Why third-party testing and certification matter for cable innovation and safety

The importance of having the cable undergo continued assessments through stringent third-party testing and ongoing surveillance remains, whereby the manufacturer can demonstrate maintained levels of quality and safety. This passes on assurance to their customers such as specifiers, designers and installers. As part of the approval held with BASEC, Certificates of Assessed Design are renewed every 3 years as part of ongoing surveillance and to test for maintained levels of performance.

Aaron Walstow, Director at Doncaster Cables explains further

“Whilst EV-Ultra® is now patented, we still see a great amount of value in the BASEC approval process. Having EV-Ultra® BASEC approved means that installers, designers and specifiers can have the upmost confidence in their cable selection and that it offers at least the same degree of safety as equivalent BS7671 cable choices.

In our opinion any cable that is combining power and data that is not BASEC approved should be treated with caution. The onus is on the person responsible for the install to demonstrate that their product choice offers at least the same degree of safety, and whilst having BASEC approval on EV-Ultra® makes this very simple, the cost driven world that we live in very often leads people to cut corners, save money and give an inferior product (all in the aim of a lower price point).”

Cables that do not carry third-party product approval may not have been subjected to the same rigour and required tests to determine that they perform safely. In relation to new innovations of cable products in the market where there are no existing national or international standards relating specifically to the cable, without third-party verification there is greater risk of poor performance such as increased conductor resistance and substandard sheathing that can lead to cracking. All stakeholders within the supply chain have a level of responsibility to ensure cables are designed, manufactured, supplied and installed safely, however it is crucial for the installer in particular to check that the cable is compliant and not counterfeit.

Aaron Walstow comments

“Installers would not install a twin and earth cable that was not BASEC approved, and this is a cable type that is a well-established, understood, and has a regular British Standard. The innovation of combining power and data in one cable is complex, and we believe anyone choosing to install a none BASEC approved version of it should really question this decision. For all the right reasons it has become normal for simple cables (such as twin and earth) to only be accepted with BASEC approval, why would this not be the case for more complex cables? Surely it should be more necessary?”

“We aim to proactively work with the entire supply chain to offer innovative cable solutions that not only make installs quicker, neater and easier, but also give installers, specifiers and consultants confidence with regards to cable quality, reliability, repeatability and compliance. Our mission is to be The Electricians Cable of Choice, and we see BASEC approval as being a key component of achieving that. Third party BASEC approval combined with us considering at every stage of our manufacturing processes demonstrates how we can add value for the electrician. Whether that is ease of install, product lifespan, product quality, or the support and service that our British sales/technical team can provide. We will continue to always think of the electrician so that we can give them benefits when they choose to support a British cable manufacturer that produces an extensive range of BASEC approved, high quality cables for electricians.”

To be confident of cable quality always demand third-party approval and look for the BASEC mark. To find out more about how a Certificate of Assessed Design provides value or view Doncaster Cables complete list of cable certifications, contact the team.