The dangers of non-compliant cable on the electrical industry market are evident in their scale. By its nature, if something goes wrong to electrical cabling the consequences are serious. However, specifiers and contractors can help to minimise the risk and ensure the safety of all concerned when lives and property are at stake. Here, Graham Turner of AEI Cables explains.

An estimated £30 million worth of counterfeit electrical products reaches the UK annually.

Furthermore, approximately 20 per cent of all fires in the UK are caused by electrical installations, and a significant percentage of these are the result of faulty electrical cables.

And the cost to business due to fires from electrical faults is estimated at £9.3 million per year in damages, according to figures from the former Statistics Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Much more serious is the fact that lives have been lost as a result of electrical fires from faulty cable.

In the current economic climate, there is a greater chance for unsafe non-compliant product to be available in the marketplace. Therefore, specifiers and contractors should be extremely vigilant and ensure they select manufacturers and brands they know and trust. It is important to look at certification from a third party approval scheme to further ensure that the cable manufacturer is consistently manufacturing to the highest standard.

The specifier wants to know that what he has specified is being installed, especially where fire performance cables are concerned. Cables used in these circumstances are chosen for the protection they provide in a real life fire scenario when life and property are at stake.

Likewise, the contractor wants assurance that the cables chosen are fit for purpose and will not be the subject of any issue that might result in financial liabilities and/or damage to his or her reputation.

There are a number of steps that can be taken to ensure that selected cable is what it says it is:-
Cable should be specified with respect to a specific British Standard. The specification should be adopted into the project and communicated to those involved, including the contractor responsible for the installation.
Where fire performance is paramount, a proper risk assessment should be conducted and the appropriate cable standard and code of practice applied accordingly.
The cable purchase requisition should clearly state the British Standard and require third party approval ie. approved by the British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) or the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB). It should also specify a brand name from a manufacturer that is recognised as a reputable company.
On receipt of cable, it should be inspected for the appropriate markings. Depending on the applicable standard, these markings may include origin of manufacture, core size, number of cores, year of manufacture, applicable BS standard, voltage rating, and approval body (BASEC, LPCB, etc).
The size of the cores should be checked to ensure the cable is fully compliant. This is an area where non-compliant cable manufacturers frequently cut costs given the high cost of raw materials. It is also an area that has the greatest impact on cable safety. Undersized conductors will overheat and create a fire hazard if operated at or near the full current valued specified.
If there are any doubts about cable compliance, many third party approval services offer internet access for obtaining the approval status of companies and their product. A swift check can provide the necessary assurance that appropriate approvals have been granted.
Where project changes are proposed, they should be questioned to ensure continued compliance. Keep records of purchases, deliveries and of all change orders.
As a catch-all, the specifier should also insist that commissioning tests and inspections are carried out thoroughly.

In recent times, the emphasis on safety and quality has been heightened by the introduction of various pieces of legislation which seek to ensure only the safest and most relevant products are installed in public buildings such as hospitals, schools, shopping malls and airports.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 introduced some major changes - replacing more than 70 pieces of fire safety law - and its full effects are only really just becoming more visible as the legislation is applied through the legal process.

The priority here is to safeguard business continuity, property protection and life safety. To this end, there is an imperative for the specifier and contractor to liaise with the ‘responsible person’ – whether the owner, manager or other person - to ensure that the products installed fully comply with applicable standards.

In serious cases where non-compliant product leads to legal action, penalties can include a fine of up to £5,000 for each offence on summary conviction in a magistrates’ court or an unlimited fine and up to two years imprisonment, on conviction or indictment in a Crown Court or above.

For all of these reasons, weighing the risks and threats to life and property is essential. If product compliance is compromised, the price to pay can be fatal and costly – a price nobody wants to pay.

Graham Turner is National Sales Manager for AEI Cables based at Birtley in Co Durham. Contact: AEI Cables Limited, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham DH3 2RA, Tel: 0191 410 3111, Fax: 0191 410 8312, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

electrical industry news featured articles