Medium Wall Tubing
Heat shrinkable medium wall tubing designed for dependable electrical insulation, mechanical protection, and environmental sealing across low-voltage cable accessories and general industrial applications.
Robust Insulation for Cable Accessories and Industrial Use
Medium wall tubing bridges the gap between standard thin-wall and adhesive-lined dual wall products. The increased wall thickness provides greater mechanical robustness and dielectric protection, making it the practical choice for cable accessory assembly, rejacketing, and installations subject to physical exposure.
Available in uncoated and adhesive-lined configurations to match the sealing and protection requirements of the application.
- Material Crosslinked Polyolefin
- Shrink ratio 3:1 minimum
- Adhesive option Uncoated & lined versions
- Flame retardant Yes — IEC 60332-1
- Halogen-free Yes
- Operating temperature –55°C to +110°C
Why Medium Wall Tubing Is Specified
Engineered for applications where standard thin-wall tubing does not provide sufficient mechanical or dielectric protection.
Electrical Insulation Performance
Increased wall thickness delivers higher dielectric strength than thin-wall alternatives — suitable for LV cable accessories, connector covering, and insulation restoration where consistent voltage withstand is a design requirement.
Mechanical Protection
The robust recovered wall provides abrasion resistance and physical protection over cable ends, exposed conductors, and connector bodies — reducing the risk of insulation damage during installation and service.
Environmental Resistance
Resistant to moisture, oils, chemicals, and UV exposure in its standard formulation. The adhesive-lined version extends this to form a continuous sealed interface, suitable for damp or exposed installation environments.
Conformability Over Irregular Profiles
The 3:1 shrink ratio accommodates a wide range of cable diameters and irregular surface profiles within a single tubing size — conforming tightly over connectors, lugs, and stepped cable geometries without voids or loose material.
Adhesive-Lined or Uncoated Options
Available in both uncoated and adhesive-lined configurations. The uncoated version suits dry indoor applications requiring insulation and mechanical protection only. The adhesive-lined version adds an environmental seal for moisture-critical installations.
Installation Versatility
Applied using a standard hot air gun or controlled-flame torch with no specialist tooling. Consistent recovery is achievable by trained technicians in workshop or field conditions without equipment calibration requirements.
Material & Performance Data
Reference data for engineering and procurement. Contact our technical team for full test reports or project-specific qualification data.
| Base material | Irradiation-crosslinked polyolefin |
|---|---|
| Standard colour | Black |
| Shrink ratio | 3:1 minimum (recovered wall : supplied diameter) |
| Adhesive inner lining | Available — hot-melt thermoplastic adhesive activates during heat shrink. Standard uncoated version also available. |
| Flame retardant | Yes — compliant with IEC 60332-1 |
| Halogen-free | Yes |
| Operating temperature | –55°C to +110°C (continuous service) |
| UV / weather resistance | Yes — UV-stabilised, suitable for outdoor and exposed installations |
| Chemical resistance | Resistant to oils, fuels, mild acids, and alkalis in recovered state |
| Shelf life | 10 years from manufacture date when stored per IEC 60684 storage guidelines |
| Applicable standards | IEC 60684 (heat-shrinkable tubing), IEC 60332-1 (flame retardance) |
Where Medium Wall Tubing Is Used
Deployed wherever standard thin-wall tubing is insufficient and a more robust insulation or sealing solution is required.
LV Cable Joints & Terminations
Applied over low-voltage cable connectors, lugs, and joint bodies to provide insulation and mechanical protection as part of a complete cable accessory assembly.
Rejacketing & Cable Sealing
Used for cable jacket repair and rejacketing over damaged outer sheath sections, restoring mechanical and environmental protection without full cable replacement.
Mechanical Protection
Applied over exposed cable sections, conduit entries, and transition points where abrasion, physical impact, or installation handling risk requires additional protective coverage.
Moisture Sealing
Adhesive-lined version used to seal over uneven profiles, cable entries, and stepped surfaces where moisture ingress is a risk and a continuous environmental seal is required.
Panel & Switchgear Insulation
Used in panel builds and switchgear assemblies to insulate bus links, terminal connections, and exposed conductor sections in compact electrical enclosures.
Industrial & Infrastructure
General-purpose protection for cable accessories, harness components, and wiring in industrial facilities, EPC projects, and infrastructure installations where robust field performance is required.
How to Select the Right Medium Wall Tubing
Five criteria determine the correct size and configuration. Work through each before specifying to avoid incorrect recovered diameter or insufficient sealing performance.
