With the 18th Edition amendments coming into force from the 1st of January 2019, cable regulations are changing and anyone who installs any type of cabling needs to make sure they’re compliant.
Did you know that there were fourteen deaths from cable entrapment between 2004 and 2014?
Overhead cabling doesn’t normally present a lot of danger, and most of the time, it’s out of sight and out of mind. However, the Requirements for Electrical Installations (BS 7671:2018) changes are specifically designed to prevent deaths by ensuring all wiring is kept up and out of the way.
Why The Change?
In a fire, falling cables present a major risk in public buildings or offices. For example, plastic trunking which holds and hides wiring gets hot and melts, and with the combined weight of the cables, the whole lot is brought down. The same will happen with cabling held up with plastic clips or conduit.
As a result, exit routes are blocked for those escaping. And for firefighters trying to save lives and tackle the flames, equipment carried on their backs can become entangled, putting their lives seriously at risk.
Everyone is at risk of entrapment in a fire caused by falling cables.
Who Needs To Comply?
This is a compliance issue for all those who are responsible for installing cables in escape routes, and is only applicable to new installations.
All fire alarm, HVAC, CCTV, Datacom, telecom and general electrical cabling now needs to be installed with cable support clips which are fire resistant. It is essential that all cable installers are up to date with new regulations as they are ultimately responsible.
Where Can I Buy These Clips?
Metal cable clips with a melting point of over 1,000°C are thankfully becoming more commonplace. All of the fire cable clips we sell are compliant with the new regulations, and thankfully they’re easy, quick and cost-effective to install too.
With the Linian 18th Edition Fire Cable Clips, available in different sizes and colours, you simply drill a small hole, seat the cable within the clip, and then insert the clip to securely hold the cable, without screws. Three times faster to install than traditional methods, these are also stronger than most others around.
Or, with our Firefly 18th Edition Fire Cable Trunking Clips, you can still securely hold your cabling in place whilst hiding them from view with trunking. Ideal for new installations and retrofits, and with sizes available to suit most trunking, they’re spring-loaded for easy installation and removal, requiring just one screw to hold them in place.
These are designed to save lives, so don’t wait around to start installing these brand new, innovative fire cable clips.
