Introduction
When we’re talking about electrical installations, you’ll note that a lot of focus is on product selection and its installation. However, a step that is often overlooked is storage. How do we store them, what is the right temperature, what happens if they’re not stored correctly?
Correct storage is essential – if you want to preserve performance and adhere to compliance, you must get it right.
Inadequate storage will ultimately result in corrosion, destruction of seals, contamination, and in some cases, total rejection during audits or inspections.
This training article will cover the correct way to store cable glands, the differences between materials, and what ignoring best practices might look like.
Why does storage matter?
Because cable glands are precision-engineered components, they are designed and certified in accordance with regulatory and certification schemes such as the ATEX Directive, IECEx, UL and others. But if they’re damaged, contaminated, or degraded before installation, they may no longer perform as tested or certified.
Poor storage can result in:
- Corrosion – affecting brass and steel components.
- Seal degradation – from UV exposure or fluctuating temperatures.
- Contamination – dust, moisture, or debris entering packaging.
Ultimately, correct storage is as much about compliance and safety as it is about convenience.
Storage guidelines and shelf life of cable glands
Proper storage of cable glands is essential in maintaining sealing performance, material integrity, and certification compliance. Peppers’ cable glands are manufactured from recognised grades of brass, stainless steel, and aluminium, often incorporating elastomeric or nylon sealing components. While the metallic and nylon elements have no defined shelf life when stored correctly, elastomeric components require controlled conditions to prevent degradation.
Temperature control
Cable glands should be stored in a clean, dry environment at moderate temperatures. We recommend that storage temperatures should not exceed 25°C, while excessive low temperatures should also be avoided.
Exposure to temperature extremes can adversely affect product performance:
- High temperatures may soften or distort elastomeric seals
- Low temperatures can cause seals to become brittle
- Extreme conditions can reduce material properties over time
Humidity Protection
Storage areas should maintain a relative humidity below 75% and be free from condensation.
Despite metals such as stainless steel and brass being corrosion-resistant, prolonged exposure to moisture can cause surface tarnishing or corrosion. While light tarnishing does not affect mechanical strength or performance, damp conditions can accelerate deterioration of elastomeric components.
Protection from light, ozone, and contaminants
Elastomeric materials are sensitive to environmental factors beyond moisture and temperature. Storage conditions should therefore also:
- Avoid direct sunlight and artificial light sources containing UV radiation
- Exclude electrical equipment that produces ozone
- Prevent exposure to corrosive atmospheres
- Maintain a dust-free environment to avoid contamination of threads and sealing surfaces
Glands should be stored off the floor, preferably in sealed bins or on shelving away from heavy industrial dust sources.
Packaging requirements
Products should remain in their original manufacturer’s packaging until required for use. Peppers supplies cable glands in protective packaging designed to preserve sealing components and certification labels.
Products removed from their packaging should be transferred immediately into clean, closed, dry containers to minimise exposure to moisture and airborne contaminants.
Material shelf life
Metallic and nylon components do not experience a reduction in strength or hardness over time when stored in appropriate conditions.
Elastomeric components, however, gradually change during storage and may eventually become unusable due to hardening or deformation. Typical shelf life under recommended conditions is:
- Neoprene (black): up to 7 years
- Nitrile (black): up to 7 years
- Silicone (white or red): up to 10 years
After these periods, products should be inspected to confirm that seals remain fit for purpose before use.
Stock Rotation
Peppers recommends implementing a First-In, First-Out (FIFO) stock rotation policy to ensure older products are used before newer deliveries, minimising the risk of seal degradation during long-term storage.
Material-specific storage considerations
Brass cable glands
Brass can tarnish or corrode if exposed to moisture, salt air, or chemicals, despite being durable, so store brass industrial cable glands in sealed packaging, away from corrosive environments.
Stainless steel cable glands
Although marine cable glands and other stainless-steel types do resist corrosion better, they should still be kept dry and away from environments heavy with chloride.
Plastic / nylon cable glands
Avoid storing them in direct sunlight or near windows; they are vulnerable to UV light and so long-term UV exposure can cause plastic to degrade, crack, or lose flexibility.
Storing Specialist Cable Glands
All cable glands should be stored in clean, dry, secure conditions and kept in their original sealed packaging until point of installation. Packaging labels should remain intact to maintain product identification and traceability.
Where cable glands are supplied as complete kits, all components – such as seals, cones, locknuts, earth tags, and other accessories – should be kept together to prevent parts being lost, mixed, or incorrectly assembled during installation.
Damage, contamination, or the separation of components can affect installation efficiency, product integrity, and traceability.
Common storage mistakes to avoid
- Mixing glands in bulk bins means different sizes and types can get confused, and certification labels can be lost.
- Leaving seals exposed to UV light will accelerate ageing and cracking.
- Storing near chemicals means that fumes from cleaning products, paints, or solvents can damage elastomeric seals.
- Removing items from their packaging too early can increase the risk of contamination or losing parts.
- Stacking heavy boxes on top of each other can warp glands or crush seals.
Storage Best Practice Checklist
- Keep glands in the original packaging until installation.
- Always store in a temperature-controlled, dry environment.
- Separate armoured, unarmoured, marine, and hazardous area glands.
- Always use labelled bins or racking for easy identification.
- Protect against UV exposure for plastic cable glands.
- Certification paperwork and labels must always stay with the product.
Correct storage is much more than just being neat and organised – it’s a vital part of ensuring cable glands perform as intended and remain fit for purpose at all times. From industrial cable glands in factories to offshore marine and hazardous area glands, correct storage preserves safety, compliance, and reliability.
If you neglect storage, you risk corrosion, seal failure, or certification issues. If you follow best practice, your glands will perform exactly as intended.
Why choose Peppers Cable Glands?
Peppers Cable Glands are engineered to deliver long-term reliability in demanding environments. With a full range of industrial, marine, hazardous area, ATEX Ex, and explosion proof cable glands, Peppers offers a solution for every application.
Key advantages of choosing Peppers branded cable glands:
- Independently tested and certified to global standards.
- Designed to meet the most demanding industrial and hazardous area requirements.
- Supported by decades of expertise in hazardous area cable glands.
By investing in branded glands rather than generic alternatives, you ensure quality, traceability, and compliance at every stage.
Industrial cable glands may be small, but they play a huge role. They clamp, seal, and protect cables, provide earthing where needed, and guarantee compliance in both industrial and hazardous environments.
From armoured and unarmoured cable glands to ATEX Ex Cable Glands and marine cable glands, choosing the right product is critical to the safety and success of your installation.
Please contact us to schedule a meeting:
- Phone: +44 1276 64232
- Website: cableglands.co.uk
