Why Cables in a Positive Pressure Container Cannot Be Fully Hidden

In the design and construction of positive pressure containers, proper cable management is crucial for safe and reliable operation. Some clients have requested that cables inside the container be fully hidden to avoid interfering with other equipment. Here’s a technical explanation of why this is not feasible:

1. Safety and Regulatory Requirements

All electrical wiring inside a positive pressure container must comply with national and industry safety standards, including rules for cable height, routing, fixing methods, fire protection, and grounding. Fully hiding cables inside walls or structural elements could create safety risks, such as:

• Difficulty in quickly identifying short circuits, overloads, or leakage issues;
• Hidden cable wear or aging in high-temperature or humid environments;
• Non-compliance with fire safety, explosion protection, or electrical inspection standards.

2. A60 Fire-Rated Panels

Positive pressure containeres often use A60 fire-rated panels, which can resist flames and high temperatures for 60 minutes. If cables are hidden inside these panels or walls:

• Drilling or embedding cables would compromise the integrity of the fire barrier;
• In case of fire or electrical faults, hidden cables would be difficult to detect and address.
• Thus, hiding cables can directly reduce the safety effectiveness of the A60 fire rating.

3. Ease of Maintenance and Inspection

Visible or externally routed cables allow:

• Staff to quickly identify and trace wiring;
• Faster troubleshooting, reducing repair time and costs;
• Avoiding secondary damage caused by dismantling walls or insulation layers.

4. Optimization Solutions

To balance client equipment installation and cable management, we recommend:

• Cable trays or raceways: Placing them along edges or ceilings to minimize occupied space;
• Low-profile trays: Reduce space usage while keeping cables visible;
• Pre-planned modular channels: Reserving specific routes for cables during the design phase to allow flexible equipment installation.

​Conclusion
​
Fully hiding cables is technically risky in terms of safety, maintenance, and fire protection, and is therefore not recommended. By optimizing cable layout and using properly designed trays or channels, interference with equipment installation can be minimized while ensuring the positive pressure container remains safe, reliable, and compliant with A60 fire protection requirements.
 
TLS Offshore Containers / TLS Energy is a global supplier of standard and customised containerised solutions. 
Wherever you are in the world, TLS can help you. Please contact us.
​
Keywords:#Positive Pressure container,#Cable Management,#Electrical Wiring,#A60 Fire-Rated Panel,#Electrical Standards,#Maintenance Efficiency,#Troubleshooting,#Cable Tray,#Raceway,#Hidden Cable Risk,#Safety Compliance,#Equipment Installation,#Modular Design,#Fire Protection Integrity

Written by Snowy

---