How to Select the Right Cable Protection for Your Project

• 21st October 2025

When it comes to wiring installations, choosing the correct cable protection is absolutely key. Whether you’re working on a domestic rewiring, a large industrial installation or something in between, the right protection ensures longevity, safety, and compliance. At Flex-It, we’ve been supplying high-quality cable protection and containment for decades, so here’s our guide to making the right selection for your project.

1. Why cable protection matters

Every cable you install is exposed to potential hazards: mechanical impact, moisture, UV, chemicals, abrasion, rodents, and more. Without adequate protection, stray wires become weak points in the system and can quickly turn into costly failures or safety hazards.
Cable protection is not just about “tidying up” wiring, it’s about safeguarding the entire installation environment, reducing risk, and ensuring long-term reliability.

At Flex-It, we deliver solutions that assist you with both physical protection and complying with regulations. Whether you’re a professional contractor or a facilities manager working alongside engineers, choosing the right product means fewer call-backs, fewer defects, and a stronger finished job.

2. Understanding the environment and application

Before you pick a product, ask key questions:

• Where is the installation? Indoor or outdoor? Underground or exposed? Industrial zone or standard domestic?
• What hazards will the cable face? Heavy foot traffic, vehicles, chemical exposure, UV radiation, moisture ingress, mechanical impact?
• What service life and temperature range are required? Some cable protection systems cope with wide temperature ranges and hostile conditions.
• What regulations or standards apply? Does the project demand fire-rated containment, low-smoke halogen-free materials, or IP68 ingress protection?
• What size and flexibility constraints exist? How many cables are involved? Will bends and routing be tight?
  

Working through the answers to those questions sets the stage for selecting the right material and product series.

3. Materials and types of cable protection

At Flex-It, we categorise cable protection and containment into a few broad types, aligned with our product range. The options below are a summary, you’ll find further technical details on our website.

3.1 Rigid and semi-rigid conduit systems

For robust protection and applications where the cable path is clearly defined (walls, buried ducts, fixed infrastructure), you might opt for rigid or semi-rigid conduit. While this blog focuses more on flexible protection, you should keep rigid options in mind for projects where the cable route is stable and physical protection is paramount.

3.2 Flexible conduit & corrugated tubing

Flexible conduit is often the go-to solution when you need to run cables through confined spaces, around bends, or where future access is required. At Flex-It, you’ll find both metallic and non-metallic versions.

• Metallic flexible conduits (e.g. galvanised steel, stainless steel, PVC-covered steel): deliver excellent mechanical strength, wide temperature-range performance and are ideal for heavier-duty industrial uses.
  
• Non-metallic flexible conduits (e.g. PVC spiral reinforced, PA6 nylon, polypropylene corrugated): typically lighter weight, more economical, excellent for moderate environments and where corrosion/chemical exposure is a concern.
  

3.3 Cable trunking, ducts and containment systems

For larger cable bundles, horizontal & vertical risers, or where neat visual routing is required (e.g., data centre, office fit-outs), containment systems such as trunking and ducts may be appropriate.

3.4 Surface protection & cable armour

In some installations (e.g., exposed outdoor runs, high foot traffic areas, machines with vibration), you may need additional protection such as metal armouring, overbraided sleeving, or impact-resistant jackets.

3.5 Cable glands, accessories & ingress protection

Protection doesn’t stop at the conduit or duct. You must ensure the entire path, including glandings and terminations, is adequately protected, particularly when IP ratings (e.g. IP 68) or fire ratings are required.

4. Matching the right product to your project

Once you’ve determined the environment and application, you can match to an appropriate product series from Flex-It. Here’s how to think about it:

4.1 Domestic/light commercial installations

• Environments: indoor, dry, no heavy mechanical hazards.
• Solutions: non-metallic flexible conduit (e.g. PA6 nylon, PVC spiral) for ease of routing and cost effectiveness.
• Benefits: simple to install, good for retrofit work, maintains accessibility.
  

4.2 Moderate industrial/outdoor installations

• Environments: exposed to weather, UV, chemical spray, moderate traffic.
• Solutions: Non-metallic corrugated tubing with UV/chemical resistance or PVC-covered metallic flexible conduit.
• Benefits: corrosion resistant, good ingress control, increased durability.
  

4.3 Heavy-duty/critical infrastructure

• Environments: high mechanical stress, extreme temperatures, fire risk, underground or buried.
• Solutions: Metallic flexible conduit (galvanised steel, stainless steel) or specially rated trunking/armoured systems; IP-rated sealed glands, fire-rated accessories.
• Benefits: longest life span, best for demanding applications, meets high-end specifications.
  

5. Key factors to check before you buy

When selecting cable protection, make sure you review and compare the following:

• Ingress protection (IP rating): If exposed to water, dust or wash-down, look for IP 65 and above — up to IP 68 for submerged or buried applications.
  
• Temperature range: Some metallic systems cope with -50 °C to +400 °C, while non-metallic options may support -40 °C to +120 °C.
  
• Mechanical robustness: Impact resistance, crush resistance, foot/vehicular traffic suitability.
  
• Chemical/corrosion resistance: Especially in outdoor, industrial, food-processing or marine environments.
  
• Flexibility & ease of routing: Tight bends? Complex shapes? Ease of installation and future access.
  
• Fire and 18th Edition (BS 7671) compliance: Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSOH) or fire-rated products if required.
  
• Accessory availability: Glands, couplers, bends, clips, and other fittings that match the system. Check that you can source the full system from one supplier (like Flex-It) to ensure compatibility.
  
• Stock and delivery: For projects on tight schedules, consider suppliers who hold stock and offer rapid delivery.
  

6. Why choose Flex-It for your cable protection needs

As a family-run business founded in 1995, Flex-It has built its reputation on providing robust, reliable cable protection solutions, backed by technical expertise and stocked for fast turnaround. Across domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors, our product range caters for all levels of demand, from DIY installs to bespoke large-scale projects.

Our team are ready to guide you through the selection process, helping with sizing, routing advice, compliance queries, and accessory matching. Get in touch with Flex-It and you’ll benefit from:

• A wide in-stock range of conduits, glands and containment systems.
• Technical documentation and specification support.
• Expertise based on thousands of successful installations.

Dependable customer service, speak to people who understand wiring and cabling as well as supply.