EOW May 2014

News Corporate

Check your cable sheathing

25 years and counting for SIF

purchased and the problem they have encountered. This should then be investigated by the supplier. With regard to the installation, ideally the problem cable should be replaced. However, if it is necessary to work around the problem, it is possible for the electrician to leave the outer sheathing in place and separate the cores by cutting down the centre line of the cable, being careful not to damage the insulation. All necessary electrical installation verification tests must then be performed. Electricians’ priority must be to ensure quality and safety. To help safeguard against the risk of installing cable which is substandard, electricians should ensure that the cable supplied is the correctly specified cable and always check the markings on the cable sheath – not just the packaging. For peace of mind, you should also insist on an independent third-party approved cable with a BASEC or HAR mark. It is important to note that the problem of unstrippable cable can happen with low smoke halogen free cables as well as PVC. BASEC – UK Website : www.basec.org.uk

and is advising manufacturers to be more vigilant in their production. Any cable batches found to have insufficient chalk should not be sold and should be returned to the supplier. Manufacturers are also advised to ensure the thickness of the sheath meets relevant standards. If the sheath is too thin cables can disintegrate when subjected to rigorous safety tests. For example, a cable sheath can fragment and break in a cold bending test if it is too thin. This problem could result in a fire, short circuit or an electric shock. Strippability can be readily checked by the electrician by feeling the free end of each reel of cable with a fingernail to see if the sheath can be lifted away from the cores. If it will not come away from the cores easily, then normal stripping of the cable should be attempted. If it is difficult to strip without damaging the insulation material, affected cable should be returned to the supplier. Installers should always make checks on each reel of cable used. If cable has been installed and then found to be unstrippable at second fix, the electrician should advise the supplier of the particular cable batches

Dr

Jeremy

Hodge,

chief

executive British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) advises end users and manufacturers to ensure the quality of cable sheathing before use. Europe should check their cable can be easily stripped before first fix installation. It is a simple and worthwhile check that can save time and cost later. If cable has been laid and plastering or decoration has been completed, when the installer comes to fit accessories at second fix and the cable cannot be stripped easily, there can be serious difficulties which will cost the electrician both time and money. In the cable production process, a sprinkling of fine chalk or a silicone spray is applied in between the cores of a multi core cable, which enables the sheath to be easily stripped from the cores. If the chalk runs out during production, or an insufficient amount of chalk is used, the sheath will stick to the cores and make the cable difficult or impossible to strip. Having reviewed this problem with installer organisations and cable manufacturers, BASEC is treating this problem as a serious production failure of the Electricians across

▲ ▲ iHV_PST550K15 from SIF

SIF, founded in 1989, celebrates its 25 th anniversary this year – and it is thanks to its research and development, innovation and thinking, which allows it to manufacture quality products, high value-added and technological content. This was shown at wire 2014 in Düsseldorf where the company showed its new iHV product family – the ‘i’ standing for innovative, intelligent, intuitive, illustrated and interactive, and the HV meaning high voltage. Common elements of these products are the GUI (graphical user interface) 7" touch screen with microcontroller

Board members retire

Two members of the International Wire and Machinery Association retired from the executive board at the annual general meeting in February. Terry Robinson, of XL Technologies UK Ltd, served as a board member, chairman, treasurer and a member of various sub-committees. Colin Dawson, of Whitelegg Machines Ltd, was a former chairman and elected president in 2012. Mr Robinson’s decision to retire from the board was strongly influenced by family duties. “I have enjoyed serving the association over the years and will, without doubt, miss the many friends I have made during my time at the IWMA,” he said. Mr Dawson’s place on the board has been taken by his son, Glyn, who will continue the tradition of Whitelegg Machines being a long-standing supporter of the IWMA. The company was one of the original founding members in 1970. IWMA – UK Website : www.iwma.org

▲ ▲ Terry Robinson, left, is presented with a gift on his retirement from the executive board 
by Paul Wright, board member

technology, a menu for the simple use of the device and a group of peripherals designed on function of the application.

▲ ▲ Colin Dawson, right, is thanked for his service by chairman Steven Rika

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www.read-eurowire.com

May 2014