Sealing Cable Ducts in the Process Industry

Published 05 Dec 2024

CSD Sealing Systems UK have recently completed work on the CATS Terminal in Seal Sands, for Wood Plc. Seal Sands is at the heart of the Teesside integrated energy network, connecting hydrocarbon-based transition fuels with new energy provision, powering the UK today and into a Net Zero sustainable future.

CATS – the Central Area Transmission System – is a natural gas transportation and processing system that transports gas through a 250 mile, 36inch diameter subsea pipeline from the Central North Sea to a reception and processing terminal in Teesside, Northern England. The initial construction of the pipeline reception and gas treatment facility, and the CATS gas and liquids processing plant, comprised two processing trains each with the capacity to handle around 17 million standard cubic metres (600 million standard cubic feet) of gas per day.

At the CATS Terminal, the pipeline gas is treated to remove contaminants. The gas is then delivered directly into the National Transmission System for commercial and domestic use.

CSD carried out the duct seals to multiple cable and pipe building entries and penetrations across the site – the critical areas to be sealed included offices, equipment rooms, the gatehouse and 2 refuge areas used during emergencies.

During the survey and following discussions with Wood plc, CSD established that these areas required the installation of a water and gastight duct seal system with some critical areas, including the refuge buildings, requiring fire-rated seals. The CSD Nofirno multi-cable and pipe penetration sealing system was provided as the preferred engineered and specification cable and duct sealing solution.

Nofirno provides the highest fire ratings, the shortest installation times, and a long-term, maintenance free service life for the sealing of cable ducts, penetrations and entries to building and substation infrastructure.

Sealing Cable Ducts

The fire, water and gastight system, consisting of Nofirno rubber filler sleeves and Nofirno sealant, provided the protection required on site. The system was used to seal a range of metallic and plastic pipe penetrations as well as all of the multi-cable transits of various diameters and configurations.

CSD’s highly skilled installation team installed the Nofrino system across the Terminal and the sealed penetrations will help ensure the safety and protection of personnel and assets should a disaster situation occur.

The work completed by CSD was delivered to a high-quality and will ensure long-lasting protection to the CATS Terminal.

Andy Pearson, Projects, Mods & TAR Manager at Wood Plc, said “the work carried out by CSD has been first class from start to finish. The survey and installation work carried out was all managed in a very professional manner. Likewise, the timely submission of the Installation Completion Report is much appreciated.”

Preventative & Planned Maintenance to Avoid Downtime & Damage

Failure to correctly and effectively seal cable ducts with compliant duct seals can inflict catastrophic damage to LV-HV electrical distribution networks, substations and power supply. View below our complete ranges of Duct Sealing Products including cable transits to provide a watertight seal and defence against flood damage to low, medium and high voltage cable ducts with additional protection against harmful flammable gas migration and fire spread.

The water flooding of building basements can inflict disastrous damage to sensitive electrical equipment and building fabric if adequate precautions are not implemented to mitigate risk. Poorly sealed or unsealed cable ducts in normal UK weather conditions are serious and widespread causes of flood damage – high groundwater can exert considerable pressure which can cause sub-standard and non-approved products, such as standard polyurethane expanding foam, to be flushed or degraded to destruction within the cable duct creating an open path for water ingress, flood entry and consequent damage.

Foam Fails | CSD Nofirno Duct Sealing System holds extensive UK Electricity (DNO) and Water (WIMES) industry approvals for utility infrastructure protection against fllood damage, this includes DSEAR Regulatory Compliance for the prevention of flammable gas migration in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres characterised by hazardous area locations (Zone 1 / Zone 2 Areas). Furthermore, Nofirno from CSD is approved for harshest fire ratings for pipe penetrations (EN, A, H and Jet Fire class).

T&D are Specialist Distributors to the Process Industries – this includes the fine and speciality chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and polymers manufacturing sectors.

We supply and support businesses working on the design, construction and maintenance of UK, European and international projects.

We can competently specify and competitively supply an extensive range of Hazardous Area Equipment (ATEX & IECEx) to provide Power, Heating & Lighting to the Explosive Atmospheres industries – this includes LV HV Cables, Accessories, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt from 600V to 66kV.

Based in the UK, we are highly customer responsive and absolutely committed to providing a world-class service.

Since 1985, we have provided expert technical support and express delivery from extensive UK stocks to world-wide destinations.