Armoured Cable Termination.

[shaun gold]

I recently came across an armoured cable on an ECR that was installed in earthed metal trunking from one dis board to another.
Both ends of the armoured had not been glanded off and the SWA had been taped over. As it is enclosed in the tunking and both ends are in the
distribution boards would this be satisfactory as there is an extra core being used as the CPC so the SWA is not needed.

 

[ayjay]

just remove the plastic and the wire-armour job done
ot just leave it as it is
why split hairs on this forum?

 

[Engineer54]

Yeah it's your way or the highway! No room for other opinions!

This is exactly how and why standards in this industry continue to decline!!! So yes, i'll stick with doing things my way...

 

[VoltzElectrical]

This is exactly how and why standards in this industry continue to decline!!! So yes, i'll stick my way...

Really? standards are declining because people disagree with you and Tony? Who do you think you are?

 

[urbangee]

swa

You should always gland at least one end.

 

[Engineer54]

Really? standards are declining because people disagree with you and Tony? Who do you think you are?

Professional, qualified and more importantly, ...experienced Engineers, is the answer to your question!!!

Unfortunately, Your part of the problem, certainly not part of the cure, with remarks such as yours!!

 

[beatboaby924y]

I really hope you are not suggesting to put a BS951 clamp around a SWA

Don't see much wrong with it as you would only be bonding it to the trunking not using it as an earth.

 

[Sintra]

Don't see much wrong with it as you would only be bonding it to the trunking not using it as an earth.

Are BS 951 clamps designed to attach to a cable, I think not.

 

[Engineer54]

Don't see much wrong with it as you would only be bonding it to the trunking not using it as an earth.

Far better to use a constant force spring earth clamp, than a 951 pipe clamp. But in this case, the SWA cable shouldn't be there in the first place!!!

 

[ferg]

I think that there can sometimes be a marked difference between what is acceptable at the time of installation and what you do about it at a later date when you come across it in an EICR.

 

[ayjay]

its within trunking linking one supply to another the armouring is redundant
only the conductors within the armoured cable are in use
if it was outside of the containment it would need to be glanded off

 

[Jurasic Spark]

its within trunking linking one supply to another the armouring is redundant
only the conductors within the armoured cable are in use
if it was outside of the containment it would need to be glanded off

Agreed..
The reason we use armoured cable is when there is a need for the cable to be protected against mechanical damage (conduit, trunking etc can also be used for the same reason). We don't want a situation where impact by a nail, screw, garden spade or whatever can lead to risk of shock. So we negate this by earthing the steal armours at source and under fault conditions through impact the Zs will come into play by shorting R1 and R2 together.
If the swa is totally concealed within earthed metalic trunking then what is the problem?
We all know how swa should be installed.... but think about why.
Its ok saying its rough and lazy but can anyone quote a reg that it does not comply with, but not 134.1.1

 

[jase]

regardless of the installation or method used, is it worth a code and if so what code???

 

[Guest55]

no code.
IMO.