Blog
Elmeridge Cables Limited Custom Made Cable Specialists
May 19th, 2021
Cable Specialists
A Guest Contribution
Elmeridge Cables Limited have been leaders in the production and distribution of custom made cables since 1987, supplying a wide range of low, medium and high voltage special cables and stock items to a growing worldwide market.
For almost three and a half decades, Elmeridge have predominantly been designing, producing and distributing low voltage custom made cables, for the following sectors and industries, including:
- Underwater Marine & Offshore
- Pumps & Sensors
- Oil & Gas
- Pipes & Drains CCTV Pushrod and Crawler Cables
- Cranes & Lifts
- Diving
- Fish Farming & Fisheries
- Medical & Science
- Railways & Trams
- Instrumentation & Control
- High Temperature & Thermocouple
- Aerostat (TARS)
Marine Cat5E Cable
Drain Pushrod Cable
Flexible Radar Cable
Rodent Resistant Rail Cable
Magnetometer Cable
Divers Communication Cable Blue
London Underground Fibre Optic Cable
Double Armoured Tow Cable
Medical Silicone Cable
We have supplied many underwater Marine and Offshore companies with our ‘Supreme Polyurethane’ which is Hydrolysis, UV, and Abrasion resistant.
This particular compound is incredibly tough, while remaining flexible, and can be ordered in various colours.
Elmeridge have produced 3 compounds that are termite-proof; our 3 cables spent 54 days in laboratory conditions in a termite mound with no adverse effects.
Compounds tested were Hytrel, Polyurethane, and Polyethylene.
Here are a few examples of special projects which we have been able to work on over recent years:
Elmeridge were able to supply the Spanish Navy with a 40-tonne breaking strain cable with the use of Kevlar aramidic yarn and two contra-helically wound layers of Nitronic 50 steel wire armour.
We have produced Rodent-resistant cables that were used in the Hong Kong Rail and underground system prior to 1st July 1997, before Chinese Rule.
Our pushrod cables for the Pipes & Drains sector have proved to be the toughest on the market today. With the rod cables in various sizes being pushed further than any others. We have worked in the sector for almost 30 years supplying some of the top companies in the UK.
Elmeridge have been asked to supply various cables over the years to F1, using compounds such as Hytrel for single core cables in many different colours. Their existing camera cables t were breaking down, and Elmeridge were able to provide a solution to prevent vibration degradation.
Elmeridge have produced a single 5km length of buoyant fibreoptic cable with a breaking load of 750kg, to view the condition of the culverts under London.
Elmeridge were asked to produce a 36-core umbilical cable for a ship’s radar system that could be flexed when traveling under bridges, without damaging the system and signal.
Elmeridge have been asked to produce two silicone cables for a medical company, the final solution was to place both cables together and produce one cable to minimize the diameter and to be as flexible as possible.
Elmeridge are capable of supplying many different types of Sensor Cables, some of which have vent tubes inside of various sizes.
Elmeridge had a great opportunity at the end of 2019/2020 to work with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), supplying 8,000mtrs and 10,000mtrs of CTD (Conductivity Temperature and Depth) Cables for the RRS James Clark Ross and the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
RRS Sir David Attenborough
Our current lead times for production are approximately 8 to 10 weeks, depending on the specification and elements required.
A recent project for the Royal Air Force was to supply a high-grade circular copper braid with a clear PVC sheath. This braid was attached to the aircraft during refuelling to prevent a build-up of static electricity, reducing the fire hazard by grounding out the aircraft.
Elmeridge have produced more than four thousand different types of special cables since 1987.
For all production and distribution enquiries, our knowledgeable team are here to help and support you throughout your project. Please get in touch by email [email protected] or make that call on +44 (0) 1273 391810.
THORNE & DERRICK
SPECIALIST ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTOR
Thorne & Derrick distribute the most extensive range of Cable Installation & Electrical Distribution Equipment to the Power Transmission & Distribution industry in the onshore and offshore wind, solar, rail, oil/gas, data centre, battery storage and utility sectors.
We service UK and international clients working on underground cables, overhead lines, substations and electrical construction at 11kV and up to and EHV transmission and distribution voltages.
