Western Power Distribution (WPD) operates one of the largest electricity distribution networks in the United Kingdom, supplying power to more than 7.9 million customers, over a 55,000 square kilometres service area.

In addition to connecting new homes and businesses to their electricity network, WPD is responsible for the operations and maintenance of power lines and for returning excess electricity to the National Grid. As the sole electricity distribution network operator for South Wales, the Midlands and the South West of England, the installation of quality cable is critical to the success of the business.

BASEC certification is used throughout the worldwide cable industry to demonstrate that the cable products manufactured meet the highest quality and safety criteria in line with recognised standards.

Tratos has achieved BASEC approval, on key products, to evidence their levels of compliance, quality and suitability for use in a range of specific applications, for examples in their primary business offering of power supply, as well as for a number of industry standards including CPR and management systems approvals.

The cable products supplied by Tratos into WPD were rigorously tested by BASEC and approved to BS 7870-4.10, a standard specific to power distribution, applicable to a wide range of cable applications between 6.35 and 33kV. One of the key tests the standard specifies is the Shrinkage test, which is designed to determine the amount of shrinkage that may occur when insulation is exposed to high operating temperatures.

The test is extremely important for underground transmission cables. If the amount of shrinkage is excessive this could lead to conductors becoming exposed during their normal use. As the first cable manufacturer, in Europe, to achieve BASEC approval to meet this standard, Tratos reinforces their commitment to meeting high levels of quality and safety, and to all relevant regulations. In turn, ensuring that the end user of their product can be confident that the product meets the required standards and is fit for purpose.

Any successful cable manufacturer conducts in-house testing, but most importantly also undertakes independent testing to ensure that their cable products meet the standards required before releasing them into the market.

Pressures to meet commercial targets and achieve greater production efficiencies can mean that sometimes, in-house testing can be less stringent than a dedicated independent testing house. By undertaking product testing through an independent certification body, like BASEC, a manufacturer can benefit by enhancing their reputation by leveraging the BASEC brand as a value-add.

Recognised brand marks, accreditations and certifications are used in end user markets, such as rail, utilities and power, oil and gas and many others, in order to provide the end-to-end supply chain with assurance that cable products are compliant and will also perform as they say they will. Only when cable products have been rigorously tested to the highest industry recognised standards is the BASEC mark of independently approved quality and safety awarded for use.