Cabling a Safer Britain

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Cabling a Safer Britain
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Mission Statement

• The ACI initiative involves the cable systems
  supply chain end to end - from manufacturer
  through installer to end-user - to ensure that
  cable systems and products purchased and
  installed throughout the UK are safe,
  fit-for-purpose and fully compliant with the
  requisite specifications, standards and approvals.

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• The Issue

• The distribution of non-approved, counterfeit
  and unsafe products throughout the UK is
  creating major risks for the Industry and
  the UK community.
• These products directly undermine UK European
  Approval Standards.
• It is estimated that 20 of cable products in
  the supply chain are non-approved, unsafe or
  counterfeit.
• The problem is becoming an increasing issue
  with major incentives for unscrupulous
  manufacturers and distributors to offer such
  products.

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Fake Fire Resistant Cables
Cable markings 2x1.5mm² sq. FIRE FLEX 300/500
VOLT BS6360 BS6387 CAT B IEC 331 BRITISH MADE
CABLE

• Key points
• Not fire resistant PVC insulation PVC sheath
  fails within 2 mins
• Not compliant with any standards marked on sheath
• Copper coated steel conductors low conductivity
  not compliant
• Steel circuit protective conductor low
  conductivity not compliant
• Probably not British made

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Fake Fire Resistant Cables
Cable markings 2x1.5mm² SQ FIRE FLEX FIRE
RESISTANT CABLE LPCB 682a/01 BS5839-12002 26.2d
BS 6360/BS6387 CWZ BS EN 50200 PH30 300/500V
BRITISH MADE CABLE

• Key points
• Not fire resistant PVC insulation
  polyethylene sheath
• Not compliant with any standards marked on sheath
• Copper coated aluminium conductors low
  conductivity not to spec
• Undersize circuit protective conductor also Cu
  coated Al
• Not LPCB approved uses another manufacturers
  approval number
• Probably not British made

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Fake Approval Mark
Cable markings ltHARgt 1 x 10 sqmm² BS 6004

• Key points
• Counterfeit ltHARgt registered trade mark
• HAR Approval Body is not identified
• Undersized conductor only suitable for use as a
  6 sqmm cable
• Incorrect marking Harmonised Code Designation
  is missing
• No manufacturers name or trademark
• Similar problem cable marked 16 sqmm seen

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Non-compliant PVC Arctic grade Flex
Cable markings ltHARgt 3183AG 1.5 SQMM BS6500

• Key points
• Undersize conductor low conductivity - about
  1mm² instead of 1.5mm²
• Cable sheath falls apart in low temperature bend
  test
• Not compliant with standard marked on sheath

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Non-compliant PVC Arctic grade Flex
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Non-compliant Armoured cables
Cable Markings KAYDOUR ELECTRIC Grade 1100V as
per BS5467 35 Sqmm

• Key points
• Insufficient steel wire armour conductivity
  wire diameter too small
• Armour wires not sufficiently galvanised
  corrosion evident
• Insufficient copper conductor conductivity more
  like a 25 mm²
• Not complaint with standard marked on sheath

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Other examples

• Reels marked 100 on the label with no unit of
  measure (although the invoice states 100m)
  actually measured as 100 yards (92m)
• BASEC label on reels although product not BASEC
  approved
• Reels marked 100m yet measure at 94m
• Printing of deliberately incorrect, false or
  misleading information on cables / labels / reels
• Cables with no markings on them whatsoever

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• Risks Statistics
• Parliamentary questions elicited the information
  that more than a quarter of the electrical fires
  in England are due to problems with wires, cables
  and leads to appliances.
• Government ministers revealed that there were
  4093 fires across England in 2007 that were
  attributable to faulty wires and cables in homes
  and businesses. This is 27 of all electrical
  fires - and this rate has increased over the
  previous five years.
• These statistics also show that there were 15
  fatalities and 1200 non-fatal injuries due to
  faulty wires and cables over the past 5 years.
• Tabled by C Huhne MP for Eastleigh
• Statistics from Department of Communities and
  Local Government

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ACI

• EASTLEIGH MP WARNS ON FIRE DEATHS FROM FAULTY
  CABLES
• Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne has warned that many
  lives could be lost in fires caused by
  sub-standard imports of electrical cable.
• This shoddy cable is a threat to British lives
  and local jobs and we must fight it vigorously
  said Mr Huhne. Buying cheap sub-standard cable
  is a clear fire risk and could expose builders
  and wholesalers to actions for negligence or
  worse.
• Mr Huhne has tabled parliamentary questions on
  behalf of Prysmian, a major local employer in
  Bishopstoke that produces EU-tested quality
  cable. More than a quarter of the electrical
  fires in England are due to problems with wires,
  cable and leads to appliances.
• In answer to Mr Huhne, government ministers
  revealed that there were 4,093 fires across
  England in 2007 that were attributable to faulty
  wires and cables in homes and businesses. This is
  27 per cent of all electrical fires.
• This is a terrible danger and a wholly avoidable
  problem if people take care to rewire with cable
  that is made to EU standards rather than buy
  cheap but dangerous cable from unscrupulous
  suppliers said Mr Huhne.

