CMP E1FW Explosive Atmosphere Cable Gland for SWA and AWA Cable

Overview

The CMP E1FW is the workhorse of the CMP explosive atmosphere range: a double-seal cable gland built for steel wire armour (SWA) and aluminium wire armour (AWA) cables entering Ex d and Ex e equipment. Wire armoured cable is the default power and control cable on most IEC-based hazardous-area projects, and the CMP E1FW is designed around it, combining a displacement-type flameproof inner seal on the cable bedding, an outer load retention seal on the sheath and metal-to-metal clamping of the armour wires. It is certified Ex db IIC Gb, Ex eb IIC Gb, Ex nR IIC Gc and Ex ta IIIC Da under IECEx, ATEX and UKEX, with cCSAus certification for North American codes.

Seven Star LLC supplies the CMP E1FW to oil and gas operators, EPC contractors and electrical subcontractors in Oman and the GCC, with engineering support in Muscat. For a typical gas plant or tank farm that terminates hundreds of SWA cables, standardising on one gland type with a clear size table and a predictable installation routine saves time on site and simplifies the Ex inspection records that follow commissioning.

Working Principle

At an Ex d entry, the gland must prevent an internal explosion from propagating along the cable into the surrounding atmosphere. The CMP E1FW achieves this with a displacement seal that is compressed onto the inner bedding of the cable, forming a flameproof joint around the cores. CMP states that the design reduces the effects of cold flow and refers to its Technical Document TS001. The seal compound is CMP SOLO LSF, a low smoke, halogen-free thermoset elastomer.

The second seal sits on the outer sheath and is a controlled load retention seal. It keeps water and dust out of the armour clamping zone and prevents the sheath from being crushed. The outer seal tightening guide (OSTG) supplied by CMP tells the fitter how many turns are needed for a given cable diameter, which removes most of the guesswork that leads to over-tightened or loose glands. The armour is gripped between a detachable armour cone and the AnyWay universal clamping ring, giving a metal-to-metal earth path and superior EMC performance.

Engineering Design of the CMP E1FW

The CMP E1FW can be installed directly into an enclosure entry or remotely, where the gland is first assembled on the cable and then screwed into the equipment. It is designed to BS 6121 Part 1, IEC 62444 and EN 62444, and carries impact Level 8 with Type D cable anchorage. Brass versions reach IK10 (20 joules) to IEC 62262, and the electrical classification is Category B.

Body materials listed in the selection table are brass, electroless nickel plated brass and copper-free aluminium. Ingress protection is IP66 as standard, with IP67 and IP68 available on request, and a DTS01:91 deluge option is available with a white ferrule for identification. Seventeen gland sizes cover entry threads from M20 to M130, and NPT entries from 1/2 in to 5 in are available, so the same CMP E1FW family covers instrument cables at the small end and large power feeders at the top of the range.

Key Features

The points that make the CMP E1FW a common specification item on SWA projects are:

• Displacement-type flameproof inner seal on the cable bedding, designed to reduce the effects of cold flow.
• Controlled outer load retention seal, with the CMP outer seal tightening guide to prevent over-tightening.
• Metal-to-metal armour clamping with a detachable armour cone and the AnyWay universal clamping ring.
• Direct or remote installation to suit congested terminal boxes and pre-assembled cable runs.
• Operating temperature range of -60 °C to +130 °C.
• Global marking under IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and cCSAus, plus INMETRO, PESO, CCC, EAC, KCs and UAE ECAS certificates.
• Marine approvals from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS and Bureau Veritas.
• Seventeen sizes, from the 20S16 gland for 6.1 mm cables to the 130 gland for cables up to 123.2 mm overall diameter.

Industrial Applications

The CMP E1FW is used wherever SWA or AWA cable enters certified equipment in Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 21 or Zone 22: motor terminal boxes on pumps and compressors, Ex e junction boxes, Ex d control stations, lighting panelboards, heat-tracing power connections and instrument enclosures in refineries, gas plants, oilfield gathering stations and chemical facilities. It is equally suited to field devices such as the CCS 646DZE explosion-proof differential pressure switch and actuators like the AUMA SAEx explosion-proof multi-turn actuator, where every cable entry needs a certified gland with the correct thread.

In Oman, wire armoured cable is standard on oil and gas concessions, at the Sohar and Duqm industrial ports, at gas processing sites and at power and water plants, which makes the CMP E1FW a frequent line item on regional material take-offs. Seven Star LLC supplies the CMP E1FW with matching PVC or LSF shrouds, earth tags, locknuts and entry thread sealing washers, and our Muscat team can cross-check cable diameters against the CMP table before a purchase order is issued. Where a cable is unarmoured, the Hawke 501/421 industrial cable gland and other ranges can be supplied for safe-area runs.

Technical Specifications

The data below for the CMP E1FW is taken from CMP technical data sheet TDS547 Rev 26 (05/26), which is attached to this page with the E-type installation instructions.

How to Order

For a quotation on the CMP E1FW, send Seven Star LLC your cable schedule or gland list with cable size, armour, bedding and overall diameters and the entry thread of each enclosure. We supply on request with engineering support in Muscat, and the CMP data sheet and installation instructions can be downloaded from this page. Our electrical team responds to RFQs from contractors and operators across Oman and the GCC.