BASEC News - Suspension of BASEC licence - updated 30 June 2010

On Monday 17 May 2010 BASEC suspended the product certification licence of Atlas Kablo Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, of Denezli, Turkey.

See below for 24 June 2010 and 30 June 2010 updates.

The reason for the suspension was a serious decline in quality across their range of products. Affected cable has excessive conductor resistance (insufficient copper). BASEC advises that affected cable should not be sold or installed, and to seek advice if it has been installed.

Atlas Kablo has notified its customers, issued a letter of guidance and posted a list of affected batches of cable on the Atlas Kablo website . Atlas Kablo has been required by BASEC to investigate and rectify the problem and to assist the market in locating and recovering affected product. Atlas Kablo has begun to make arrangements to recover cable through the supply chain for scrapping.

The cables affected by the suspension are: flat twin, single and 3-core with CPC (BS 6004 Table 8 and IS 201-4 Table I, 1.0sqmm – 16sqmm), single core unsheathed (BS 6004 Table 4a, 1.5sqmm – 35sqmm), single core sheathed (BS 6004 Table 7, 1.5 sqmm - 35 sqmm). The quantity of cable involved is 11 million metres, and identified batches are production with a “2010” manufacturing date. Cable traders, wholesalers and contractors should check what cable they have in stock, quarantine affected cable and notify their supplier about recovery, or contact Atlas Kablo direct. Please note that all affected cables are marked with the manufacturer’s identification “Atlas Kablo”. No other BASEC approved manufacturer is involved.

Where affected cable has been installed, purchasers or contractors should check that the necessary electrical installation verification tests (e.g., R1+R2 / loop impedance) have been performed by a suitably qualified / competent electrician and that the results are in all aspects satisfactory. In the event of any performance concerns being raised, these should be further investigated by a suitably qualified / competent electrician or engineer to assess whether circuits are safe, or if protection needs enhancement or any cables replaced.

This notice may be downloaded from BASEC directly as a Pdf

24 June 2010 update. - BASEC has been notified by TSE, the Turkish HAR scheme approval body, that Atlas Kablo's HAR scheme certification licence for H05VV-F cables has been suspended. BASEC has issued a separate notice concerning this suspension, which can be downloaded directly from BASEC as a Pdf

30 June 2010 update. - BASEC has been notified by TSE, the Turkish HAR scheme approval body, that the suspension of Atlas Kablo's HAR scheme certification licence for H05VV-F cables has been lifted. A product recall of cable affected by the suspension is continuing. Any newly-produced cable will have different marking. BASEC has issued a notice concerning this, which can be downloaded from BASEC as a Pdf

BASEC will post further updates on the BASEC website as and when the situation changes.

Further information, advice and assistance can be obtained from BASEC at technical@basec.org.uk or on 01908 267300.

Please note that no other BASEC approved manufacturers are affected and BASEC has no concerns at the present time about any other Turkish manufacturer.