EN 61386-1 Ducting Systems for Cable Management - Part 1: General Requirements

EUROLAB laboratory provides testing and compliance services within the scope of EN 61386-1 standard. This part of the EN 61386 standard specifies requirements and tests for piping systems, including pipes and pipe fittings, for the protection and management of insulated conductors and/or cables in communication systems up to 1500 V DC or 1 V AC in electrical installations.

This standard applies to metallic, non-metallic and composite piping systems, including system-terminating threaded and non-threaded inlets. This standard does not apply to enclosures and junction boxes covered by IEC 60670. Some duct systems may also be suitable for use in hazardous environments. Next, the extra requirements necessary to install the equipment in such conditions should be considered. Grounding conductors may or may not be insulated.

EN 61386-1 General Requirements

Pipes and pipe fittings within the scope of this standard shall be designed and constructed in such a way that their performance in normal use is reliable and does not pose a hazard to the user or the environment. When installed according to the manufacturer's instructions as part of a duct system, pipes and pipe fittings must provide mechanical and, where necessary, electrical protection of the insulated conductors and cables contained within.

The protective properties of the connection between the duct and the duct armature should not be less than that declared for the duct system. Pipe and pipe fittings will withstand stresses likely to occur during transportation, storage, and recommended installation practice and practice. In general, compliance is checked by performing all specified tests.

The tests conforming to this standard are type tests. Unless otherwise stated, the tests should be performed at an ambient temperature of (23 ± 2) o C. Samples of non-metallic and composite pipes and pipe fittings shall be conditioned for at least 240 hours at (23 ± 2) o C and relative humidity of 40% to 60%. All tests should be performed immediately after general conditioning.

Unless otherwise specified, samples for each test shall be in clean and new condition as in normal use, with all parts in place and assembled. After checking the dimensions and unless otherwise specified in the relevant test, the pipe fittings shall be installed with a sufficient length of pipe of the intended type. Particular attention should be paid to the manufacturer's instructions where strength is required in the assembly of the joint. When claiming similarity, the selection of representative fittings for test purposes may be agreed between the manufacturer or responsible dealer and the test station.

Where pipe inlets are part of a detachable or loose type piping joint, the split piping shall be able to be reassembled after testing according to the manufacturer's instructions without any loss of declared properties. Unless otherwise stated, three samples are sent to the tests and if the tests are met, the requirements are met.

If, due to an assembly or manufacturing defect, only one sample does not meet a test, this test and any previous tests that may have affected the result of the test should be repeated, and further tests should be completed in sequencing on another full set of samples, all in accordance with the requirements.

Failure of a sample will result in rejection if an additional set of samples is not submitted at the same time. When submitting the first set of samples, the applicant may also submit an additional set of samples which can be used in the event a sample fails. The test station will then test the additional set of samples without further request and reject them only if another failure occurs.

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