The basics to verifying validity of approved cables
Electrical installations require much collaboration and coordination through multiple teams, organisations and processes. Once an electrical, construction or infrastructure project has been scoped, specified and planned the procurement of components is often passed to buying teams, with final selections sometimes made without an electrical expert or engineer’s direct inputs.
A wide range of criteria are used to make these final purchase decisions, from quality to cost and everything in between. Depending on which criteria is most important a cost benefit assessment may be made, with compromise on some criteria over others, which may impact the quality of the cables’ selected overall.
Verifying validity
Best practise recommends that if a cable product or manufacturer claims to be approved or certified in the first instance:
1. The www.basec.org.uk company or product search functionality on the website homepage is utilised to locate and download active copies of their certification documentation
As test reports are not listed on the website, in the second instance if you are unable to locate the information to evidence testing has been conducted or wish to query if a product has been tested:
2. You should contact your local BASEC representative, the team is comprised of regional experts, who can investigate your request and obtain the details recorded in the laboratory testing library to verify or validate that a cable has been tested and has passed all tests
Foul play
BASEC’s terms and conditions make special reference to reproduction of certifications and reports, stating that:
“…only with BASEC’s written permission, can the report be reproduced, and then in its entirety and without any change, deletion or addition…”
The market often contacts the team to verify certificate validity as part of quality control checks. Those found to have engaged in activities that breach any of BASEC’s terms and conditions will be subject to appropriate action.
Actions deemed unacceptable include:
- Replication without permission
- Alteration or modification
- Falsification or misrepresentation
- Misuse of marks
Industry notification
Appropriate action, including legal action, the reporting of incidents to UKAS - the body who is responsible for accrediting BASEC’s testing and certification services, and the wider cable industry will be displayed on the BASEC website to ensure that those at risk of purchasing or installing cables, which do not hold valid reports, can publicly view any such announcements.
BASEC has always publicly displayed valid certification notices on the website and requires to do so as part of the UKAS accreditations held to ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17021 and their associated directives.
If you are ever in doubt, you are encouraged to get in contact via any of the following routes to discuss further
1. Contact your regional teams
2. Email us at mail@basec.org.uk
3. Chat with us on the website at www.basec.org.uk
