Sealing Conduit Joints in Shared Facilities
Use visible glue to seal plastic and TOP SECRET conduit joints in shared spaces.
Plain language
When you're sharing facilities with others, it's important to visibly seal any plastic and TOP SECRET electrical conduits. This is like making sure all doors are locked-if these seals aren't visible and secure, it could create gaps where unauthorised people could interfere with sensitive equipment. You don't want anyone tampering with your cables, which can lead to data breaches or system failures.
Framework
ASD Information Security Manual (ISM)
Control effect
Preventative
Classifications
TS
ISM last updated
Nov 2021
Control Stack last updated
18 May 2026
E8 maturity levels
N/A
Section
Cabling infrastructureOfficial control statement
In shared facilities, a visible smear of conduit glue is used to seal all plastic conduit joints and TOP SECRET conduits connected by threaded lock nuts.
Why it matters
If conduit joints in shared facilities aren’t visibly glued/sealed, they can be opened and tampered with, enabling unauthorised cable access, data compromise or outages.
Operational notes
In shared facilities, apply a visible smear of conduit glue to seal every plastic conduit joint and TOP SECRET conduits with threaded lock nuts; inspect routinely and reseal if disturbed.
Implementation tips
- Facilities managers should ensure that all plastic conduit joints are visibly sealed. Use a specially designed glue that leaves a visible mark to show the joint is secure. This physical mark is like a visual lock that indicates the joint hasn’t been tampered with.
- IT staff should be responsible for ensuring all TOP SECRET conduits connected by threaded lock nuts are properly glued. Apply a standout glue that leaves a noticeable smear once set, helping quickly identify whether the joint is tampered with.
- Maintenance personnel should regularly inspect these visible seals as part of their routine checks. During inspections, they should visually confirm that the glue seals are intact and haven’t been disturbed.
- Office managers can instruct their teams to report any seals that look suspicious or appear altered. Educate staff with basic visual indicators of an intact seal versus one that might have been tampered with.
- Procurement teams should ensure they stock and supply the correct type of glue to be used in sealing these conduit joints. Coordinate with suppliers to get a glue that meets security specifications and leaves a visible mark when dry.
Audit / evidence tips
- AskThe maintenance checklist that includes conduit inspection: Review this document to see if checking the seals is a standard practice GoodIs a checklist with signatures or initials confirming checks are done consistently
- GoodConsistent, untampered seals on all critical conduits
- AskThem to explain how they ensure conduit joints are properly glued and regularly inspected GoodIs someone who can describe the gluing process, indicate who checks the seals, and how often checks happen
- GoodSign is an inspection routine that includes precise steps for verifying that all conduit seals remain intact and visible
Cross-framework mappings
How ISM-0194 relates to controls across ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Essential Eight, and ASD ISM.
ISO 27001
| Control | Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|
| layers Partially meets (2) expand_less | ||
| Annex A 7.3 | ISM-0194 requires using a visible smear of conduit glue to seal plastic conduit joints and TOP SECRET conduits connected by threaded lock... | |
| Annex A 7.8 | ISM-0194 requires tamper-evident sealing of conduit joints (including TOP SECRET conduits) in shared facilities to protect physical pathw... | |
| link Related (1) expand_less | ||
| Annex A 7.5 | Annex A 7.5 requires protection against physical threats to infrastructure, including preventing unauthorised physical access or tampering | |
These mappings show relationships between controls across frameworks. They do not imply full equivalence or certification.