Falling Hammer Impact for metal-clad / metal-sheathed cables UL 1569

Information on the most widely used ASTM standards within the materials testing industry

Descriptions of the most prominent lSO standards within the materials testing industry

Standards including EN, DIN, JlS, and more

Mechanical testing of polymer materials in the automotive industry is directly related to the safety of components and the reliability of the entire vehicle. UnitedTest can cover mechanical performance testing for automotive interior and exterior parts, as well as functional components, adapting to automaker standards and providing comprehensive testing solutions including tensile, impact, and fatigue tests.

Mechanical testing in the battery industry determines the tensile and puncture resistance of core components such as separators and electrodes, directly affecting battery safety and cycle life. UnitedTest can cover full-dimensional mechanical testing of battery materials, compatible with national and international standards, and provide customized testing solutions.

Mechanical testing in the consumer goods industry determines product durability and safety, such as impact resistance for toys and fatigue resistance for home appliances, making it core to compliance and quality. UnitedTest can cover mechanical tests for all categories of consumer goods, including tensile, impact, and hardness tests, compatible with national and international standards, and offers customized testing solutions.

In the field of medical and biomedical sciences, mechanical testing determines the safety and compatibility of implanted devices and biomaterials, making it a core part of regulatory approval. UnitedTest can cover a full range of tests including tensile, fatigue, and wear tests, compatible with national and international standards, and provides customized biomechanical testing solutions.

Material strength is a course that most engineering fields are required to study in university education. This interesting course is very practical and makes use of testing equipment in the materials laboratory.

Mechanical testing of industrial products and components is essential to ensure their load-bearing, fatigue resistance, and impact resistance, directly preventing production accidents and ensuring stable operation of equipment. UnitedTest can cover a full range of tests including tensile, hardness, and fatigue, complying with national and international standards, and provides customized industrial mechanical testing solutions.

Mechanical testing in the plastic pipe industry determines ring stiffness, impact resistance, and tensile performance, directly preventing pipe bursts and deformation risks. UnitedTest can cover full-dimensional mechanical testing of pipes, complies with ISO,ASTM,EN et.c, international standards, and provides customized testing solutions.

In the construction engineering and building materials industry, mechanical testing determines the compressive and tensile properties of materials such as concrete and steel, which is core to ensuring the safety and durability of buildings. UnitedTest can cover the full range of building material mechanical tests, complies with ISO, ASTM international standards, and provides customized testing solutions for compressive, tensile, and other properties.

Mechanical testing in the food and beverage industry involves the compressive and tensile performance of packaging and the safety of food texture, directly ensuring storage, transportation safety, and the eating experience. UnitedTest can cover all-dimensional mechanical testing for packaging and food texture, comply with national and international standards, and provide customized testing solutions.

Mechanical testing in the packaging industry determines the packaging's resistance to compression, impact, and tension, directly ensuring the safety of contents during storage and transportation. UnitedTest can cover comprehensive mechanical testing for packaging, complying with ISO, ASTM Standards, and provides customized testing solutions for compression, drop, tear, and more.

Mechanical testing in the transportation industry concerns the load-bearing and fatigue resistance performance of core components such as vehicles, tracks, and containers, directly ensuring transport safety and equipment durability. UnitedTest can cover mechanical testing for all types of transportation materials, complying with national and international standards, and provides customized testing solutions including tensile, fatigue, and impact tests.

Metallurgical testing examines the properties of metallic materials to determine if a particular metal is appropriate for its intended use.

Testing of polymer materials covers mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties, verifying strength, heat resistance, composition, and ensuring product quality and compliance.

UnitedTest offer world-class testing solution in testing for polymeric materials, including elastomers, thermoplastics, composites, coatings, and structural adhesives in a variety of industries.

Testing of rubber and elastomers is used to assess the various properties and performance of materials under different conditions. This is crucial for ensuring the safety, functionality, and quality of rubber and elastomer products used in industries such as automotive, construction, consumer goods, and aerospace.

