Panduit Cable Cleats Selection Guide
Read time: 5 minutes
Ensuring that cables are securely fastened and protected from short circuits is essential in any electrical installation. Panduit, a leader in electrical and network infrastructure solutions, offers a comprehensive range of cable cleats designed to meet various project needs. If you're looking for the right solution, this article will walk you through everything you need to know to ensure your cables are fully protected.
What is a Cable Cleat?
A cable cleat is a device used to secure cables at regular intervals, ensuring that the cables remain in place, particularly during short circuits.
According to the IEC 61914:2015 standard, cable cleats are critical for preventing dangerous cable movement that can occur during electrical faults. Cleats come in various forms, including traditional one-bolt, two-bolt and trefoil cleats.
Why Short Circuit Protection Matters
Short circuits can cause electrical current to deviate from its intended path, leading to overheating and severe cable damage. Proper cable management is essential to prevent cables from moving violently during these faults. Cable cleats ensure cables stay in place, reducing the risk of damage and enhancing safety.
Types of Cable Cleats
Polymer Cleats
For installations with lower fault levels, polymer cleats are a lightweight, durable solution for less harsh environments. These cleats are UV and corrosion resistant, making them ideal for outdoor use. Polymer cleats are available in one-hole, two-hole and trefoil designs.
Aluminium Cleats
Aluminium cleats offer a balance between strength and weight. They are lighter than stainless steel and stronger than polymers. This makes them suitable for outdoor applications with prolonged sunlight exposure and less corrosive environments. Aluminium cleats are available in one-hole, two-hole and trefoil designs. Aluminium cleats are also an excellent choice for modular builds in remote locations where weight is a consideration.
Stainless Steel Trefoil Cleats
Designed for high fault levels, stainless steel trefoil cleats support cables arranged in a trefoil pattern—one cable on top of two. This metallic cable cleat provides strong protection during extreme short circuits and allows for easy post-installation fitting, saving time on the job.
Stainless Steel Strapping Cleats
Stainless steel strapping cleats, which resemble metal cable ties, are a versatile and highly effective solution which deserve more attention in cable management. This type of fold-over strapping, which includes buckle strap cleats and locking strap cleats, offer unique advantages, making them an ideal option for a wide range of projects, suitable for even the harshest environments.
Why Consider Strapping Cleats?
- ☑️ Space-Saving
- Strapping cleats take up far less space than traditional cleats, which is especially important in installations with densely populated ladder racks. If your project involves closely stacked ladders, the smaller profile of mechanical strapping allows for easier installation and better organisation.
- ☑️ Reduced Inventory
- Locking strap and buckle strap cleats are incredibly versatile and can be used for different cable formations, including single, trefoil, and quad arrangements. Additionally, strapping cleats are compatible with various ladder types, such as unslotted or round-rung ladders, making them adaptable to a wide range of installations, therefore needing to purchase fewer sizes of cleats.
- ☑️ Faster Installation
- Compared to traditional cleats, mechanical strapping can be installed in half the time, reducing labour costs and boosting project efficiency. The simple process of looping, tensioning, folding, and cutting the strap with proper strapping installation tools significantly speeds up installation without compromising security.
- ☑️ Space Saving
- Storage is always a concern on large projects. Traditional cleats need significant space—storing 1,000 cleats could take up multiple pallets. However, the same number of strapping cleats would fit on less than one pallet, saving valuable storage space on site.
- ☑️ Cost Efficient
- Strapping cleats offer a cost-effective solution by reducing labour costs with quicker installation times, having a lower per-unit price, and minimising storage and logistics expenses—all while maintaining strength and reliability.
How to Use Cable Cleats
Selecting the right cable cleat depends on your project’s specific requirements, such as the level of short circuit protection needed, the cable formation, and the type of ladder system in place. Panduit offers a wide range of solutions which comply with the IEC 61914:2015 standard.
To help you choose the right product for your project, Panduit has developed a Cleat kAlculator™. When you input details such as peak current requirements and cable diameter, the calculator will determine the necessary forces, how far apart should your cable cleats be, and appropriate cleat size. This ensures that you select the best cleat for your project’s unique requirements.
Launch Panduit Cleat kAlculator™ Web App
Why Choose Panduit Cable Cleats?
- ✅ Comprehensive testing
- Panduit uses ANSYS simulation software to model cleat performance before conducting live short circuit fault testing at accredited laboratories like KEMA. This rigorous approach ensures compliance with IEC 61914 standards.
- ✅ Cleat kAlculator™
- This proprietary tool helps users quickly determine the correct cable cleat for specific cable sizes and current requirements, potentially streamlining the selection process.
- ✅ Installation efficiency
- Panduit’s innovative strapping cleats can be installed twice as fast as comparative products while reducing material costs by half, thanks to their simple and intuitive design
- ✅ Global support
- Panduit has operations in 35 countries around the globe, offering product inventory, support, and logistical services worldwide
Panduit Short Circuit Protection Quick Comparison Chart
More information can be found in the Panduit Cable Cleats For Short Circuit Protection brochure.
More detailed information on testing procedures and cable cleat design can be found in the Panduit Cable Cleats for Short Circuit Protection: Complete Guide to Testing, Design and Selection
Conclusion
Properly securing cables and ensuring they are protected against short circuits is essential for the safety and longevity of any installation. Panduit’s wide range of cable cleats, from polymer and aluminium options to space-saving stainless steel strapping, offer solutions for every need. Whether you're dealing with high fault levels, need a compact solution or both, Panduit has you covered.