Does Your Electrical Tape Measure Up?

- Shurtape Technologies shares 5 things to consider when choosing an electrical tape-

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Jun 14, 2018, 02:00 ET

HICKORY, N.C., June 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In electrical insulating and phasing applications, electrical tape can be the difference between a safe splice and an accident waiting to happen.

Prep for success on your next job with these 5 things to consider when choosing an electrical tape:

1. Tape Grade: Electrical tape backings can be either monomeric or polymeric in construction. Lower grade monomeric tapes are made using short-chain plasticizers, which degrade over time, but are an economical choice for general purpose jobs. Polymeric electrical tapes have long-chain plasticizers, which are more durable, provide tighter seals, and protect against corrosion.

2. Color: Using the right color of electrical tape in phasing tasks ensures safety by indicating the wire's voltage and phase for electricians.

3. Tape Stretch: Elongation is used to describe a tape's ability to stretch before breaking. Higher elongation means that the tape is strong enough to be stretched further without breaking. Lower grades of tape tend to keep their stretched-out shape rather than returning to form and holding tight to the wire, To properly insulate a wire using electrical tape, tape must be stretched while wrapped around the wire, and return to form after application, resulting in a tighter hold.

4. Ease of Use: Don't forget to choose a tape that is easy to handle! Look for an electrical tape that is hand-tearable, easy to wrap around wires, and unwinds easily.

5. Code Compliance: Tapes that are UL Listed or CSA Approved have been rigorously tested to ensure they will deliver the performance qualities needed for the application.

Find the right electrical tape for your application at Shurtape.com, and visit TapeUniversity.com for more tips on choosing and using tape.

SHURTAPE® BRAND

Shurtape^® brand, marketed by Shurtape Technologies' Industrial Group, proudly serves a variety of professional and industrial markets with a comprehensive product portfolio that includes masking and paper, foil and film, packaging, double-coated, cloth and duct, and other specialty tape products, in addition to packaging dispensers and equipment for automated and manual packaging applications. For more information, visit shurtape.com, find us on Facebook^®(facebook.com/Shurtape), follow us on Twitter^®(@shurtapetech) or watch our videos on YouTube^® (youtube.com/ShurtapeTech).

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Corporate Contact:
Lydia Eagle • 828.267.8508 • [email protected]

SOURCE Shurtape Technologies, LLC