Hazardous Area Cable Gland Upgrade – Petrochemical Plant, UAE

Client Industry: Petrochemical
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Hazardous Area Classification: ATEX / IECEx

Project Overview

Ex Industries successfully completed a hazardous area cable gland upgrade for a major petrochemical plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The project focused on improving cable sealing integrity and mechanical retention across ATEX Zone 1 classified areas exposed to high ambient temperatures, corrosive chemicals, and harsh desert conditions.

This upgrade enhanced overall plant safety and ensured long-term reliability of electrical connections in one of the most demanding hazardous environments.

Certification & Compliance

All supplied products and solutions were fully compliant with international hazardous-area standards, including:

  • ATEX certified cable glands

  • IECEx certification

  • IEC 60079-0

  • Explosion proof IP rating (IP66/67)

  • Hazardous location cable gland requirements

These certifications ensured safe operation in explosive gas atmospheres common in petrochemical facilities.

Products Delivered

Ex Industries supplied a complete cable entry solution for hazardous areas, including:

Brass & Stainless Steel Cable Glands

  • Explosion proof cable glands

  • ATEX cable glands for Zone 1 applications

  • Stainless steel cable glands for superior corrosion resistance

  • Brass cable glands for mechanical strength and durability

Barrier-Type Cable Glands

  • Barrier glands designed for perfect gas-tight sealing

  • Suitable for armored and unarmored cables

  • Designed to prevent gas migration into enclosures and panels

Accessories

  • Thread adapters and reducers

  • Sealing accessories

  • Certified components to maintain enclosure integrity

The Challenge

The petrochemical plant faced multiple operational challenges:

  • Cable entry points located in ATEX Zone 1 hazardous areas

  • Exposure to high temperatures and aggressive chemicals

  • Risk of gas migration through cable cores

  • Moisture ingress due to temperature fluctuations

  • Need for long-term stability in harsh desert environments

  • Requirement for full ATEX and IECEx compliance

Standard industrial cable glands were not suitable for these conditions.

Our Solution

Ex Industries engineered and supplied ATEX-certified barrier-type cable glands specifically designed for petrochemical hazardous locations.

The solution offered:

  • Perfect gas-tight sealing to prevent gas migration

  • Excellent chemical resistance against petrochemical exposure

  • High temperature stability for desert and process conditions

  • IP66/67 protection against dust and moisture ingress

  • Reliable mechanical retention for motors, panels, and junction boxes

  • Compatibility with hazardous location enclosures and explosion proof panels

This approach ensured safe, long-term performance in critical plant areas. 

The Result

The cable gland upgrade delivered strong operational and safety improvements:

✔ Enhanced safety for all motor and control panel installations
✔ No moisture ingress issues after installation
✔ Improved reliability of hazardous location cable entries
✔ Long-term performance in extreme desert and chemical environments
✔ Full compliance with ATEX & IECEx standards
✔ Reduced maintenance and inspection requirements

The plant now operates with robust, certified hazardous area cable glands designed for demanding petrochemical conditions.

Why Ex Industries?

This project demonstrates Ex Industries’ expertise in delivering hazardous area solutions for petrochemical facilities, including:

  • Certified explosion proof cable glands

  • Advanced barrier gland technology

  • ATEX & IECEx compliant Ex equipment

  • Reliable performance in extreme heat and corrosive environments

  • End-to-end support for hazardous area installations