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GENERAL TECHNICAL DATA
15
PVCu is used for the production of extrusions and mouldings and is universally accepted
as having the most suitable properties for use within the electrical industry.
Standards and Approvals
All Gilflex PVCu products are manufactured in accordance with the requirements of BS
4678: Part 4 and BS 4662. The PVCu material used has been tested by an approved
laboratory in accordance with the requirements of the following British Standards: BS
4607: Part 1, BS 6099-2-2, BS 476: Part 7. Copies of test certificates are available upon
request. Gilflex has been awarded ISO 9002 accreditation. Trunking and conduit systems
can be installed to comply with all relevant requirements of the latest edition of the
(BS7671) IEE Wiring Regulations.
CE marking
All relevant Gilflex products in this brochure are CE marked, confirmation that they meet
the EMC and LV directives.
Performance (Strenth)
Impact resistance
High impact resistance under normal climatic
conditions, BS4678: medium duty
Charpy notched impact strength 25 kJ/m2
Tensile strength
at yield 34.62 N/mm
2
at break 42.00 N/mm
2
Fire performance
The PVCu materials used in the manufacture of Gilflex products are non-flame
propagating in accordance with BS 6099 and BS 4678. Extrusion material has been tested
by an accredited laboratory in accordance with the requirements of BS 476: part 7 and
has achieved a Class 1Y classification. Moulding material has been tested by an accredited
laboratory and conforms with IEC 695-2-1 at a severity of 750ºC.
Thermal properties
All Gilflex PVCu products are designed to accommodate local thermal expansion. Fitting
instructions explain the procedure required to deal with the differential movement at the
interface with the building fabric.
Coefficient of linear expansion
5.5 x 10-5 per ºC (5mm/3000mm with a
temperature rise of 25°C)
Operating temperatures
-5º to 60ºC
Vicat softening point
81ºC
Thermal conductivity
0.19W/m/k
Electrical
PVCu is non-conductive.
Dielectric strength
40 kV/mm in DBP
17 kV/mm in tx oil
Resistivity
1014
Ω
cm
3
Biological
Resistant to vermin and termites.
Workability
All Gilflex PVCu products are lightweight and can be readily cut and drilled with hand
tools. Short component lengths can be readily incorporated, reducing wastage of
material. All covers and accessories are manufactured to fine tolerances to ensure a tight
fit with ease of removal. Stop ends are secured to the carriers. For details, see the relevant
installation guide.
Durability
All Gilflex PVCu products are stable and will maintain its performance characteristics in
accordance with the terms and conditions described above.
Maintenance
Clip-on covers with optional screw fix and interchangeable accessories provide continuous
accessibility for rewiring, extensions and modifications to an installation. Covers and
accessories can be cleaned with a damp cloth and household detergent. The surface can
be decorated with commercial paints if required.
Mechanical performance
Impact resistance under normal climatic conditions, BS 4678: medium duty.
Chemical resistance (See Below)
PVCu is non-corrosive and not affected by sea water. It has excellent resistance to mineral
acids, alkalis and detergents, good resistance to alcohols, but liable to attack from
solvents such as keytones, aromatics and hydrocarbons.
Satisfactory
Some attack or absorbtion: the material may be considered for use when alternative materials
are unsatisfactory and where limited life is acceptable. When PVC is to be used with such
chemicals full scale trials under realistic conditions are necessary.
Unsatisfactory: so rated because of decomposition, solution, swelling, loss of ductility etc, of
the samples tested.
