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Copper Price

Rising copper prices have added to the problem.  Manufacturers of cable may be tempted to cut corners and use less copper in the manufacturing process.

Drawing down the diameter of the copper wire too much has the effect of increasing resistance (reducing conductance), and cables with insufficient conductance may overheat and cause fire or offer a reduced the level of safety against electric shock.  Cable standards specify the maximum resistance required.

We also see the use of materials other than pure copper, such as steel wire, copper-coated aluminium or badly recycled copper in cables.

The problems don’t stop with copper content, though.  As BASEC has investigated some of these inferior products, we have discovered that some have incorrect cable construction, or use incorrect insulation and sheathing material leading to cracking, and in some instances they have poor smoke and fire performance in supposedly fire and smoke rated cables.