Is this twisted cloth flex double or single insulated?

[Selfmade]

Hi Folks

Just bought some of this Bronze Twisted Fabric Flex - Braided Cloth Cable Lighting Wire - https://www.industville.co.uk/products/light-brown-twisted-fabric-flex-braided-cloth-cable-lighting-wire?variant=1184660808&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI14zguOzl3wIVRbDtCh2C9QQCEAkYASABEgJA0fD_BwE for a job. The description says double insulated but the BS EN number quoted is for single. I've received it and there is one layer of plastic (presumably PVC) insulation and the woven sheath. Does the sheath provide the double insulation as the seller seems to imply? I'm a little bit dubious.

 

[Selfmade]

Thanks all for the interesting and helpful replies. So I guess the question I should be asking is 'is the sheath capable of providing fault protection?', or, to put that another way, 'if the insulation failed, would the sheath provide protection against shock/electrocution?'.

 

[DPG]

What exactly are you using the flex for??

 

[Selfmade]

What exactly are you using the flex for??

For a chandelier, between the ceiling rose part and the lampholder part, running alongside the chain that supports the weight. Chain is being lengthened and existing flex is too short.

 

[westward10]

The technical info states two layers of pvc so the braid may well be just aesthetic.

 

[Selfmade]

The technical info states two layers of pvc so the braid may well be just aesthetic.

This is what I assumed before I bought it. But looking at it, I can't distinguish two layers of PVC. It looks like just one. I may try stripping it with my CK auto stripper as that usually strips double insulated (insulated and sheathed?) singles in two separate layers.

 

[DPG]

I'd strip and it and have a look yes. As above, the braid will be for looks only and it's very unlikely to offer anything other than minimal insulation properties.

 

[Selfmade]

I'd strip and it and have a look yes. As above, the braid will be for looks only and it's very unlikely to offer anything other than minimal insulation properties.

Will give that a go.

 

[Selfmade]

Stripped in one go but looking at it again I see that the line & neutral actually have very thin coloured layers over thicker white layers, while earth is g/y right through. So I guess it is insulated and double sheathed!

 

[telectrix]

no.it's probably when they made the cable, they ran out of coloured dye so the inner bit is white.

 

[westward10]

If you are going to use this especially for commercial purposes I would like to see BASEC approval.

 

[Selfmade]

If you are going to use this especially for commercial purposes I would like to see BASEC approval.

Good point, I might contact them about this. Of course there is nothing stamped or written on the outer cloth sheath.

 

[Selfmade]

Not looking good. I spoke to someone at Industville yesterday who said the flex is certified as double insulated. So I asked for that in writing by email. What came was an email stating that "All of our flex is BS EN 50525 certified", with as attached copy of 50525-2-31-2011, which is for single insulated non-sheathed cables. Would others agree that cables to this standard are only suitable for use in conduits, trunking etc, or for earthing and bonding? The email also included a number of other documents, some illegible or barely legible as they were very poorly scanned. There were some that appear completely irrelevant, e.g. being standards for switches etc., and some in foreign languages (fair enough, I might try to get some translated, but don't hold out much hope they will provide any reassurance).

 

[westward10]

It is difficult to say I have just looked online for other suppliers and they all seem to be of the same construction, two layers of pvc below the material braid.
Old Gold Twisted Fabric Braided Cable - https://www.enamelshades.co.uk/collections/fabric-cable/products/old-gold-twisted-fabric-braided-cable

 

[Selfmade]

It is difficult to say I have just looked online for other suppliers and they all seem to be of the same construction, two layers of pvc below the material braid.
Old Gold Twisted Fabric Braided Cable - https://www.enamelshades.co.uk/collections/fabric-cable/products/old-gold-twisted-fabric-braided-cable

Thanks for the link Westward! I will look at that and some others and choose one. It will be interesting to get a different one and compare to the questionable one I've already bought.

 

[westward10]

I picked that one as it states it is produced in the UK.