- Key Products: MV-HV Cable Joints & Terminations, Cable Cleats, Duct Seals, Cable Transits, Underground Cable Protection, Copper Earth Tapes, Cable Jointing Tools, Feeder Pillars, Cable Ducting, Earthing & Lightning Protection, Electrical Safety, Cable Glands, Arc Flash Protection & Fusegear.
- Distributors for: 3M Cold Shrink, ABB, Alroc, Band-It, Catu, Cembre, Centriforce, CMP, Elastimold, Ellis Patents, Emtelle, Furse, Lucy Zodion, Nexans Euromold, Pfisterer, Polypipe, Prysmian, Roxtec.
LV – Low Voltage Cable Joints, Glands, Cleats, Lugs & Accessories (1000 Volts)
MV HV – Medium & High Voltage Cable Joints, Terminations & Connectors (11kV 33kV EHV)
Cable Strikes | Strike to Low Voltage Cable
May 18th, 2021
Cable Strikes
Utility Strike Avoidance Group
USAG have published a range of documents to assist industry understanding of the root cause and contributory factors behind specific incidents. The aim is to improve industry standards and reduce the number of cable strikes.
Cable damage is often caused by excavating machines – hand held tools such as pneumatic drills, crowbars, pins, picks and forks also expose workers to potential sources of danger when digging around underground cables.
The next in the series is a safety alert thanks to Highway England regarding a strike to a low voltage cable during a new build housing project.
Incident Overview
Cable strike to a low voltage distribution network damaged by a third party at Hamilton, Leicestershire resulted in a power outage to residents. This network was installed and owned by another company GTC and is a low voltage LV distribution network embedded within the wider network footprint of Western Power Distribution.
USAG recommends if you are working in a relatively new build area you should check plans for the presence of low voltage network where there should be. Below is a copy of the plan for this location and you can see missing low voltage schematics from the plan on the eastern edge where new homes are built and occupied. If you come across this situation you should check for further asset owners. The usual distribution network owner for the area should be able to help you identify the network owner if there are no above ground markings or signage on substations.
Strike to Low Voltage Cable
Protecting Cables Against Strikes & Restoring Power Post-Strike
Thorne & Derrick have been distributors for 3M Electrical since 1985 and can provide a range of reliable and easy to install Cable Repair Products – this includes Scotch Tapes, Scotchcast Joints and Cold Shrink Tubes to provide effective re-instatement of cable sheath jackets on all types of LV MV HV cables in onshore and offshore locations with safe or hazardous area workplace classifications.
Cable Repair Products
Our range of cable protection covers manufactured by Centriforce provide underground utility protection of LV MV HV cables including Tapetile (11kV) and Stokbord (33kV 66kV 132kV) – contact us to discuss Cable Damage Prevention Products including Dectamesh, the underground detectable warning tape for alerting excavators of the presence of buried cables and to prevent potentially lethal accidents during excavation.
Stokbord
Tapetile
Cable Strikes | Surface Cable Damage by Mower
May 18th, 2021
Cable Strikes
Utility Strike Avoidance Group
USAG have published a range of documents to assist industry understanding of the root cause and contributory factors behind specific incidents. The aim is to improve industry standards and reduce the number of cable strikes.
Cable damage is often caused by excavating machines – hand held tools such as pneumatic drills, crowbars, pins, picks and forks also expose workers to potential sources of danger when digging around underground cables.
The next in the series is a safety alert thanks to Highway England regarding surface damage to power cables during routine grass verge maintenance.
Surface cable Damage
Incident Overview
Electrical cable snagged by reform mower during grass cutting operation, 16 April 2020 at the Barley Mow junction A43/A421.