Chemical
Concentration Unplasticised PVC
20ºC 60ºC
acetaldehyde
40% aq. solution
acetic acid
60% aq. solution
acetic anhydride
acetone
Traces
alcohol, ethyl
40% w/w water
alcohol, isopropyl
alcohol, menthyl
6% aq. solution
100%
aliphatic hydrocarbons
aluminium chloride
aluminum hydroxide
ammonia
0,88S.G., aq. solution
Anhydrous gas
Anhydrous liquid
ammonium chloride
ammonium hydroxide
aniline
animal oils
aqua regia
Dilute
Concentrated
barium sulphate
beer
benzine
benzoyl chloride
borax
boric acid
brine
bromide
Traces, gas
100% (dry gas)
Liquid
calcium chloride
aq. solution
20% in methyl alcohol
calcium hydroxide
calcium hypochlorite
carbon dioxide
carbonic acid
carbon monoxide
carbon tetrachloride
castor oil
chloric acid
chlorine
100% (dry gas)
10% (moist gas)
chlorine water
Sat. solution
chloroform
chrome allum
chromic acid
Plating solution
cider
citric acid
copper chloride
copper cyanide
copper nitrate
copper sulphate
cupric sulphate
cyclohexanone
detergent, synthetic
All concentrations
developers, photographic
dextrin
dextrose
diazo salts
dichlorodifluoromethane
diethyl ether
emulsifiers
All concentrations
emulsions, photographic
ethyl acetate
ethylene glycol
ethylene oxide
fatty acids
ferric chloride
ferric nitrate
ferric sulphate
ferrous ammonium citrate
ferrous chloride
ferrous sulphate
fixing solution, photographic
fluorine
formaldehyde
40% w/w water
formic acid
50% solution
100% solution
fructose
fruit pulp
glucose
glycerol
grape sugar
heptane
hydrobromic acid
100%
hydrochloric acid
22% aq. solution
Concentrated
hydrochloric acid
40% aq. solution
60% aq. solution
Concentrated
hydrogen bromide
Anhydrous
hydrogen chloride
Anhydrous
hydrogen flouride
Anhydrous
hydrogen peroxide
3% (10vol)
12% (40vol)
30% (100vol)
90% and above
hydrogen sulphide
iodine
Solution in
potassium iodine
lactic acid
10% aq. solution
100%
lanoline
linoletic acid
linseed oil
magnesium hydroxide
maleic acid
50% aq. solution
Concentrated
metallic soaps
(water soluble)
methyl bromide
methyl chloride
methyl cyclohexanone
methyl ethyl ketone
methyl isobutyl ketone
methylated spirit
methylene chloride
milk
mineral oil
mixed acids
(sulphuric/nitric
Various proportions)
molasses
naphtha
naphtalene
nicotine
nitric acid
5% aq. solution
50% aq. solution
nitrobenzene
oleic acid
oxalic acid
oxygen
ozone
paraffin
pentane
petrol
phosphoric acid
30% aq. solution
95% aq. solution
photographic developers
potassium bromide
potassium carbonate
potassium cyanide
potassium ferricyanide
potassium hydroxide
10% aq. solution
Concentrated
potassium hypochlorite
potassium permanganate
propane
propylene glycol
propylene oxide
saccharose
sea water
silver nitrate
soap solution
sodium bicarbonate
sodium bisulphate
sodium borate
sodium bromide
sodium carbonate
sodium chlorate
sodium chloride
sodium cyanide
sodium ferricyanide
sodium ferrocyanide
sodium fluoride
sodium hydroxide
40% aq. solution
Concentrated
sodium hypochlorite 15% Cl
sodium hyposulphate
sodium nitrate
sodium peroxide
sodium silicate
sodium sulphate
sodium sulphide
25% aq. solution
Concentration
sodium sulphite
soft soap
surface active agents (All concentrations)
(emulsifiers, synthetic detergents and wetting agents)
starch
stearic acid
sucrose
sulphur
Colloidal
sulphur dioxide
Dry
Liquid
sulphuric acid
80% aq. solution
90% aq. solution
Fuming
sulphurous acid
10% aq. solution
tallow
tanning extracts
tartaric acid
transformer oil
trichloroethane
trichloroethylene
turpentine
vegetable oils
vinegar
water
wetting agents
All concentrations
wines and spirits
xylene
zinc carbonate
zinc chloride
zinc sulphide