NEWEY & EYRE IS ALL FIRED UP OVER FIRE CABLE SPECIFICATION, ASSERTING QUALITY CONTROL IS VITAL
Against the backdrop of increased focus on raising safety standards, Newey & Eyre is reminding installers that, when it comes to specifying fire rated cable, it’s important to choose from a reputable manufacturer to ensure quality control.
As we all know, soft skin fire performance control cables are an essential part of a buildings emergency and safety systems, designed to protect a system’s circuit integrity when under fire conditions.
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Up until ten years ago the specification process of these cables couldn’t have been simpler; with only one type of control soft skin fire cable typically used, and just one set of performance tests and regulations to meet legal requirement. However, changes to BS 5839 fire system standards in 2003 coupled with the BS 8519 in 2010 have set three very clear standards for soft skin control fire categories with recommendations of what type, and where and when to use each cable, varying in fire resistance performance levels.
As a result, today’s contractors must be extremely careful, not just in terms of choosing the right type of fire cable for the application, but to also be vigilant about the quality of cable. However, with so many different products on the market, some of which are distinctly lesser quality than others, it can be all too difficult to ensure a cable meets the standards it claims.
With this in mind, Newey & Eyre recently extended its product offer with the introduction of the innovative NoBurn range from Ventcroft, which, unlike many manufacturers, has a cable type to meet all the UK requirements for soft skin fire cables in accordance with the BS 5839 and the BS 8519 Code of Practice.
As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of this cable type, Ventcroft houses state of the art test and fire labs, to monitor and maintain consistent high quality with product batches tested on a daily basis. NoBurn fire cables are 3rd party approved by BASEC (The British Approvals Service for Cables) and LPCB (The Loss Prevention Certification Board).
Bob Masters, Category Manager at Newey & Eyre comments: “Today, against the backdrop of an increasing number of poor quality products entering the market, contractors need to be extremely careful about making the right choice of fire cable. Typically, a visual check will reveal little difference but the implications of choosing a poor quality or incorrect cable can be vast; in terms of the integrity of the installation and safety and legal compliance, not to mention the damage that can be done to an installer’s reputation.
“By buying the NoBurn range from Newey & Eyre, installers can be assured the cable effectively ‘does what it says on the sheath’, with Ventcroft operating one of the most stringent testing procedures on the market, and all approvals reviewed and checked regularly.
Jim Malone, Sales Director at Ventcroft adds “Fire cable specification is a serious business. The recommendations of BS 5839 and the BS 8519 Code of Practice when added to the continually increased changes to legislation and regulations on fire cables, has made the task of fire cable selection ever more demanding. Add to this, the risk to public safety due to sub-standard fire cables available in the electrical market, the task can be a minefield.
However, by choosing the NoBurn range, contractors can be assured of meeting all current UK requirements for fire resistant soft skin control cables in one simple, quality-assured solution.”
