[ Spotlight: Cable management ]
Learning curve Avoiding the pitfalls
Our experience is that electrical contractors recognise that choosing inferior products represents a false economy
Regardless of whether it’s being used to house electrical or data cabling, when it comes to specifying and installing cable management systems, there are some signifi cant pitfalls to avoid. For Unitrunk’s Cooper, contractors need to focus on the bigger picture. He says: ‘In the construction industry, there remains a major focus purely on product purchase price. This attitude can lead to high-quality, modern projects having outdated, inferior-quality and underspecifi ed infrastructure installed within them.’ Marco’s Diggins urges electrical contractors to
be aware of the installation requirements for uPVC trunking as part of the Disability Discrimination Act and Part M of the Building Regulations. He explains: ‘Sockets cannot be positioned below 400mm from the fl oor in public buildings. We have seen instances where the product is installed at skirting level, which means non-compliance.’ Ascertaining the weight of cables that a chosen
system should support is a key issue for Legrand’s Leaver, who says: ‘In simple terms, the load-bearing capabilities of cable management systems decrease as the systems become more lightweight, but the real picture is more complicated. The total load should be calculated using the weight of the cables, any ancillary items that are subsequently fi tted to the cable management and whether appropriate dynamic loads need to be considered.’
Forward-looking Modern working environments now contain more wiring and cabling than ever before, and there are many factors that have to be considered when choosing an appropriate cable-management solution. Taking the time to understand the benefi ts of the diff erent types of products currently available will save time and money, and provide a cost-eff ective system that meets the specifi c needs of the customer.
Marshall-Tuffl ex cable management systems have been used in two London Borough of Ealing schools. As a result, some 9,000m of Category
6-compliant Twin165 and Sterling Profi le1 have been used throughout the rebuilding of Dormers Wells High School, Southall, and the remodelling of Cardinal Wiseman School, Greenford. The aim of Ealing Borough Council was
to create state-of-the-art learning centres. The £30m rebuilding of Dormers Wells High School has provided an enlarged secondary school with a sixth form, for more than 1,400 students. It replaces an outdated building with a new three-storey structure of approximately 11,475m². It is fi tted out with the latest facilities, including a new ICT suite. It is here that Marshall-Tuffl ex’s double-compartment Twin165 PVC-U perimeter trunking in white has been installed, with lids and DDA-compliant accessory boxes in charcoal, to cater for students with special needs. Jeremy Dodge, head of marketing and
technical services at Marshall-Tuffl ex, says: ‘Twin165 was installed in a double- banked formation to provide the three- compartmental system that was required. It was chosen for its aesthetics combined with its convenient size, which provides greater capacity without the need for larger trunking. The system has gone into all of the approximately 300 classrooms, where it supplies all of the data and some power and lighting.’
About the author
Rob Shepherd is a freelance journalist and regular contributor to ECA Today. He has worked in the electrical contracting industry for more than 14 years.
March 2014 ECA Today 45
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