Following the Grenfell tragedy, the focus has been on whether fire cladding is a hazard. A cable manufacturer has pointed out that cheap cabling can also be a fire hazard.
Following advice by Dame Judith Hackett who chaired the review on building regulations after Grenfell, the government has proposed additional measures to strengthen fire safety in residential buildings. These include pilot schemes to test safety improvements, mandatory inspection of electrical installations in the private rented sector, and the formation of the Safety Steering Group to improve safety.
Maurizio Bragagni, the CEO of cable manufacturers Tratos UK, argues that cheap cables made outside of the UK can be a dangerous fire risk. According to the Local Authority Building Control, over 27% of electrical fires are caused by faulty wires.
There are safety standards for cables, but in October 2017, the BBC revealed evidence that a Turkish cable manufacturer has sold at least 11 million metres of cables in the UK that did not meet UK fire safety regulations. After the exposure, only seven million cables were recalled, leaving another four million in use.
Bragagni has started the Safer Structure Campaign which seeks to raise cable safety standards. He welcomes Dame Judith Hackett’s report on building regulations but is concerned that there is no mention of cables.
Keeping industrial building safe from fire risk involves many strategies including safety signs, clearly marking fire exits and fire doors, and installing smoke detectors. Checking cables is an additional protection measure.
