FAQs

FAQs

The 18th edition of the wiring regulations were published in July of 2018.  

From the 1st July 2017, the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) came into effect for cable: from that point, it was made illegal to distribute or sell non CPR compliant cable for permanent installation in buildings.

Firstly, it is important to isolate the installation from the mains supply before attempting to check or repair flooded cables. For obvious reasons, the sooner the flood recedes and action is taken the more likely it is that the cables will not be adversely affected.
While our contractual guarantee for cables is 12 months from delivery electricians, electrical engineers and their clients can be confident that Prysmian cable will have a design life of 25 years or more. 
Prysmian’s very large, long, or heavy cables, like our armoured power cables, are supplied in bulk with the cable wound onto either a metal, or more commonly, a wooden drum. This allows for ease of handling, transportation, delivery and ultimately for installation
For temperatures above 5°C, the installation of any cable should not be an issue. Below that temperature, however, the minimum handling temperature will depend on several factors including: the type of cable, the severity of cable bends, the speed of bending and the manner in which the cable is installed. These guidelines are also applicable for cables being installed when the ambient temperature is above 5°C, but which have been stored at a lower temperature in the previous 24 hours (48 hours for large drums of cable). 
EMC problems are considered to be more likely to occur when un-armoured and un-screened cables are used in close proximity. The best way to reduce interference is when both the influencing power cable and the influenced control cable are separated by the maximum possible distance and/or both cables are either armoured or screened.
If you think you have spotted non-compliant cable, it is REALLY IMPORTANT that you report it. Firstly, you should bring it to the attention of the person from whom you bought the cable (it’s their legal responsibility to make sure the products are compliant). If you don’t get a satisfactory answer from them, then you should report it to your local Trading Standards Office and to the Approved Cables Initiative on 0208 946 6978 or www.aci.org.uk. 

We recommend all purchasers should check that all cable products they consider:  

  • Are marked with the manufacturer’s name and factory identifier, so they can be traced.
  • Have the correct British Standard (BS EN) Standard number.
  • Have third party approval by BASEC or other HAR approved body.
  • Have marking with the correct number of cores and cross sectional area.
  • Be marked with the correct voltage rating.
  • Be correctly packaged with the manufacturer’s traceability information.
  • Have the correct national cable code.
  • Have the year of its manufacture written on it.
  • Are checked against the delivery note and be the same as the order placed
  • Have a DoP to the CPR where required. 
The green goo coming out of, usually twin and earth cable, is the product of a reaction between decomposing plasticiser (a plasticiser is an oily liquid used in the manufacture of PVC compounds) and the copper conductors of PVC cables. It’s better known as cable ‘greening’. 
Medium voltage or MV cables are rated between 6.6 and 33kV and we manufacture the full range in Britain including joints and terminations. MV cables are used by Distribution Network Operators and electrical contractors to connect substations and major constructions such as rail networks, industrial parks and conurbations and form the local power infrastructure. 
Embodied carbon in general, quantifies the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction, lifetime and demolition of a building or infrastructure project, including all its materials. To find out more visit here: https://uk.prysmian.com/embodied-carbon