Our Voltimum Experts answer your questions on a daily basis in our Technical Expertise area. This Question of the Day, about cable colour harmonisation and jointing, is answered by SELECT:
As part of the works, we need to divert several sub-mains and to minimise costs, and we are proposing to joint several sub-mains cables in lieu of replacing.
As the new section of the cable would be the harmonised colours (brown, black, grey), will we be permitted to joint these cables together?
Our feeling is that if the cables are suitably labelled at both ends, then it should not be an issue. Is this so?
Answer: You can join cables (harmonised to non-harmonised colours). However, you should ensure that the conductors match with perhaps alpha numeric labels (eg: L1, L2, L3, N) as per guidance provided on this subject contained in Appendix 7 of BS 7671: 2008.
Note: There should also be a notice at the origin stating that two colour code systems are present.
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