─ Electrical asset knockdown in same location on 28 June 2017 – made safe at that time (isolating and marking the location with a traffic cone)
─ Multiple grass cutting visits between June 2017 and April 2020 – no reported issues
─ A walkover on this occasion was undertaken and this is the same for all cuts – the cable was not observed, but sign frames were discovered and removed from site
Surface Cable Damage by Mower
| Cause Areas | Findings |
| Immediate Cause | Operators did not see any obstruction Cable was within the cut height of the mower |
| Underlying Causes | The cone used to mark the cable had been removed / damaged The passage of time between the knockdown and the incident may have permitted the cable to deviate from initial position, to be at a higher elevation |
| Root Causes | A cable was left on the surface where it could be compromised by grass cutting operations Standard operating practices at the time permitted an insecure method of highlighting the cable, albeit they did include the practice of electrically isolating the cable from the supply The grass cutting team were not advised of the potential of a cable No immediate permanent repair scheduled on the back of the temporary ‘make safe’ visit |
Cable Hangers | Cable Ducting | Cable Protection | Electrical Safety Equipment
The attending electrical crew isolated the cable at source, but left it ready for an imminent reinstatement – i.e. at the surface, marked with a traffic cone. This act prevented any later disturbance of the cable from causing any harm.
Grass cutting teams visually check the area, they located discarded sign frames, but missed the cable in the grass.
Working practice of the electrical teams has been enhanced by using more robust temporary bollards to highlight the hazard better. The bollard as shown may be placed provided with the directional arrow when replacing a permanent bollard, or plain yellow for a lighting column.
Protecting Cables Against Strikes & Restoring Power Post-Strike
Thorne & Derrick have been distributors for 3M Electrical since 1985 and can provide a range of reliable and easy to install Cable Repair Products – this includes Scotch Tapes, Scotchcast Joints and Cold Shrink Tubes to provide effective re-instatement of cable sheath jackets on all types of LV MV HV cables in onshore and offshore locations with safe or hazardous area workplace classifications.
Cable Repair Products
Our range of cable protection covers manufactured by Centriforce provide underground utility protection of LV MV HV cables including Tapetile (11kV) and Stokbord (33kV 66kV 132kV) – contact us to discuss Cable Damage Prevention Products including Dectamesh, the underground detectable warning tape for alerting excavators of the presence of buried cables and to prevent potentially lethal accidents during excavation.
Stokbord
Tapetile
Cable Strikes | Damage to Underground Service
May 18th, 2021
Cable Strikes
Utility Strike Avoidance Group
USAG have published a range of documents to assist industry understanding of the root cause and contributory factors behind specific incidents. The aim is to improve industry standards and reduce the number of cable strikes.
Cable damage is often caused by excavating machines – hand held tools such as pneumatic drills, crowbars, pins, picks and forks also expose workers to potential sources of danger when digging around underground cables.
The next in the series is a safety alert thanks to Highway England regarding damage to cable ducting and power cables during trial hole investigation works as part of London Power Tunnels project.
Incident Overview
Date of incident: 3rd June 2020
Time: 16:30
Location/Site: Hurst Site
Principal/Contractor: Hochtief Murphy Joint Venture
Damage to underground cables
What happened?
The Principal Contractor was undertaking trial hole investigation works as part of London Power Tunnels project to establish positions of existing services to allow a road widening to be installed. This activity was planned, had agreed RAMS and was being performed in accordance with HSG47 including the use of a Vacuum Excavator.
A Cat and Genny survey was performed prior to breaking ground with re-scanning every 150mm as the work progressed.
During these Vac Ex works a concrete block was uncovered and needed to be removed. This was discussed on site between ET operations, Capital Delivery and the Principal Contractor on 2nd June during a site walkover.
When lifting the concrete block, the watcher saw a clay duct stuck to the concrete, so they stopped the activity. The clay duct was embedded into the concrete. As the block was lifted the clay duct shattered, revealing the duct and its contents (5 cables).
To make the area safe the concrete block needed to continue to be moved. Once the block was safely removed it could be seen that there was damage to one of the cables (the outer sheath of a 15mm cable). The approximate position of the concrete block is shown by the red outline on the picture to the right. Immediate actions taken/Initial learning All excavation works where stopped immediately.
All relevant parties informed within timescales Drawings and CAT+Genny surveys are not a guarantee that all services have been identified. Additional actions are required to prove an area is sterile of buried services (e.g. perimeter slit trench using safe digging methods). Investigation underway to understand learning.
