Electrical Insulation Materials
Heat Shrink Plastic Tubing
Heat Shrink Plastic Tubing is a group of 1 IMPA-coded item (code 795496) under Electrical Insulation Materials in the Electrical Equipment section (IMPA 79). It is priced per metre.
Buying guide
Heat-shrink tubing is a plastic tube that shrinks round a wire, joint or terminal when heated. It insulates, seals and protects the joint from abrasion, and can repair damaged insulation or bundle wires. It is usually a cross-linked polyolefin. It shrinks in diameter to between a half and a sixth of its supplied size, and lengthwise by a few per cent.[1]
The group is one item, "heat shrink tubing with further details", sold by the metre. The details on the requisition decide what arrives. The electrical officer uses it on terminals and crimped connectors, on cable repairs and to mark circuits by colour.[1]
How to specify it
Give the supplied (expanded) inside diameter and the recovered diameter after shrinking, or the shrink ratio and the cable or joint it must fit. Polyolefin tubing is typically 2:1, with 3:1 also made. Choose a size that slides over the connector and still shrinks tight onto the cable. Give the length in metres and the colour.[1]
Say if the joint must be sealed against water: adhesive-lined tubing has an inner layer of thermoplastic adhesive for a better seal. For use outdoors, black polyolefin is the colour to choose for UV resistance. Ask for the continuous-use temperature range; for polyolefin it is typically −55 to 135 °C.[1]
Shrink it with a hot-air gun. Uncontrolled heat, such as a lighter, can shrink the tube unevenly or damage it, and suppliers do not recommend it.[1]
Rules and certificates
IEC 60092-352 (3.28): cable runs on ships should not normally include joints. A splice is allowed between modules, to extend a circuit during alterations, on a cable of exceptional length, or to replace a damaged section of an otherwise sound cable. Splices should be accessible. Propulsion cables and cables in hazardous locations should not be spliced.[2]
Its informative Annex D describes a splice. The conductors are joined with compression butt connectors. Replacement insulation is at least as thick as the cable’s own and has the same or better properties. The replacement sheath overlaps the existing sheath by at least 51 mm and makes a watertight seal with it. Where heat-shrink tubing forms the insulation or sheath, size it to meet those figures.[2]
Questions buyers ask
- What does 2:1 or 3:1 mean on heat-shrink tubing?
- The shrink ratio: supplied diameter to the diameter after full recovery. A 3:1 tube can shrink to a third of its supplied size, so it covers a bigger range from connector to cable than a 2:1 tube.
- Can heat-shrink tubing be used to splice a cable on a ship?
- Only where a splice is allowed at all. IEC 60092-352 limits splices to cases such as repairing a damaged section and rules them out on propulsion cables and in hazardous locations. The replacement sheath must overlap the old one by at least 51 mm and be watertight.
Sources
Published by Sherif Awad, founder of GeoMarineHub — in ship supply since 1990, a family business since 1981 (45 years). Last checked .
At a glance
Part of Electrical Equipment (IMPA section 79): Lamps, cable, switches, fuses, batteries, connectors, marine lighting fittings and meters.
It is one of 19 groups under Electrical Insulation Materials; the others include Artificial Mica Sheets, Contact Relay Cleaners Electric, Contact Restorer Electric, Gloves Electric Insulation Rubber, Insulation Paper and 13 more.
Post the ones you need as a requirement and verified suppliers activated at your port bid on them — sealed, so nobody sees another bid.
- Items
- 1
- IMPA codes
- 795496
- Priced
- per metre
Items
| IMPA | Item | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 795496 | TUBING HEAT SHRINK PLASTIC, WITH FURTHER DETAILS | MTR |
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