BASEC

After a UK public consultation last year, a revision of the Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU) has been released under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, which came into force on 8th December 2016. The regulations apply to manufacturers, importers and distributors of electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1000V for alternating current and between 75 and 1,500V for direct current, and placed on the market on or after the commencement date. 

Designated by the UK Government Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as a Notified Body for conducting cable testing to the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and a Notified Body for cable product certification to the CPR, is the British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC), who is among the first to be appointed across Europe and one of few to have scope for both activities.

The introduction of the new British Standard BS 8592:2016 Electric cables; has been welcomed by the cable industry. With features such as; thermosetting insulated, non-armoured, fire-resistant, single core, non-sheathed cable of rated voltage 450/750V, the new single core cable standard ensures these small sized cables, commonly used for final circuit wiring of critical systems such as fire alarms and emergency lighting, now have a specification.

A large-scale vertical ladder fire test used for Construction Products Regulation (CPR), EN 50399, has been launched by the British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) as well as the full range of vertical ladder tests to the IEC 60332-3-21/25 series to the cable industry. This coincides with the official launch of the European Union’s CPR for cables used in construction, which was announced on 10th June.