Categorisation of the incident: Medium
Protecting Cables Against Strikes & Restoring Power Post-Strike
Thorne & Derrick have been distributors for 3M Electrical since 1985 and can provide a range of reliable and easy to install Cable Repair Products – this includes Scotch Tapes, Scotchcast Joints and Cold Shrink Tubes to provide effective re-instatement of cable sheath jackets on all types of LV MV HV cables in onshore and offshore locations with safe or hazardous area workplace classifications.
Cable Repair Products
Our range of cable protection covers manufactured by Centriforce provide underground utility protection of LV MV HV cables including Tapetile (11kV) and Stokbord (33kV 66kV 132kV) – contact us to discuss Cable Damage Prevention Products including Dectamesh, the underground detectable warning tape for alerting excavators of the presence of buried cables and to prevent potentially lethal accidents during excavation.
Stokbord
Tapetile
Cable Strikes | Combined Gas and Electric Strike and Ignition
May 18th, 2021
Cable Strikes
Utility Strike Avoidance Group
USAG have published a range of documents to assist industry understanding of the root cause and contributory factors behind specific incidents. The aim is to improve industry standards and reduce the number of cable strikes.
Cable damage is often caused by excavating machines – hand held tools such as pneumatic drills, crowbars, pins, picks and forks also expose workers to potential sources of danger when digging around underground cables.
The next in the series is a safety alert thanks to Highway England regarding a strike on both Electric & Gas service connections to a property.
Incident Overview
Gas Pipe & Electric Cable Strike
What Happened?
Executive Summary – On Friday the 29th November at 14:30 CityFibre were informed of an incident in an FTTH City.
CityFibre’s Principal Contractor (PC) reported a combined gas and electric strike, resulting in ignition of the gas. SGN (Gas Network) and the emergency services were called to support in the incident. SGN and PC worked to make the area safe, no injuries were reported and the road was closed as a precaution whilst the repair was made.
The cables were lowered, trench backfilled and area made safe with full reinstatement undertaken the following morning.
The strike was on both Electric – 35mm & Gas – 25mm service connections to a property. The services had been laid in a combined utilities trench. There were no safety indicative markers such as tiles or tape present in the trench, nor was there any distinct separation or sand split between the two utilities.
Utilities were buried significantly shallower than specified with by NJUG (industry guidelines). The fire was extinguished by 17:00, with PC supporting SGN engineers by hand digging to expose the damaged plant and electricity cables. By 19:00 the electric supply was restored.
A temporary reinstatement was made of the excavation and the PC returned in the morning to permanently reinstate the works.
Key Learning
- Ensure all teams are briefed on the STREET WORKS UK GUIDANCE ON THE POSITIONING AND COLOUR CODING OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES’ APPARATUS
- Ensure that Safe Dig Techniques are followed as per HSG47
- Ensure service drawings are in date and fully reviewed prior to any excavation work
- Use the CAT & Genny together (in avoidance mode). We recommend the use of the ECAT4+ and version 4 Genny so that Survey results can be recorded electronically. This will aid the identification of correct usage and level of usage. All operators of the equipment must be trained and competent to use.
- Safe systems of work such as risk assessments and method statements are in place and understood.
- All strikes must be reported to [email protected] as detailed in the contractors contract and/or construction phase plan.
Protecting Cables Against Strikes & Restoring Power Post-Strike
Thorne & Derrick have been distributors for 3M Electrical since 1985 and can provide a range of reliable and easy to install Cable Repair Products – this includes Scotch Tapes, Scotchcast Joints and Cold Shrink Tubes to provide effective re-instatement of cable sheath jackets on all types of LV MV HV cables in onshore and offshore locations with safe or hazardous area workplace classifications.
Cable Repair Products
Our range of cable protection covers manufactured by Centriforce provide underground utility protection of LV MV HV cables including Tapetile (11kV) and Stokbord (33kV 66kV 132kV) – contact us to discuss Cable Damage Prevention Products including Dectamesh, the underground detectable warning tape for alerting excavators of the presence of buried cables and to prevent potentially lethal accidents during excavation.
Stokbord
Tapetile
