3M QECC | First Extended 3M Medium Voltage 20 Year Warranties | Advanced Power Services

Published 09 May 2023

Advanced Power Services

3M QECC | Medium Voltage 20 Year Warranties for Joints & Terminations

Advanced Power Services are very excited to announce that the first extended 3M Medium Voltage 20 Year Warranties are released into the United Kingdom within the UK Rail Infrastructure as part of the drive for modernisation and efficiencies.

Advanced Power Services is the first company in the UK to be awarded the Qualified Electrical Construction Contractor Accreditation (QECC) from 3M.

BAM Nuttall appointed Advanced Power Services for the Jointing & Commissioning elements of twelve 33kV feeder replacements within Sussex and Kent. The partnership introduced the first 20-year Medium Voltage product warranties into the rail infrastructure that Advanced Power Services had been working on with 3M for the last couple of years.

This is a program that runs within the United States but hasn’t hit the UK or Europe until now. The warranties are issued directly by 3M to the client Network Rail.

As part of the modernisation, between the two companies we are both collaborating on driving this forward by having the opportunity to deliver this work and introducing new technology into the infrastructure being more efficient and working smarter.

As part of the 3M QECC programme, contractors receive in-depth 3M product and technology training, including theoretical training on 11kV, 22kV, 33kV and 52kV joints, terminations and Separable Connectors.

3M QECC

Advanced Power Services installation personnel go through various technical and theoretical training programs as well as practical observation in order to become an authorised QECC Installer.

This has led us to be the first company authorised to provide the warranties in the UK and to introduce this into the rail infrastructure.

Since 1985, Thorne & Derrick have been Approved Distributors for 3M Electrical Products (LV HV) and whilst the competitive supply of product from stock on short lead times is essential to the distributor it is equally vital that 3M product reputation is preserved through the correct installation of products in accordance with 3M recommendations.

What are Advanced Power System doing as a collaboration?

Commissioning Using Very Low Frequency Withstand Testing

The Story

When commissioning feeders in the past we were using DC direct current testing this testing was causing problems on cable assets that were becoming life expired. Advanced Power Services and the Sussex Regional Asset manager took on some trial testing on the network using VLF and Partial Discharge testing.

This was implemented on the Tunbridge lines where cables that were introduced on the network in the early 90s were becoming life expired and were showing signs of treeing in the insulation and prone to insulation failures.

Following technology being introduced, new feeders being replaced on the network are using VLF Testing as part of the form B commissioning practices.

Advanced Power Services and BAM Nuttall are the first to commission feeders using this method on the network and this has been very successful to date.

Recycling, Cost Saving & Efficiency

As part of the two company’s relationship and Advanced Power Services fault response partnership with Maintenance in Sussex the three departments including the RAM team are recovering assets on the renewals and recycling this equipment back into the network saving network rail thousands of pounds.

The type of equipment being recycled are fluid filled oil tanks which are double skinned and can’t be purchased new anymore.

LOPI panels and Oil Stop Joints that will be refurbished tested and re-commissioned as part of a maintenance program saving maintenance departments large funds in repair works. Although Sussex is leading this, the equipment will be available to all areas of the network as part of the drive for efficiencies and cost saving measures.

What is this technology doing for infrastructure?

Testing

On occasions poor quality cable supplied to the network could escape detection through the current testing procedures.

Now with new technology being introduced onto the network as part of the modernisation drive this is identifying exactly what condition the cable is in before it’s commissioned into service and passed across to the maintainer as an asset. Saving thousands of pounds in cable repair costs and replacement before life expiry.

Advanced Power Services

Advanced Power Services was established as a specialist electrical contractor in July 2010. Our ambition was to create a team of committed cable jointing and testing professionals that fully understands their clients’ needs and are dedicated to delivering exceptional service, safely and within budget.

Advanced Power Services offer Cable Jointing, Terminations, Commissioning and Fault Rectification Services for EHV, 132kV ,275kV, 400kV, HV 66kV and MV, 11kV, 22kV, 25kV, 33kV, 52kV throughout the UK and overseas.

Our Jointing and Testing Teams are experienced in working within the Railway Networks, Infrastructure Networks, Renewable Energy, Private Networks, Datacentres and Shipping Industries.

For further details please contact Business Development Manager, Heather Andrews at [email protected] or 07754 855938.

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The Leading Specialist Distributor to the Rail Electrification Industry

Thorne & Derrick supply an extensive range of 400V-66kV Rail Cable Accessories & Electrical Equipment to contractors undertaking Low Voltage Power Distribution, HV Electrification & Substations, DC Traction & Networks, OLE and Track Feeder Cable Renewals – a complete range of Network Rail PADS approved medium voltage cable terminations, joints, cable repair and connection products up to 66kV.

Heat shrink, cold shrink, push-on and slip-over cable accessories enable the jointing, terminating and connection of medium/high voltage power cables to oil, air or gas insulated switchgear, transformers, motors and overhead lines.

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