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Are Cable Verifications Being Carried Out In Line With The 17th Edition?

16/07/2009

Dr Jeremy Hodge, chief executive of BASEC, is concerned that some electrical installers are not following prescribed procedures when using cables that are not compliant with British or Harmonised European standards. They may be using these cables in an un-safe way such as burying a non-armoured cable without additional protection, using braid as a CPC, or using cable unsuitable for outside use in outdoor applications. 

Whilst these alternative cables may seem easier to work with, they are likely to be less robustly constructed and not designed with the IEE Wiring Regulations in mind.. 

The 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations permits use of alternative products but a "verification of safety equivalence must be undertaken" - and there is little evidence to suggest that these verifications are actually being carried out. There is also a requirement to note deviations from practice.  Installers are issuing Electrical Installation Certificates without noting these deviations from practice. 

BASEC – the British Approvals Service for Cables - is currently consulting with the Wiring Regulations Committee to ascertain its views on this matter.  In the meantime BASEC's advice to specifiers or installers who consult us is that the use of alternative cables is permitted, but that whenever such non-standard cables are used a verification of safety equivalence needs to be undertaken by a competent person.  This should include specifically the external influences that the cable is subject to in use, compared with using the cable types specified in the Wiring Regulations.  The verification of safety equivalence should be formally documented, recorded and passed to the authority signing off the installation.