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01
Cable Outer Diameter
Measure the outer diameter of the cable or substrate at the point where the tubing will be applied. This is the recovered diameter requirement — the tubing must recover to this dimension or smaller for a tight, void-free fit. For stepped profiles, measure at the largest diameter point.
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02
Required Recovered Diameter
Select a tubing size whose recovered diameter is equal to or slightly smaller than the substrate diameter. A well-selected tubing size should recover to between 80–100% of the substrate outer diameter — sufficient contact without residual stress that could cause splitting or inadequate coverage.
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03
Wall Thickness Requirement
Confirm whether the application requires the additional dielectric strength and mechanical protection of medium wall construction, or whether thin-wall tubing is sufficient. Medium wall is the correct choice for LV cable accessories, rejacketing, and connector covering where higher mechanical robustness is needed.
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04
Adhesive-Lined or Uncoated
Specify the adhesive-lined version where moisture sealing, bonding to the substrate, or void-free recovery over irregular profiles is required. The uncoated version is appropriate for dry indoor insulation and mechanical protection applications where a permanent bond to the substrate is not needed.
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05
Indoor or Outdoor Use
Both configurations are UV-stabilised and suitable for outdoor use. However, for direct exposure to weather, submersion risk, or contaminated environments, the adhesive-lined version is strongly recommended to maintain environmental seal integrity over the service life of the installation.
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06
Colour Requirement
Standard medium wall tubing is supplied in black. Where phase identification, system colour-coding, or project specification requires an alternative colour, confirm this requirement before ordering as non-standard colours may require lead time.
If any dimension or specification is uncertain, contact our technical team before placing an order. Incorrect tubing size selection cannot be corrected after installation without removal and re-application.
Common Technical Questions
Medium wall tubing has a greater recovered wall thickness than standard thin-wall products, resulting in higher dielectric strength, greater mechanical robustness, and improved abrasion resistance. It also typically offers a higher shrink ratio — 3:1 compared to 2:1 for most thin-wall products — meaning it can accommodate a wider range of substrate diameters within a single tubing size. The practical result is a product better suited to cable accessory assembly, connector covering, and rejacketing applications where thin-wall tubing would be structurally insufficient.
Specify the adhesive-lined version when the application requires moisture sealing, bonding to the substrate surface, or void-free recovery over irregular profiles such as connector shoulders, cable transitions, or stepped geometries. The adhesive activates during heat shrink and flows into surface irregularities, forming a continuous bond. For dry, indoor insulation applications where a permanent seal is not required — such as panel wiring or bus link covering — the uncoated version is sufficient and typically more cost-effective.
Yes. Medium wall tubing is widely used for jacket repair and rejacketing over sections of cable where the outer sheath has been damaged, abraded, or removed. The 3:1 shrink ratio accommodates the transition over the intact jacket to the exposed area, and the robust recovered wall restores mechanical and environmental protection. For rejacketing applications where moisture ingress is a risk, specify the adhesive-lined version to ensure a sealed interface at both ends of the applied tubing length.
A hot air gun is the recommended installation tool, providing controlled and consistent heat distribution. A propane or butane torch with a spreading nozzle may also be used with care. Begin heat application at the centre of the tubing length and work outward toward each end in a smooth, continuous motion — this prevents air entrapment and ensures even recovery. For the adhesive-lined version, recovery is complete when adhesive is visibly flowing from the open ends and the tubing surface is smooth and wrinkle-free.
The adhesive-lined version is suitable for direct-buried and damp-environment applications where a sealed protective covering is required. The hot-melt adhesive bonds to the cable surface on recovery, providing a continuous moisture barrier at the tubing ends. For submersion or direct groundwater contact, confirm the specific installation requirements with our technical team — particularly with respect to the duration of submersion and the chemical composition of the surrounding environment.
Medium wall tubing is specified by its supplied (pre-shrink) inner diameter. The recovered inner diameter is the supplied diameter divided by the shrink ratio — for a 3:1 product, a 30mm supplied size recovers to approximately 10mm. Select the size whose recovered diameter is equal to or slightly smaller than the substrate outer diameter. Western Cablex medium wall tubing is available across a standard size range from small conductor applications through to larger cable and connector covering sizes. Contact our technical team for the current size schedule and availability.
Need Help Selecting the Right Medium Wall Tubing?
Speak with our technical team for sizing, application guidance, and product recommendations.