Cable Markings
With changes in legislation it’s now vital that buyers and installers of electrical cable use only products from reputable manufacturers. With many poor quality cables still available in the market, Draka has produced this simple guide showing you what to look for.
A good quality cable should have the following markings to signify to the buyer or the installer that it’s a product of authenticity.
 Manufacturer’s Origin Mark - All cable should bear a manufacturer’s name.
 British Standard Number – By marking the cable with this standard number, the manufacturer has confirmed conformity to this standard. This amounts to a claim by or on behalf of the manufacturer that the product meets the requirement of the standard. The accuracy of this claim is solely the claimants and it should not be confused with 3rd party accreditation.
 BASEC Marking – This is only allowable if the cable has been tested by BASEC and continues to meet the surveillance requirements.
 Harmonised Cable Mark and Harmonised Designation – As a part of the pan European CENELEC harmonisation scheme, these markings denote that the cable is harmonised. HAR is a voluntary mark which signifies a quality cable.
 Conductor Size – The cross sectional area of the copper conductor.
 Year Letter – A letter attributable to the year of manufacture.
 Origin of Manufacture – Country of origin.
 Harmonised Core Colours – From 2004 UK core colours fell into line with the rest of Europe.
 If it’s not marked, it’s not worth it.
From our research it’s apparent that unmarked and often poor quality cable is still finding its way onto the UK marketplace. If installed it could prove to be downright lethal. With no markings on the cable it’s difficult to know its origins and more importantly whether you can trust that it’s safe to install.
At Draka, we’re saying “if it’s not marked, it not worth it” and we would like you to join our campaign by sending us examples of any unmarked cables you might come across to help us uphold the high standards we set. Send your samples to Mark Froggatt, Marketing Manager, Draka Limited, Alfreton Road, Derby, DE21 4AE stating where and when you acquired the cable and what you think the problem is.
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CLICK HERE to request a free copy of our Cable Markings Guide.
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