Safety highlighted by AEI Cables

Increasing importance of developing electrical fire performance systems for applications in public building developments is being highlighted by leading UK cable manufacturer AEI Cables.

The issue has been heightened by the introduction of various pieces of legislation which seek to ensure only the most relevant products are installed into large buildings where many people move about such as hospitals, schools, shopping malls and airports.

Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 which came into force in April this year, organisations will now be guilty of corporate manslaughter if there are 'gross failures' in the management of health and safety resulting in death.

A substantial part of this failure must be at 'senior level'.

Senior level is defined as the people who make significant decisions about the organisation, or at least substantial parts of it and that includes all of those in operational management roles.

Meanwhile, the new 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations also makes additional requirements for safety services, such as emergency escape lighting and fire protection applications.

Furthermore, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales introduced changes to this sector and shifted the emphasis of responsibility onto a more risk-based approach, whereby the responsible person - that is to say, the owner, manager or other persons - is responsible for the maintenance of a building or premises.

As such, the responsibility for agreeing to the specification of fire prevention systems and products, including cabling into a building, lies with that person.

Jim Duffy, Chief Executive of AEI Cables, said: "There is much confusion around at the moment with so many new pieces of legislation and we don't want to see any compromise in critical systems especially in large public building developments where large numbers of people move about.

"We are constantly asked for our advice on selecting the correct cable for fire performance applications.

With the experience gained as a result of having the largest product range in the industry for these applications, which includes both soft skin and mineral cables, we are happy to assist".

The latest figure for the total cost of fire in England and Wales was estimated at GBP7.7billion per year, approximately 0.9% of the national income, according to the Fire and Rescue Service.

The cost of attending false alarms alone - often caused by faulty electrical systems - was estimated at around GBP1.4 billion.

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