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STEVEN DOBSON: WE FOUND THIS DURING AN EICR ON A HAIRDRESSER’S UNIT. I’M NOT SURE IF THE SUB-MAINS SWA CONFORMS?!
Inappropriate termination of armoured cables is something that seems to be happening more and more, and installers sometimes don’t understand the potential dangers associated with doing it.
Firstly, the use of BS 951 clamps is not acceptable for use on armoured cables in this manner. This type of practice will put undue stress on the conductors, which may well damage them.
Secondly, the stripped-back conductors now only have basic insulation; the sheathing that surrounds them is a filler, designed to cushion the basic insulation from the armour strands. This filler sheath does not possess the mechanical strength or properties required by the manufacturing standard for the cable.
So, in essence, we have two primary infringements from a BS 7671 perspective, plus the obligatory failure to comply with manufacturers’ requirements and installation using good working practices.
On top of these basic faults, we also have a situation where the cable is unlikely to be supported correctly, and so leading to a strain on the terminations.
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