Sleeves Selection Guide
Sleeves are divided into heat-shrink, fiberglass, silicone-coated fiberglass and ready-made sets; the type is mostly decided by the operating temperature.
This guide explains what to look at when choosing products in the Sleeves category.
Types of sleeves
- Heat-shrink sleeves: the models on record are made of polyolefin. Standard types shrink at a 2:1 ratio and the busbar insulation sleeves listed in the same group at 2.5:1; types with gel-filled adhesive lining have a 3:1 ratio, and the melting inner layer seals the joint against moisture.
- Fiberglass sleeves: braided fiberglass sheaths. The catalog has PVC-insulated, silicone-insulated and high-temperature types called HTG.
- Silicone-coated fiberglass sleeves: silicone-coated sleeves called Class H.
- Ready-made sleeve sets: consist of colored, pre-cut heat-shrink pieces; a soldered-type set is also available.
Which sleeve for which temperature
The operating temperature mostly decides the sleeve type. The upper limits in the product records are as follows:
- Polyolefin heat-shrink sleeve: +125 °C
- PVC-insulated fiberglass sleeve: +130 °C
- Silicone-coated fiberglass sleeve (Gwest): continuous +200 °C, short-term +250 °C
- Silicone-insulated fiberglass sleeve (Isıso): +250 °C
- HTG type fiberglass sleeve: +450 °C
For the Isıso silicone-insulated models, the +250 °C value is given without distinguishing between continuous and short-term; confirm the continuous operating temperature from the manufacturer's datasheet.
The term Class H (H Class) in the product names comes from the thermal classification of insulation materials: in IEC 60085, Class B corresponds to 130 °C, Class F to 155 °C and Class H to 180 °C. On motor and transformer winding ends, the sleeve is chosen according to the insulation class of the winding; in oven, resistance and heater connections, the temperature the conductor reaches is the basis.
The difference between heat-shrink sleeves and fiberglass sleeves
After shrinking, a heat-shrink sleeve wraps the part tightly, does not move out of place and can only be removed by cutting it; it is for places that will stay fixed, such as splices, lug necks and busbars. A fiberglass sleeve, on the other hand, sits on the conductor like a sheath, stays flexible and needs no heat source to install; it is used on conductor ends that work in hot environments.
The voltage values on record do not describe the same quantity: Woer states 600 V for standard shrink sleeves and Gwest states 36 kV for busbar insulation sleeves; for Isıso silicone-insulated fiberglass sleeves a value of 2500 V is given under the name "insulation voltage". Confirm from the manufacturer's datasheet whether the value is the rated voltage or the breakdown voltage.
How to choose the size
The sleeve size is chosen not according to the conductor cross-section (mm²) but according to the outer diameter (mm) of the part it will go over; the outer diameters of two cables with the same cross-section can differ depending on the insulation thickness.
- For a heat-shrink sleeve, the size in the product name is the nominal diameter before shrinking. When freely shrunk, a 2:1 sleeve goes down to about half of this diameter and a 3:1 sleeve to about one third; the diameter of the part to be covered must lie between these two values.
- Since a fiberglass sleeve does not shrink, its inner diameter is chosen slightly larger than the outer diameter of the conductor.
For a sleeve to be used on a cable lug neck or over a splice kit, take the size from the outer diameter of these parts, not from the cable.
Brands in this category
- Woer: standard heat-shrink sleeves on rolls and 3:1 sleeves with gel-filled adhesive lining.
- Isıso: IDM series heat-shrink sleeves, IDM-YPK types with adhesive lining and ICM series fiberglass sleeves.
- Konsan: rolls of fiberglass and Class H silicone-coated fiberglass sleeves, ready-made sleeve sets.
- Gwest: GWBT busbar insulation sleeves and Class H silicone-insulated fiberglass sleeves.
Order notes
Most Gwest sleeves and Isıso sleeves are listed in meters. Konsan sleeve rolls and Woer colored sleeves are sold as rolls, with the roll length stated in the name; Woer black standard sleeves, however, are recorded in meters. Since the unit can change even within the same brand, check the sales unit on the product page before entering the quantity. For products listed as made to order, the lead time is confirmed at the time of the order.
Insulation sleeving comparison table
| Sleeve Type | Material & Temperature | Shrink Ratio | Primary Application | Product Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard heat-shrink tubing | Cross-linked polyolefin (-55 °C … +125 °C) | 2:1 / 3:1 | Wire splice insulation, busbar covering, and color coding | Heat-Shrink Sleeves |
| Adhesive-lined (dual-wall) heat-shrink | Polyolefin with hot-melt inner adhesive | 3:1 / 4:1 | Moisture-proof sealing for outdoor and underground cable joints | Adhesive Heat-Shrink Sleeves |
| High-temperature fiberglass / silicone sleeve | Silicone-coated braided fiberglass (+200 °C … +400 °C) | Non-shrink fixed bore | Heaters, ovens, motor windings, and high-temperature wiring | Fireproof Sleeves |
Frequently asked questions
What does Class H (H Class) sleeve mean?
Class H is the class corresponding to 180 °C in the thermal classification of insulation materials; in the same system Class B is 130 °C and Class F is 155 °C (IEC 60085). The products called Class H in this category are silicone-coated fiberglass sleeves; for Gwest models the continuous operating temperature is recorded as +200 °C and the short-term operating temperature as +250 °C.
Does a fiberglass sleeve shrink when heated?
No. A fiberglass sleeve does not shrink; it is a flexible sheath slipped over the conductor, and its inner diameter is chosen slightly larger than the outer diameter of the conductor. The type that shrinks and fits onto the part when heated is the heat-shrink sleeve made of polyolefin. Fiberglass types are used in motor, transformer, heater and oven connections that exceed the temperature limit of a heat-shrink sleeve.
Is the sleeve size chosen according to the cable cross-section?
The sleeve is chosen not according to the cross-section value (mm²) but according to the outer diameter (mm) of the cable, lug or splice it will go over. The outer diameters of two cables with the same cross-section vary with the insulation thickness. For a heat-shrink sleeve, the thickest point of the part must be smaller than the initial inner diameter of the sleeve and the thinnest point larger than its shrunk diameter; for a fiberglass sleeve, the inner diameter is taken slightly larger than the conductor.
Which sleeve is used in oven and resistance connections?
In these connections the temperature the conductor reaches can exceed the recorded +125 °C upper limit of a polyolefin heat-shrink sleeve; for this reason a fiberglass sleeve is used. The recorded upper limits are continuous +200 °C for Gwest silicone-coated fiberglass sleeves and +450 °C for HTG type fiberglass sleeves. Make the selection according to the operating temperature of the equipment and the manufacturer's data.
Who is a ready-made sleeve set suitable for?
A ready-made set offers colored, pre-cut heat-shrink sleeve pieces in a single pack. For maintenance, repair and workshop jobs where small quantities of various pieces are needed, it removes the need to buy a roll; in panel production where the same diameter is used continuously, a roll is more practical. In this category, Konsan's colored sets and a soldered-type set are listed; confirm the contents of the set before ordering.