Almost a quarter of wholesalers sold some non-approved products in the last 12 months despite the increase in faulty cables coming onto the UK market, a survey by the British Approvals Service for Cables has revealed.
The research highlights how price followed by quality are still the key factors for wholesalers’ customers when it comes to purchasing cables. BASEC approval is believed by wholesalers to be the third most important factor.
However, 30 per cent said their customers are still inclined to buy a cheaper alternative in the survey carried out by an independent research organization.
A total of 23 per cent of those questioned in the survey have sold some non-BASEC cable in the last 12 months.
Problems arising from the sale of non-approved cable included low conductivity, poor plastic insulation, damaged cable and delivery problems.
The wholesalers who originally bought the cables usually returned them to the manufacturer or sought alternative replacement products.
The research was carried out amongst a range of UK wholesalers and distributors including national wholesaler branches, independent wholesaler branches, national wholesaler head offices and specialist cable distributor head offices.
It comes at a time of increasing concern at the volume of faulty cables being uncovered in the UK mainly imported from overseas.
BASEC Chief Executive Dr Jeremy Hodge said: “This confirms our suspicions that some wholesalers are still purchasing cables that have not been independently tested and approved.
“For wholesalers, if faulty or non-compliant products are discovered they have to send them back to the manufacturer, and for the manufacturer it can be the loss of a good customer.
For installers, too, it can prove to be expensive. They need to decide whether to strip out all the faulty cable or seek other options.
“Our message is clear – buy approved cable in the first place and you can save yourself a lot of time and money.”
The BASEC brand is considered to ensure high standards and safety in cables, it is seen as the industry standard and BASEC cable is seen as better than non-BASEC cable mainly because of better or assured quality, mentioned unprompted by 45 per cent of wholesaler branches.
Some 86 per cent of those interviewed hold BASEC approval in high regard and three quarters of those involved in buying cable consider BASEC approval as essential when deciding which cable to buy.
BASEC is the most known and most sought after approval or certification. Awareness unprompted is very high, with 83 per cent mentioning BASEC, including all the head offices.
By detailed examination of manufacturers’ production processes and controls, and rigorous testing, BASEC ensures that cable products meet appropriate national, European and international standards.
* BASEC commissioned Lychgate Projects to undertake a study amongst national wholesaler branches, independent wholesaler branches, national wholesaler head offices and specialist cable distributor head offices into use of BASEC approved cables and non-BASEC approved cables during November 2007.
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Source: BASEC |
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