and quality to withstand short circuits, enabling the system to be specified on a wide range of electrical installations.
Allied Tube & Conduit
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