Conduct adhesive testing using various testing methods to determine their performance and characteristics in applications across multiple industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, packaging, industrial, medical, and energy, thereby supporting application development and quality assurance.

UnitedTest supply machine and testing solution for tension, compression, fracture toughness, direct shear, triaxial and ultrasonic velocity are common concrete and rock testing applications.

UnitedTest has helped a number of companies involved in the wood, paper, cardboard, and corrugated industry with their testing needs. Our materials testing systems are capable of testing raw materials, components, and finished products.

UnitedTest testing system is trusted by leading medical device manufacturers, universities, and medical research laboratories worldwide. Whether testing tissues or bioresorbable materials, stents, or sutures, UnitedTest offers a variety of single-actuator and dual-actuator systems to meet your biomedical testing needs.

Mechanical testing in the textile fabric industry determines core properties such as fabric tensile strength, tear resistance, and wear resistance, directly affecting product durability and safety. UnitedTest can cover comprehensive mechanical tests for textiles, complying with national standards / ISO standards, and provides customized testing solutions including tensile, tear, and puncture tests.

The mechanical testing of industrial components directly determines the load-bearing, fatigue resistance, and wear resistance of the parts, helping to avoid equipment failure risks. UnitedTest can cover a full range of tests including tensile, hardness, and fatigue, is compatible with ISO/ASTM/GB standards, and provides customized mechanical testing solutions for industrial components.

Mechanical testing in the glass-ceramics industry determines core properties such as flexural strength, hardness, and fracture toughness, directly helping to avoid brittleness and failure risks. UnitedTest can cover comprehensive testing for flexural strength, hardness, and fracture toughness, compatible with national and ISO/ASTM standards, and provides customized testing solutions.

Tensile test evaluates material resistance to stretching, measuring strength/elongation critical for quality control. UnitedTest offers universal tensile testers (10-600KN) compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, providing tailored solutions for metals, polymers, medical & industrial materials.

Compression test assesses material resistance to compressive loads, measuring strength/deformation critical for quality validation. UnitedTest offers compression testing machines compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, providing tailored solutions for concrete, plastics, metals and industrial components.

Flexural & Bend tests evaluate material resistance to bending forces, measuring strength, stiffness and ductility for quality assurance. UnitedTest provides flexural testing machines (3-point/4-point bend) compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, offering tailored solutions for composites, plastics, metals and construction materials.

Torsion Test evaluates material resistance to rotational forces, measuring torsional strength/ductility critical for fasteners, insulators, shafts. UnitedTest offers torsion testers compliant with ASTM A938/ISO 16047, providing tailored solutions for automotive, aerospace, fastener industries.

Fatigue Test assesses material durability under cyclic loading, critical for predicting service life of industrial components. UnitedTest offers fatigue testing systems (axial/bending/torsion) compliant with ASTM E466/ISO 12106, providing tailored solutions for automotive, aerospace and manufacturing sectors.

Peel Test measures material adhesion strength by evaluating resistance to peeling forces, critical for adhesives, films, packaging. UnitedTest offers peel testers compliant with ASTM D903/ISO 8510, covering 90°/180° peel tests, and tailored solutions for packaging, automotive, textile industries.

Impact Test evaluates material resistance to sudden shock loads, critical for assessing toughness and fracture risk. UnitedTest offers impact testers (Charpy/Izod/fall weight) compliant with ASTM E23/ISO 148, providing tailored solutions for metals, plastics, glass and industrial components.

Tear & Shear Test evaluates material resistance to tearing and shearing forces, measuring critical strength parameters for quality control. Tear tests (Elmendorf/trouser/trapezoidal) assess resistance to crack propagation in films/fabrics, while shear tests measure resistance to parallel forces in joints/bolts. UnitedTest provides universal testing machines (10KN-600KN) with specialized fixtures for both tests, compliant with ASTM D624/D3164 and ISO standards, serving automotive, packaging and construction industries.

Hardness test measures material's resistance to permanent indentation, critical for quality control. UnitedTest offers universal hardness testers (Rockwell/Brinell/Vickers) compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, plus tailored hardness testing solutions for diverse industrial needs.

