International cable test and certification body, the British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC), has accompanied Ducab, the Middle East’s leading cable manufacturing company, in a high profile technical seminar on fire performance cables advising Kuwaiti engineers and contracting consultants on a British standard for life safety and fire-fighting systems, BS 8519.
The seminar, which was held at the Raddison Blu hotel in Kuwait City, was attended by about 200 senior MEP professionals representing the Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water and reputed consultant companies from across the region including Gulf Consult, PACE, Jassim Qabazard Engineering Consultants (JQEC), and SQC International.
Dr Jeremy Hodge, chief executive at BASEC and guest speaker at the event said: “We are delighted to work with thought leaders like Ducab providing independent technical information to educate and inform engineers in Kuwait to ensure they are fully conversant with up-to-date fire cable regulations.”
BS 8519 is a code of practice that provides guidance and recommendations for the selection and installation of fire resistant power and control cable systems for life safety and fire-fighting applications.
Tom Roberts, Ducab’s fire performance business development manager and host said; “Although fire resistant cables are commonly used in building projects in Kuwait, we were aware that engineers in the region needed more in-depth information about various fire resistance cables available for different applications.”
Attendees were also witness to footage from the BASEC cable test laboratory showing cables in fire and water test conditions simulating a building fire scenario. This highlighted the importance of using cable compliant for its environment.
“Getting the cable specification right for the desired fire safety performance of a building is crucial,” said Dr Hodge. “One of the most common fire hazards in buildings are electrical systems and if cabling has to be stripped out because the system is not working properly, not only is it time consuming but a very expensive mistake. Worse still, if there has been an electrical fault leading to a fire or electrocution, serious legal ramifications could result.”
BASEC is working with local regulators, utilities and industry groups to drive forward quality, service, and safety standards in the Gulf region. Its representatives have been working in the Middle East, for more than a decade, with reputable cable manufacturers raising awareness of cable safety.
Further information about BASEC and its role in the international electrical industry is available at www.basec.org.uk
