Customer has supplied old cable to use that is in good condition except that it has a plain green earth.
Can I use this is I sleeve or shrink the earth green/yellow at terminations?
Installation of cable with green earth
Re: Installation of cable with green earth
Assuming you'll be using colour of conductor insulation as the means of achieving (mandatory) conductor ID; then the colours of Table 3.4 are mandatory. So the default position is that cables with plain green insulation on the PEC do not comply with the requirement for PECs to be bi-coloured G/Y.
3.8.2 (c) specifically permits use of "sleeving or other means" for conductors of a multi-core cable that are to be used as earthing conductors but are not green, yellow, or green/yellow.
This makes it OK to sleeve eg a red or black core as G/Y for use as PEC.
What you can't do, as per para 4, is sleeve G, Y, or G/Y cores as active or neutral.
Standards tend to mandate some things, and prohibit others;
and often we need to operate in the gaps between what the clauses say.
The rule to follow is that what isn't specifically mandated need not always be followed, and equally whatever is not prohibited is permitted.
Since there's no prohibition on sleeving a green, or a yellow, to match the table's requirement for G/Y;
the only reasonable interpretation is that it's OK to do this.
In fact doing so is not only permitted, but required, as otherwise the conductor ID won't conform to the Table.
This is made explicit in 2018 edition for making connections to existing cables with bare or plain green PECs;
and similarly when connecting to old cables with yellow actives they must be sleeved with an active colour.
3.8.2 (c) specifically permits use of "sleeving or other means" for conductors of a multi-core cable that are to be used as earthing conductors but are not green, yellow, or green/yellow.
This makes it OK to sleeve eg a red or black core as G/Y for use as PEC.
What you can't do, as per para 4, is sleeve G, Y, or G/Y cores as active or neutral.
Standards tend to mandate some things, and prohibit others;
and often we need to operate in the gaps between what the clauses say.
The rule to follow is that what isn't specifically mandated need not always be followed, and equally whatever is not prohibited is permitted.
Since there's no prohibition on sleeving a green, or a yellow, to match the table's requirement for G/Y;
the only reasonable interpretation is that it's OK to do this.
In fact doing so is not only permitted, but required, as otherwise the conductor ID won't conform to the Table.
This is made explicit in 2018 edition for making connections to existing cables with bare or plain green PECs;
and similarly when connecting to old cables with yellow actives they must be sleeved with an active colour.
Re: Installation of cable with green earth
I guess I just wasn't sure if there was any difference between the cable never being installed vs an alteration to one that was existing
Was unsure if it had to meet current standards being installed for the first time whereas I thought ESR113 would apply if it had already been installed before but not for the first time, if that has some logic behind it
Was unsure if it had to meet current standards being installed for the first time whereas I thought ESR113 would apply if it had already been installed before but not for the first time, if that has some logic behind it
Re: Installation of cable with green earth
ESR 113 is useful for more than just fittings that were installed under older rules and are remaining in service.
It covers old stock, and re-cycled fittings as well.
Any item that's covered by Clause (1); can not only continue in service ("continue to be ...used") under Clause (2);
but they can continue to be "constructed", "installed", or "sold".
So cable with plain green earth can be installed, regardless of whether it has previously been installed anywhere or just sat on the shelf.
However the conductor ID requirements (and other installation requirements) do have to be met;
because the testing, certification, and inspection must be to current requirements; as per (2)(b).
Same doesn't apply for cable with bare earth, because (mostly) PECs must be insulated [5.3.2.4].
Similarly cable with yellow active can't be installed, even with sleeved ends, because not only both 3.8.1 and 3.8.2, but also 1.7.2 (f), says we can't sleeve a yellow as an active (when we're installing it). Which is why 2018 edition makes special provision for doing exactly that, for existing cables.
It covers old stock, and re-cycled fittings as well.
Any item that's covered by Clause (1); can not only continue in service ("continue to be ...used") under Clause (2);
but they can continue to be "constructed", "installed", or "sold".
So cable with plain green earth can be installed, regardless of whether it has previously been installed anywhere or just sat on the shelf.
However the conductor ID requirements (and other installation requirements) do have to be met;
because the testing, certification, and inspection must be to current requirements; as per (2)(b).
Same doesn't apply for cable with bare earth, because (mostly) PECs must be insulated [5.3.2.4].
Similarly cable with yellow active can't be installed, even with sleeved ends, because not only both 3.8.1 and 3.8.2, but also 1.7.2 (f), says we can't sleeve a yellow as an active (when we're installing it). Which is why 2018 edition makes special provision for doing exactly that, for existing cables.
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