Biaxial/triaxial tests evaluate material performance under multi-axis loads, critical for biomaterials, metals and composites. UnitedTest provides compliant testing machines (ASTM/ISO) for planar biaxial, static/fatigue triaxial tests, with tailored solutions for industrial & biomedical needs.

Friction and wear tests assess material resistance to friction, abrasion and wear, critical for industrial material performance validation. UnitedTest offers tribometers compliant with ASTM G99/ISO standards, covering pin-on-disk, four-ball tests, and tailored friction & wear testing solutions for diverse industries.

Pressure test evaluates material/component resistance to static/dynamic pressure, critical for sealing, strength and safety validation. UnitedTest offers pressure testing machines compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, covering burst, hold-pressure tests, and tailored solutions for industrial, automotive & medical sectors.

Fire test assesses material flammability, heat resistance and fire-retardant performance, critical for safety compliance across industries. UnitedTest offers fire testing equipment compliant with ASTM/ISO/UL standards, providing tailored fire test solutions for building materials, plastics and industrial components.

Non-destructive Test (NDT) evaluates material/component integrity without damage, critical for safety & quality across industries. UnitedTest offers ultrasonic/X-ray/magnetic particle NDT equipment compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, plus tailored NDT solutions for aerospace, automotive & manufacturing sectors.

UL 1569 Clause 5.10 vs CSA C22.2 No.123 Clause 6.15 Cable Impact Test Comparison | UnitedTest

UnitedTest supplies professional falling weight impact testing machines fully compatible with both UL 1569 and CSA C22.2 No.123 standards for metal-clad and metal-sheathed cable mechanical safety certification. Our test rigs support adjustable impact energy, interchangeable specimen fixtures and short-circuit monitoring systems to meet the distinct test parameters of each specification.

Falling Hammer Impact for metal-clad / metal-sheathed cables UL 1569

Part 1: Impact Test – UL 1569 (Clause 5.10, Metal-Clad MC Cables)

1. Test Principle

Simulate accidental heavy mechanical blows (construction collision, equipment impact, trench backfill impact) that MC cables endure during installation/service. Verify that impact damage cannot create short circuits between live conductors, or between live conductors and metal armor/grounding components, to prevent electric shock and fire hazards.

2. Test Application Industry Field

Building wiring & commercial construction (NEC Article 330 Type MC cable) in the United States and Mexico.

Power distribution in industrial plants, high-rise buildings, data centers, and hazardous (Classified) locations (with UL 2225).

Direct burial and wet location installations where the cable must resist mechanical shock from soil shifting, rocks, or handling impacts.

Feeders and branch circuits up to 600 V (thermoplastic) or 600/2000 V (thermoset).

3. Test Specimen:

Round cable: A single continuous length ≥ 3.35 m; ten impacts on that length.

Flat (or oval) cable: Two separate lengths; ten impacts flatwise (broad face to weight) on one length, ten impacts edgewise (narrow face) on the other.

Representative constructions:

3 × 2.08 mm² (14 AWG) – represents cables with conductor sizes 0.824–16.8 mm² (18 AWG – 5 AWG).

3 × 33.6 mm² (2 AWG) – represents cables with conductor sizes 21.2 mm² – 1010 mm² (4 AWG – 2000 kcmil).

4. Test Equipment:

Recommend UnitedTest UT2028W Metal Sheathed Cables Falling weight impact tester UL 1569, it feature:
Fixed test base	Solid steel block (121×76×127 mm) mounted on concrete/heavy frame.
Support rod	19 mm diameter solid steel rod fixed horizontally on the block’s top surface.
Drop impact weight	Light weight: 4.54 kg (10 lb) for cables with ≤2 AWG conductors; drop height = 45.7 cm (1.5 ft), impact energy = 20.3 J Heavy weight: 22.7 kg (50 lb) for cables with ≥2 AWG conductors; drop height = 30.5 cm (1 ft), impact energy = 67.8 J
Weight geometry	Rectangular steel block, 152 mm long × 51 mm wide striking face with 1.5 mm rounded edges; vertical guide rails for straight free fall, single-stop release mechanism to prevent repeated strikes.
Safety circuit	120 V neon fault lamps to detect conductor-to-conductor / conductor-to-ground short circuits instantly upon impact.

