Cable Company Backs Concern Over Compliance

Media Release
11 October 2007

Cable Company Backs Concern Over Compliance

New Zealand’s major providers of electrical and energy cable products has added its voice to concerns over widespread use of electrical components, including cables, which are being sold with no proof of compliance.

The Electrical Contractors’ Association of New Zealand and the Lighting Industry Council have spoken out recently (National Radio, September 27) with concerns that electrical safety is now effectively self-policing, with contractors often placed in a difficult position.

The groups say they are worried by the lack of compliance verification in some imported products, mostly sold in DIY and hardware stores, and increasingly through the internet, and the liability issues that might arise in the future when products fail. They liken the situation to the leaky homes crisis, where major problems have taken several years to become apparent.

General Cable New Zealand, the market leader in electrical and energy cable, believes while much of the concern centres around 230 volt halogen downlights, it is aware of significant volumes of building wire and other electrical cable products being imported without supporting compliance documents. It says most is distributed through informal networks and home improvement outlets, which also places DIY installers at risk.

Industry groups say electrical product compliance has also become a serious issue in Australia, with up to 50 house fires in Melbourne being attributed to improper installation of downlights by homeowners.

General Cable New Zealand says the appearance of unbranded cable products, such as TPS building wire, goes back several years. Initially it was distributed through informal networks, but more recently it has turned up in DIY outlets, hardware stores and via the internet.

Ken Burden, General Manager (Wholesale), says while the practice is still on a reasonably small scale there are real concerns in the industry about performance and safety issues.

“We have no problem with imported products per se, but it is important that contractors use products which are independently tested and offer a comprehensive warranty against defects or failure to comply with standards.”

“Our clients in New Zealand are telling us they want to have total confidence that the product supplied will perform reliably and that there will be consistency if further orders are placed.” General Cable’s quality processes include ISO 9001 accreditation for all operations and ISO 17025 for its laboratory.

About General Cable

General Cable (NYSE: BGC), headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminium and fibre optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy and specialty markets. The Company offers competitive strengths in such areas as breadth of product line, brand recognition, distribution and logistics, sales and service and operating efficiency. Communications wire and cable products transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications. Energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. The Specialty segment is comprised of application-specific cables for uses such as electrical power generation (traditional fuels, alternative and renewable sources, and distributed generation), the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, mining, industrial automation, automotive, marine, military and aerospace applications, power applications in the telecommunications industry, and other key industrial segments. Visit our website at www.GeneralCable.com.

Ends

© Scoop Media