How does your cable management measure up?

The good news is that, following a hiatus either side of the EU referendum, UK construction activity recovered in August. According to the latest reports, Markit/CIPS UK construction Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) rose to 49.2% in August from 45.9% in July – a figure much higher than widely predicted. 

That said, however, the market remains fierce, as contractors continue to face real pressure to beat their competitors to the contract by minimising both labour and material costs in order to be seen to offer value for money. Equally, when it comes to maintenance, the objective is also to reduce costs. Costly downtime simply isn’t an option so the responsibility is on the contractor to offer the highest level possible of preventative maintenance.

Adding further complexity, different sectors each come with their own unique safety challenges. For example, in healthcare, there is the risk of cross-contamination and infection control to contend with, while schools and universities face extreme high volume and the constant need for adaptions. All of this makes for a complex specification process, whereby products must ensure optimum safety, legislative compliance and, of course, maximum efficiency.

Although sometimes overlooked on the specification priority chain, the reality is that the choice of cable management products has a huge part to play in this. Gone are the days of the ‘plastic one size fits all approach’; many of today’s solutions are incredibly innovative and time saving, making them an obvious choice for the contractor.

A good example of innovative cable management can be found by looking at the MK Electric Prestige 3D range of compartment trunking. Manufactured to the highest level of precision and offering a greater depth to cater for Cat 5e, 6 and 7 structured cabling, this clever range offers a number of features designed for the ultimate in fast, fuss-free installation.

Firstly, the solid form ensures a robust performance while the flexibility of PVC-u in the bends allows cables to be wired easily. Further time-saving features include pre-drilled trunking bases, eliminating the need to measure and drill fixing holes on site, as well as a unique ‘open box’ mounting frame combined with divider knockout to provide tool-free cable entry. The result is an incredibly quick installation.

But, the innovation doesn’t quite end there. As an extension of the offer, Prestige

Antibac Blue is an antibacterial 3 compartment power and data trunking system designed to kill bacteria which can grow on surfaces.

In short, Prestige Antibac Blue uses uses a silver-based additive within the PVC-u pipes, which acts as an effective weapon in eradicating bacteria, such as MRSA, rather than just restricting its growth. As the additive is homogenous with the PVC-u compound, the protection runs throughout; in this way, there is no loss of effectiveness where the trunking lengths are cut on-site or if the surface becomes scuffed or scratched.

The result, as verified by a separate independent test, is a 99.9% kill rate on both MRSA and Klebsiella pneumoniae.It is therefore an ideal solution for contractors when specifying for hospitals, care home providers and other establishments where reducing infection count is a number one priority.

Aiding ease of installation further, all Prestige 3D products come complete with a vast choice of angles, joints and connectors, to alleviate the laborious task of having to cut to size on site; which can be both challenging to do and difficult to complete in a neat manner. What’s more, MK Electric is even able to offer bespoke solutions through its specialist team to meet the demands of even the most complex requirements. And, all PVC-u extrusions are manufactured from 100% recycled materials, adding to a project’s CSR credentials.

Looking wider, these Prestige 3D ranges are complemented by an extensive range of leading wiring devices such as the MK Electric Logic Plus – which ticks all boxes for every conceivable requirement.

Again, efficiency is a huge benefit; key features include in-line terminals, funnel entrances to terminals, backed out and captive screws and clear terminal markings.

Aiding safety credentials, Logic Plus products also include an inherent antimicrobial property as a result of the high grade thermoset material used to manufacture, making them ideal for high-risk arenas such as hospitals. Plus, a 3-pin operation ‘child resistant shutter system’ is designed to inhibit access to the electricity supply, unless all 3 pins of a standard British 13A plug are in position.

Logic Plus also has the added benefit of being scratch-free, thanks to high quality mould tools, meaning there are no dirt traps for the bacteria to spread – another way of optimising precautionary levels. The range has also been designed with a soft curved edge and a chamfered top edge, which helps to prevent dust and dirt collection and avoid harbouring bacteria – and it even comes with a 20 year guarantee for added peace of mind.

Lastly, the beauty of choosing cable management products, and according wiring accessories, from an leading manufacturer is the benefit of guaranteed national coverage, stock capability and, of course, quality. Whether it’s a colossal order or a last minute need for additional parts, contractors can rest assured of instant supply, further minimising unneeded and costly downtime.

The cable management category may not necessarily have always been known for its innovation. However, times are changing, and as the needs of the modern contractor have evolved, this vital electrical commodity has evolved massively to meet changing needs. In this way, by keeping abreast of new cable management products and according accessories from leading manufacturers, contractors can benefit from the benefits of quick installation and optimised efficiencies – as well as legislative compliance, reliability and quality.