5. Key Test Parameters

Cable Conductor Size	Drop Mass	Drop Vertical Height	Impact Energy	Number of Strikes Per Specimen	Ambient Temp
≤2 AWG (2.08 mm²)	4.54 kg	457 mm	20.3 J	10	24±8 °C
≥2 AWG (33.6 mm²)	22.7 kg	305 mm	67.8 J	10	24±8 °C

6. Full Test Procedures

Secure the steel support rod centered on the base block, align weight vertical axis, rod axis and cable central axis on one vertical plane.

Lay the cable horizontally over the 19 mm rod at the first marked impact point, keep cable perpendicular to the rod.

Lift impact weight to specified fixed height, lock in guide rails.

Release weight for single free-fall strike on cable; record if neon lamp lights (signifies electrical short).

Lift weight back to starting position, advance cable to next 305 mm marked strike point, repeat strike and inspection.

Complete 10 sequential strikes per specimen; flat cables run two full sets (flatwise + edgewise).

7. Test Stipulation (Pass/Fail Criterion)

Test FAIL if the neon fault lamp illuminates at 2 or more of the 10 impact points on any specimen. Illumination proves insulation rupture and dangerous electrical contact between live parts/ground armor.

Part 2: Impact Test – CSA C22.2 No.123 Clause 6.15 (Metal Sheathed RA90/RC90 Cables)

1. Test Principle

A cylindrical steel impact component is dropped from a fixed height onto the cable specimen that is positioned over a 19 mm drill rod. The test uses an extra-low-voltage continuity indicator (lamp operating at 120 V) to detect short-circuits between insulated circuit conductors, or ground faults between any circuit conductor and the grounded metal sheath/grounded components.

2. Industry field of application

Canadian market – all RA90/RC90 metal-sheathed power cables installed per CSA C22.1 (Canadian Electrical Code, Part I).

Industrial, commercial, and institutional power distribution at up to 5 kV.

Underground and wet-location installations (RA90/RC90 are rated 90 °C dry and wet).

Feeder and branch circuits in mining, petrochemical, and heavy industrial settings where mechanical robustness is critical.

3. Test Specimen Information

Specimen quantity: Ten separate cable samples per construction type, each of sufficient length to span the test fixture.

Circuit pre-wiring: All non-neutral current-carrying conductors electrically bonded to metal sheath/test machine ground to form fault detection circuit.

4. Test Equipment:

Recommend UnitedTest UT2028W Metal Sheathed Cables Falling weight impact tester UL 1569, it feature:
Fixed support assembly	Vertical trade size 4 steel conduit mounted to a thick 6.4 mm steel base plate, with a horizontally welded 19 mm diameter steel drill rod at the plate’s center.
Impact weights	Solid cylindrical steel mass with flat striking face, matching UL 1569 mass grading rules: Cables <2 AWG: 4.54 kg drop weight Cables ≥2 AWG: 22.7 kg drop weight
Drop impact weight	Light weight: 4.54 kg (10 lb) for cables with ≤2 AWG conductors; drop height = 45.7 cm (1.5 ft), impact energy = 20.3 J Heavy weight: 22.7 kg (50 lb) for cables with ≥2 AWG conductors; drop height = 30.5 cm (1 ft), impact energy = 67.8 J
Weight geometry	Vertical guide frame to restrict weight to vertical free fall from fixed height of 0.3 m above the cable surface.
Safety circuit	120 V continuity fault tester with indicator to detect any short after each impact blow.

5. Key Test Parameters

Conductor Size Classification	Drop Mass	Fixed Drop Height	Total Strikes (10 Specimens)
Smaller than No.2 AWG	4.54 kg	0.3 m	10 separate samples, 1 strike each
No.2 AWG and larger	22.7 kg	0.3 m	10 separate samples, 1 strike each

6. Full Test Procedures

Mount the 19 mm drill rod horizontally on the steel base plate inside the vertical conduit frame.