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The problem

• Through the supply chain many organisations have
  purchased, stocked or installed some of these
  products
• The vast majority of these are not even aware of
  the seriousness of the problem
• AND they cannot really tell by looking at a cable
  that something is not as it should be

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• Liabilities Responsibilities

Health Safety at Work Act
Electricity at Work Regulations

• Unlimited Fine
• 2 Years Imprisonment

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• Liabilities Responsibilities

Consumer Protection Action
For Corporate Manslaughter Police and HSE will
prosecute
Unlimited fine levied on Company Up to 10
annual turnover
Life imprisonment for any Senior Manager
involved in sale of the unsafe products
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ACI Co-ordination

• The Approved Cables Initiative is the BCA
  Co-ordinated Group
• - working with the Supply Chain Representative
  Bodies including
• 
  
• To address the issue of unsafe, unapproved and
  counterfeit cable entering the UK supply chain.

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• Framework

Communicate
Educate
Investigate
Eradicate
Legislate
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• Communicate

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• Educate

• Listing of Approved Suppliers / Products

• Listing of manufacturers / distributors of
  non-approved cable

• Programme of

Seminars and Presentations
Wholesaler/Contractor Meetings Workshops
ECA NICEIC Regional Forums
Link to related programmes

• Educate wholesalers and contractors at point of
  sale to identify Approved versus non-approved
  cable.

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Investigate

• Obtain samples of unsafe/unapproved cable and
  test them
• Involve all the supply chain in this policing of
  non-approved cable products, not just
  manufacturers
• Ensure fast response on testing cycle and feedback

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Eradicate

• Once proven then communicate and take action as
  appropriate
• Involve police, HSE, Trading Standards
• Communications to include
• Manufacturer of non-approved cable
• Distributor(s) of non-approved cable
• Head Office of wholesaler(s) whose branches sell
  non-approved cable
• NICEIC, ECA, EDA, ENA (risk alert message to all
  members to check / be alert for this product /
  manufacturer / wholesale branch / distributor)

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• Legislate
• Co-ordinated campaign to increase regulation and
  standards for supply of cable products into the
  UK market
• Implement lobbying campaign through Government,
  Regulatory Bodies, Industry Associations to
  highlight the issues and generate demand for
  change and improved standards

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• Key Actions

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• 1) Communicate

Major customers
Industry supply chain associations
Edmundson
ECA
Rexel
EDA
ANEW
NICEIC
Fegime
ESC
ENA

• conference
• Workshops
• Executive forums National

• Executive Forums
• Regional Conferences
• In-house Publications

- Local
Alliance Partners
Strategic Suppliers
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2) Tools

• BASEC Logos Distinct, separate marks for
  approved products
• and
  for quality management systems
• Cable Marking Wallet card checklist of
  required cable markings
• Wallet Card Listing of Approved Products
  Approved Suppliers
• Go/No-go Gauge Simple gauge to help check
  cable wire sizes
• Cable Resistance Simple resistance tester
  for Wholesaler Branches
• and
  Contractors / Installers

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3) Samples Testing

• Increase collection rate of suspect cables
• Increase testing facilities available
• Reduce testing and reporting feedback timetable
  cycle to 2 weeks maximum

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4) Policing Framework

• Prepare process and procedures for
  implementation
• HSE
• Trading Standards
• BASEC
• Police
• Deliverables

NAME
SHAME
PENALTIES
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5) Legislate

• Plan lobbying programme
• Co-ordinated campaign with Government Regulator
  Bodies.
• High level Programme to secure new legislation

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6) Funding

• Funding budget of 400k is required to finance
  this campaign over the next 3 years.
• Support by all parties is critical to ensure
  a successful outcome.

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Summary

• The ACI is the most important campaign that the
  BCA has tackled in past 10 years.
• This issue must be tackled head-on and eradicated
  in the long term.
• The ACI touches and involves everyone in the
  cable systems supply chain
• It is the responsibility of everyone in the
  supply chain to get involved.
• The ACI will only be successful if the supply
  chain demonstrably co-ordinates to address this
  issue and the campaigns.

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• If you are going to buy a parachute.
• Would you buy the cheapest one?

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ACI Progress Current Status

• Support secured of EDA, ECA, ESC, NICEIC, ENA
• Support secured of all major customers
• Paper and presentation at ECA conference May
  2009
• Commitment and support of local MPs
• Meeting with HSE and agreed posting of ACI
  messages
• Liaison with BBC regarding fake electrical
  products programmes
• Liaison with ESC counterfeit programme
• Liaison with BEAMAs Electrical Bulldog
  initiative
• Briefed EU Cable Trade Association who will copy
  our programme
• Legal opinions on naming and shaming
• BASEC Drafts for 2 distinct logos, quality
  system and product
• Planning of PR campaign BASEC and BCA
• ACI Summary presentation complete
• ACI Website planning
• First article in preparation
• 6 months action programme prepared