IDH: First BASEC Approval for Arctic Flex Cable

Click here to download the January 2011 edition of the IDH newsletter. Irish Driver-Harris Co Ltd has been manufacturing electrical cable since 1934. The company prides itself on excellent customer service and the supply of quality approved cables.

The worldwide recession has brought extreme pressure on prices, particularly on the ever-decreasing construction sector. Price pressure has resulted in a worrying trend – an increasing amount of substandard, counterfeit and faulty electrical cable becoming available on the market.

It has been estimated that as much as 20% of the cable on the UK market is non-approved and potentially unsafe to use. These cables present a serious ongoing risk to life and property should they fail. Many of these cables, manufactured with substandard materials, risk over-heating which can lead to short circuits and fires. In one study it was estimated that 27% of all electrical fires in the UK are due to the electric cables installed.

In specifying cable it is essential to choose a cable with third party approval. BASEC, the British Approvals Service for Cables, is the recognised assurance that is required in determining the quality, fitness for purpose and origin of a cable. BASEC rigorously tests cable to meet the necessary and appropriate British, European and international standards. This is done by a thorough and detailed examination of the manufacturer’s production processes and controls. One of the main features of BASEC’s approval regime is the regular retesting of cable. Only products that meet the requirements determined by BASEC may mark their cable as BASEC approved. Further assistance and information on BASEC is available on their website, www.basec.org.uk.

Irish Driver Harris manufactures a wide range of low voltage electric cables, in both PVC and LSZH materials, which comply with all the relevant standards and are approved by BASEC. These include flexible and fixed wiring cables, fire alarm cables and cables fit for use in partition walls and ceilings as well cables for a number of other applications.

IDH are currently the only company that has a BASEC approved arctic flexible cable. There are many different manufacturers that have made so-called arctic cable available on the market. However, many of these companies supply very poor quality cable which is not fit for purpose and may fail in service. Severe winters and extremely cold temperatures make many of these substandard arctic cables brittle. This means that the insulation materials are likely to crack when they are subject to bending and flexing.

Arctic cables are commonly used as temporary wiring on construction sites for temporary power supplies, lighting, compressors and for extension leads for portable tooling. They may also be used in cold stores. The correct standard to which arctic cables should be manufactured is BS7919 table 44. Cables which meet these standards must pass cold temperature tests at -40oC. Again, it is important that only BASEC approved cable is used.

In addition to arctic cables, IDH offers the broadest range of low voltage, low smoke and zero halogen (LSZH) cables in the market under its Fumeguard™ brand, Kilflam™ – a full range of fire resistant cables and Guardian™, the first BASEC approved pre-wired conduit. All IDH’s cables are produced under the strictest quality systems, manufactured to the highest standards and approved by BASEC and LPCB.

The dedicated sales and technical team at IDH would be more than happy to help with any queries.