Place one cable specimen horizontally across the drill rod, cable axis perpendicular to the rod, centered for impact.

Raise the specified steel weight 0.3 m vertically above the cable’s top surface, lock in guides.

Release weight for single free-fall impact on the specimen.

After impact, connect the 120 V continuity tester between all live conductors and grounded metal sheath to check for short-circuit faults.

Replace with an undamaged new specimen, repeat the full impact + fault check cycle for all 10 test samples.

7. Test Stipulation (Pass/Fail Criterion)

The cable fails the test if any single specimen develops a short-circuit between live conductors and the metal sheath after impact, as detected by the continuity tester. Zero fault failures across all 10 specimens are required for compliance.

Why This Test Is Critical

MC cables are installed across job sites where falling tools, heavy construction materials, vehicle loads frequently strike cables. The impact test verifies the armor, inner jacket and conductor insulation form a robust mechanical barrier. Failure means short-circuit, ground fault, equipment burnout, fire risk or lethal electric shock for installers/occupants. It validates the cable’s mechanical safety margin for real-world field abuse.

Canadian job sites, underground burial and cable tray routing expose metal-sheathed RA90/RC90 cables to heavy mechanical shocks from excavation, heavy equipment and building materials. The impact test validates that the seamless/welded metal sheath and internal insulation maintain dielectric integrity after severe impact damage. Preventing short circuits eliminates arc flash hazards, equipment failure and fire risks for Canadian residential, commercial and industrial electrical systems required to meet CSA safety codes.

Side-by-side comparison

Aspect	UL 1569 §5.10	CSA C22.2 No. 123 §6.15
Cable type	Type MC, interlocking or smooth/corrugated armor	Type RA90 (Al) / RC90 (Cu) seamless or corrugated sheath
Specimen configuration	One ≥3.35 m length (round); two lengths for flat (flatwise + edgewise)	Ten separate specimens, each tested once
Impacts per specimen	10 impacts on a single long specimen (round)	1 impact per specimen (total 10 specimens)
Drop height	45.7 cm (14 AWG) / 30.5 cm (2 AWG)	Fixed 0.3 m for all sizes
Impact mass	4.54 kg (<2 AWG) / 22.7 kg (≥2 AWG)	4.54 kg (<2 AWG) / 22.7 kg (≥2 AWG)
Impact energy	20.3 J / 67.8 J	~13.4 J (4.54 kg×0.3 m) / ~66.9 J (22.7 kg×0.3 m)
Acceptance criterion	≤ 2 fault indications out of 10 impacts on any test length	Zero faults across all 10 specimens
Detection	208 V AC supply + 3 W neon lamps per conductor	120 V continuity tester with lamp
Referenced test method	UL 2556 / NMX-J-556-ANCE	CSA C22.2 No. 2556 (harmonized with UL 2556)
Jurisdiction	US & Mexico (NEC Art. 330, NOM-001-SEDE)	Canada (CSA C22.1)
Max voltage	600 V (thermoplastic) / 600 V or 2000 V (thermoset)	Up to 5000 V

Keywords: UnitedTest cable impact tester, UL 1569 vs CSA C22.2 No.123 impact test, metal-clad cable lateral impact test machine, metal-sheathed cable short circuit impact testing equipment, UL 1569 Clause 5.10 and CSA C22.2 No.123 cable impact energy difference, metal clad cable ground fault impact compliance tester, lateral sudden impact test rig for MC metal sheathed cables, comparison of specimen configuration for UL & CSA cable impact test, cable short-circuit detection impact testing machine for North American safety certification

Cable Falling weight impact tester is used to apply momentary impact force to test specimen of electrical cables, to determine the anti-impact performance of armored cables. Designed according the UL 1569 Clause 10.5 impact test. CSA C22.2 No. 123-16. Metal Sheathed Cables.

We offer customization to meet your specific needs. Our expert team will collaborate with you to develop the perfect product for you