Clampdown on dodgy cables

04-03-2010

The newly launched Approved Cables Initiative (ACI) is a proactive and co-ordinated plan designed to investigate and address the issues of unsafe, non-approved and counterfeit cables in the UK marketplace and to educate the supply chain on the dangers.

The initiative is supported by a wide range of bodies including the British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC); Electrical Distributors Association (EDA); Electrical Contractors Association (ECA); Electrical Safety Council, and NICEIC.

The British Cables Association (BCA) has estimated that up to 20% of cable products in the supply chain are unsafe, non-approved or counterfeit and poses a significant health and safety threat. The ACI intends to ‘name and shame’ any companies, wholesalers, distributors or installers who persistently use or handle dangerous, non-approved cables. It will regularly test samples of cables suspected of being unsafe or non-approved and, if found to be unsafe, details will be passed to the relevant authorities.