Material & Mechanical Tests

BASEC conducts a number of tests on cable materials. These tests are specified in cable and material standards and are called up for a variety of cable types.

Tensile Strength and Elongation

Tensile Strength and Elongation

The tensile strength and elongation at break testing are used to assess the suitability of cable insulating and sheathing materials. Testing is not only conducted on samples of materials as manufactured but also after having elevated temperature conditioning to simulate several years of usage.

Example Cables

BS 5467

Nearly all cable types will have tensile strength and elongation at break testing conducted.

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Test Methods & Equipment

Air oven, universal material testing machine & dimensional measurement equipment. The 
BS 7655 & BS EN 50363 series’ specifications detail the materials' acceptance criteria. The test methods are specified in BS EN (IEC) 60811-401 & BS EN (IEC) 60811-501.

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Cold Bend / Cold Impact

Cold Bend / Cold Impact

Tests to check that cables can withstand bending/elongation and impact at low temperatures to ensure that the materials do not crack during installation and normal use.

Example Cables

BS 6004

These cold tests are intended for sheathed cables of any type, irrespective of the type of insulation of the cores, and for the insulation of wires, cables and flat cables without sheath.

Test Methods & Equipment

Freezer, test mandrels & impact device. The test methods are specified in BS EN (IEC) 60811-504, BS EN (IEC) 60811-505 & BS EN (IEC) 60811-506.

Hot Set

Hot Set

The hot set test is used to check that there is sufficient cross linking within a material.

Example Cables

BS 7211

Typically applies to cross-linkable compounds used for insulating and sheathing.

Test Methods & Equipment

Oven, loaded test grips & dimensional measurement equipment. The test method is specified in 
BS EN (IEC) 60811-507.

Hot Pressure

Hot Pressure

The pressure test at high temperature is used to check that sheathing and insulation materials are resistant to indentation at elevated temperatures.

Example Cables

BS 7211

Typically applies to cables with thermoplastic insulating and sheathing compounds.

Test Methods & Equipment

Vibration free air oven, loaded test blade 0.70 mm wide & dimensional measurement equipment. The test method is specified in BS EN (IEC) 60811-508.

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Abrasion

Abrasion

The purpose of this test is to demonstrate that an extruded oversheath will withstand abrasion during the laying operation.

Example Cables

BS 5467

Some examples of the types of cables that subjected to this test:

Test Methods & Equipment

A steel angle vertically loaded above the point of contact with the cable is moved repeatedly along a length of cable in accordance with BS EN 60229.

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Tear Test

Tear Test Tear Test

This test method determines the tear resistance of thermoplastic sheathing compound.

Example Cables

BS 6724

Armoured cables that utilise LTS 1 thermoplastic sheathing compound.

Test Methods & Equipment

Tensile testing machine and the method specified in BS 6469-99.1

Shrinkage

Shrinkage

This test determines the amount of shrinkage of the insulation/oversheath during exposure to heating. If the amount of shrinkage is excessive, this could lead to conductors being exposed during normal usage.

Example Cables

BS 5467

Examples of the types of cables that subjected to this test:

Test Methods & Equipment

Steel rule and electrically heated oven using the methods described in the cable standards and 
BS EN (IEC) 60811-502.