Approved Cables Initiative to educate supply chain

The Approved Cables Initiative (ACI) recently launched its proactive and co-ordinated plan to investigate and address the issue of unsafe, non-approved and counterfeit cables in the UK marketplace.

The UK market for electrical cables and systems has an approximate value of £2bn. It is estimated up to 20% of cable product in the cable systems supply chain is unsafe, non-approved or counterfeit*, a major concern for the entire industry, from manufacturer through installer to end user.

The ACI, with industry and regulator support, aims to educate the electrical industry about purchasing and installing such cables, and raise awareness of the existence of unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors.

The launch, held in Westminster, was hosted by the British Cables Association (BCA) with widespread support from industry trade bodies including the British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC), Electrical Distributors Association (EDA); Electrical Contractors Association (ECA); Electrical Safety Council, and NICEIC Group.

Unsafe, non-approved cables often have copper conductors that are undersized with low conductivity, non-fire-resistant sheathing, or insufficient or poor quality armouring. Counterfeit cables can even have copper-coated steel or aluminium conductors in place of copper, therefore posing a serious risk of electric shock or fire, if over loaded. Some carry no markings at all, but the majority are fraudulently marked, showing standards and approvals to which they have no claim and are clearly intended to mislead the distributor, wholesaler and installer.

With industry and regulator support, the ACI has pledged to educate the electrical supply chain - from manufacturer to end user through a comprehensive communication programme of seminars, marketing material and articles to national trade media. For suspect importers, manufacturers and distributors, the ACI will be direct in its approach to investigate and publicise the results. The ACI is also calling on government to enforce and develop legislation ensuring only cables that fully comply with British, European or International standards and carry a third party certification can be manufactured for sale, offered for sale, distributed or installed in the UK.

*BCA - this is an estimated figure based on feedback from discussions with manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and contractors/installers and other initiatives.