• • • SAFETY IN ENGINEERING • • •


SOLVE ISSUES FOR SAFETY


THROUGH EARLY COLLABORATION, SAYS AEI CABLES


firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety.


BY STUART DOVER, GENERAL MANAGER, AEI CABLES on in the process. M


When the various parties get together early in the process there is often an agreement on issues such as compliance, costs and supply of products. Above all, we cannot compromise on quality so we always have to bear in mind the end result and ultimately the safety requirements.


The shared responsibility is important and helps


everyone when we are dealing with the safety of people moving about in large buildings and spaces. A number of additional pieces of legislation have been introduced recently which make new demands on electrical and fire safety including the Building Safety Act 2022. The Act makes new stringent requirements for higher-risk buildings which are those deemed to be of at least 18 metres in height or at least seven storeys containing at least two residential units. Amongst the new legislation, under the Building Safety Act, is the Golden Thread, which requires a comprehensive record to be kept of all safety-related information throughout the lifecycle of a building, emphasising the need for clear communication between all parties.


Safe evacuation


Meeting the legislation and guidance can sometimes seem challenging but the systems powered by these cables, including smoke and heat extraction systems, assist fire services in


20 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • APRIL 2026


any of the issues arising through the electrical supply chains can be solved by working closely with all parties early


This legislation and guidance should be the minimum criteria for relevance in buildings where vulnerable people move about and will help firefighters trying to execute a safe evacuation. These areas present a higher risk in the event of a real fire and if in doubt those in the supply chain should seek advice. This may mean going beyond the minimum level of cabling to meet this category of relevance but may make all the difference in the event of fire.


Despite the challenges facing the market, we should not lose sight of the paramount importance of safety for everyone concerned including those moving about in these buildings. These cables support critical safety circuits in the relevant buildings, such as tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls and stadia. Within the range of fire performance cables,


Category 3 Control fire performance cables are critical, not least because the systems powered by these cables assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety.


Critical applications We have seen the growth in the demand for these cables ever since the introduction of the revised British Standard BS8519: 2020 Code of Practice. The type of building where these cables must be used are those deemed higher risk under BS8519: 2020 that are at least 18 metres in height or seven storeys, also referenced under the Building Safety Act 2022.


These regulations were brought in to add a further level of safety in the supply of power to critical applications such as evacuation alarms for care homes and smoke and heat extraction systems.


Lives and property are at stake here. With the correct choice of cabling, people moving about in


these buildings can rely on power supplies for firefighting should it be necessary.


Building managers and owners can be assured that they have met all requirements to meet compliance of power supply in the event of a real fire.


AEI Cables has also been highlighting the importance of collaboration to help meet the demand for Category 3 Control fire performance cables which are identified under the revised British Standard BS8519: 2020 Code of Practice. These cables reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire.


Emergency systems


The systems powered by these cables, including smoke and heat extraction systems, assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety.


The guidance for Category 3 Control fire


performance cables applies to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems. AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519: 2020 (Annex B), Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control. The BS Code of Practice under BS8519: 2020 contains six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes.


All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB. It also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world.


https://www.aeicables.co.uk electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


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