With the UK having already experienced some severe winter weather, the Approved Cables Initiative (ACI) is advising contractors and distributors to check their cable choices.
Recent market surveillance has detected failures on numerous examples of arctic grade flexibles including pre-assembled industrial hook-up leads. These samples were purchased from a variety of sources including electrical wholesalers, DIY stores, online retailers and eBay stores.
Major concerns arose when ordinary duty flexibles (designed for indoor use to +5°C) were discovered coloured yellow, in what could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to pass the cable off as an arctic grade flexible (designed for use at sub-zero temperatures and tested down to -40°C).
The pre-assembled yellow leads, sold as industrial extension leads designed for use in harsh environments, incorporated cable clearly marked as H05VV-F (ordinary duty flexible). When subjective to the cold bend test as an arctic grade flexible the cable failed to maintain its integrity; the sheath split open and insulation cracked, subsequently exposing what would be live copper conductors.
Arctic grade cable is often used on construction sites and by caravan and motorhome owners to provide temporary outdoor power supplies and in some indoor applications such as cold stores.
Whilst it is normal to have different colours of H05VV-F flexibles (such as white, black, orange and gold), yellow and blue are commonly associated with arctic grade flex and these substandard products could lead end-users to use cable unsuitable for their intended purpose.
Suppliers and end users, who need cable suitable for outdoor use in the cold, should look for the cable marking ‘BS 6004’ and the UK cable code for arctic grade cable, such as ‘3183A’. Cables marked with ‘H05VV-F’ are not intended to be suitable for such use.
For more information on the ACI please visit: http://www.aci.org.uk/
