When it comes to insulating and protecting electrical wires and cables, heat shrink tubing is a popular product. But not all heat shrink tubing is alike. Let’s delve into six reasons why you should consider multi-wall tubing for your electrical job.



1. Added protection Additional layers of tubing offer more protection from chemicals, water, and high temperatures than your average heat shrinkable polyolefin tubing.



2. Increased insulation The multiple layers of this particular kind of heat shrink tubing also do a better job of insulating the components held inside the tubing.



3. Hi-tech design The inner wall of this tubing is designed to soften during shrinking and at the same time be forced into contact with the surfaces that lie inside of it.



4. Easy to remove Superior design comes to the rescue again, this time enabling easy removal.



5. Resistant to penetration This type of heat shrink tubing is tougher and more resistant to penetration than other types of heat shrink tubing.



6. Multiple applications Multi-wall tubing is incredibly versatile. It can be used for electrical wiring and splicing, wire terminations and connections, end-sealing, retrofitting, solder joints, and breakouts.



What to Look For When Purchasing Multi-Wall Tubing



So how do you make sure you’re buying the right multi-wall heat shrinkable tubing? We have three tips to help you find the best quality.



1. UL approved UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories. They are the authority on product compliance. Look for their approval on all of your heat shrink tubing, cable ties, and other wiring products.



2. The Right Shrink Ratio The shrink ratio number that accompanies product descriptions of heat shrink tubing refers to two numbers. One is the diameter of the tube when expanded and the other is the number when recovered.



3. Marking Ability Be sure to purchase heat shrink tubing that can be well marked. Whether you do this with a permanent writing utensil (marker, pen, etc) or printing software and accessories, the ability to mark the tubing for future reference or for other people is key.