Draka’s Zero Halogen Low Smoke Cabling at Tesco
In keeping with its now seemingly universally known slogan, “Every Little Helps”, Tesco has ensured that its new superstore at Newtownbreda in Belfast, Northern Ireland was wired with the most environmentally-friendly power cabling. It chose Draka’s OHLS, Zero Halogen Low Smoke, fire performance power cabling throughout the store, the largest new “green” Tesco store in Europe, that opened for business in February.
With thousands of shoppers using the store each day, Tesco was determined to ensure, in the unlikely event of a fire breaking out, that the power cabling did not discharge vision-obscuring smoke or corrosive and noxious acidic gases into the atmosphere. So the Draka cable was chosen in preference to PVC cabling that produces substantial quantities of smoke and gases such as chlorine under fire conditions. These gases can form hydrochloric acid if they come into contact with water, adding to the potential hazards.
In contrast, Draka’s steel wire armoured OHLS cable generates little of either due to the use of thermoset compounds, which accounts for its widespread use in buildings, such as supermarkets, where safeguarding lives shares equal importance with protecting the building and equipment.
“Cabling rarely instigates a fire, but by fitting a cable that does not contribute to the threatening impact of a blaze Tesco is ensuring, as the company would say, that ‘every little helps’”, said Draka’s Regional Sales Manager, Mark Kelly. He continued: “Draka’s OHLS cabling has been used in a number of prestigious construction projects where life safety is a major concern. These include the new Dublin Port Tunnel and on a number of major contracts associated with Heathrow Airport’s new Terminal 5. It is also used by London Underground and Metronet Rail.”
The 6491B low voltage cable used in the Tesco store is a thermosetting insulated non-sheathed single-core cable that complies fully with BS 7211, BS 5467 and BS 6724, and is also certified by BASEC (British Approvals Service for Cables). It is intended for drawing into trunking and conduit, but may also be used inside fixed, protected installations such as light fittings, appliances, switchgear and control gear that are to be used in higher temperature zones.
The cable for the Tesco store was supplied to Northern Ireland-based electrical contractor, A S K Electrical, via Draka’s local electrical wholesaler supply chain partner, H Ritchie & Sons.
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