wired issue 1

8/8/2019 Wired Issue 1

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While the price of copper has beenthreatening to spike for the last 5years, with rumours of shortagesand the increase in demand fromthe emerging markets, it is in theselast 12 months that we havewitnessed an unprecedented surge ingrowth. Copper peaked in May thisyear when it rose to over £4,500/ton.The price of copper has been driven

higher by numerous factors includinggrowth in demand, limited stocks andlabour issues by some of the worldslargest producers.

This clearly has a significant effect on thecable industry. Some cables are lessaffected than others, however simple cablessuch as panel wiring, twin and earth, flexsand armoureds have relatively high coppercontent compared to the time andprocesses involved in manufacturing them.

Let's take the example of a 6491X PVCConduit Wire. Depending on size, this mayhave a cost make up of 65% copper, 5%PVC and 30% to cover production,packaging, distribution and profit. Assumingof course that all other elements remain thesame, it is easy to see that if copper doubles

in price, the cost of the cable will increaseby 65%. More complicated cables withmultiple cores or pairs, screens, braids or aspecial insulation or jacket material are lessaffected by copper fluctuations.

Reasons for this unprecedented pricerise can be attributed to the emergenceof the Asian markets, and their vastdemand for both natural resources and

cable. The construction boom in thisregion has increased the amount of copperused in everything from buildings toelectrical equipment.

The recent 25-day strike and resultingproduction losses at the Escondida mine inChile has also affected price. It costsapproximately $2/kg to extract the rawmetal from the earth, with further refiningcosts and drawing costs being addedto the price. Recently there has beenconsiderable unrest within the miningworkforce who want their earnings relatedto the world copper price, resulting in largeproduction losses.

A closer look at the statistics makes formore encouraging reading. Althoughconsumption of copper has outstrippedsupply for the last three years, last yearthe gap narrowed considerably. Research bythe International Copper Study Groupindicates that next year, based on anumber of factors, supply may begin toexceed demand, allowing a small surplusto build up.

It is important to see the longer term picturein the copper markets, and take intoaccount that the growing demand inemerging markets such as India and Chinahas been offset by the decline in demand in

the US and Europe as production moves tothe Far East.

Analysts are also suggesting that as copperprices have risen consumers are starting tosubstitute other materials in its place orbecome more efficient in their consumption.The real irony is that for years copperhas been mined bountifully, due to its lowprice and plentiful supply. This madelooking for substitutes uneconomic, butthis is starting to change. Some cableproducers are already supplying coppercoated aluminium (CCA) with or withoutthe customer's knowledge! In addition,plumbing applications are now increasinglymoving towards plastic.

It is unclear which way the market will turnin 2007. There are certainly arguments oneither side. The advice from FS Cables - buy

Winter 2006 Issue 1

Copper PriceWhat effect on cable will the new year bring?

LittleRed Book

- New Fire Safety Legislation

- 2006 Exhibitions

- Q & A with our

Purchasing Manager

- Editorial from Jon Herbert

- Draka FireTuf Data

- External Telecom cables

Issue 8 of the FS Cables pocket guideis now available in printed form or onCD. This 120 page full colour cataloguefeatures technical specifications ofour wide product range, as well as aBelden page finder and a handy guideto LSHF cabling.

Also included are technical tablesfeaturing current ratings, and AWG / Metric conversion and stranding chartswith American, European and UK colourcodes. These can be easily referred towhen you are placing your order, and thehandy pocket size means you can take itwith you when you are on site!

To order your free copy, please return

the enclosed pre-paid reply card or

call our sales team on 01727 828 828.

cable as and when you need it, and leavethe speculating to the London FuturesExchange. If you have a medium or largeshort-term need, it may be worth buying it inone go - fixing your cost and making the

most of any quantity discounts on offer.We want to help where we can, and be as'flexible' as possible! We are happy todiscuss a fixed pricing agreement with you,where cable ordered can be called off overa pre-agreed period of time. This means youdon't have the problems of storage but dobenefit from consistent prices. Please call usfor a chat about these possibilities.

+++ Metal Prices +++ Metal Prices +++ Metal Prices +++

+++ Metal Prices +++ Metal Prices +++ Metal Prices +++

31st November 31st August 3 Month Change %

COPPER £3,544.56 £4,007.76 - 11.56

ALUMINIUM £1,372.14 £1,276.86 + 7.46

SILVER £7.43 £6.54 + 13.61

NICKEL £17,733 £16,484.96 + 7.57

All prices per 1000kg except silver per oz. Exchange rates apply at time of trade

£4,500

£3,500

£2,500

Jan Mar May NovJuly Sept

COPPER FLUCTUATION - 2006



New fire safety laws came into force onthe 1st October this year, and earlyindications suggest that a number ofemployers are still unaware of theimplications. The Regulatory Reform(Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) sets outa change in legislation applying toall non-domestic buildings andemphasises a shift in responsibility

onto the employer. This means thatbusiness owners will now need to bemore aware of the mechanics of firesafety engineering.

The reform aims to improve public safety byfocusing on fire prevention, therefore takinga more pro-active than reactive approach tofire safety.

The implications for the cabling industry arehugely significant. The reform brings to lightthe need for effective fire safety systems andthe need for fire alarm and detectionequipment that conform to the necessaryrequirements. Clearly, there becomes a

very definite need for appropriate fireperformance cabling to be installed.

The impact of the reforms needs to beaddressed on two fronts. Firstly, there are theinherent dangers posed by unprotectedcombustible materials in concealed spaces,which can potentially increase the spreadof fire should it occur.

The market for soft skin fire alarmcables is now well established andsome might say over subscribed!However it has taken years to developa high performance data cable to meetthe same standards.

Draka FireTuf Data is a totally new productwhich has been developed to meet theincreasing needs for high speed datatransmission approaching Cat 5 standards.

Building Management Systems (BMS),CCTV, access controls and traditional localarea networks (LANs) for critical systemsare increasingly looking for continuedfunctionality in the event of fire. The cablescan be terminated using traditional LANInsulation Displacement Connectors (IDC)making them ideal for use in horizontalbackbone wiring systems in offices andpublic buildings.

The patented design of Draka FireTufData has successfully passed both

BS5839:2002 and the 3 in 1 enhancedBS8434- 2 test. It is also fire resistant to IEC60331-23 and is Low Smoke Halogen Freethroughout.

Applications include airports, hospitals,prisons, high rise office buildings andanywhere that continued transmissions in

the event of fire areimportant. The red LowSmoke Halogen Free jacketalso offers excellent flameretardance, further reducing thespread of fire.

FS Cables are the official distributor ofthe Draka FireTuf range of data and coaxialcables. We have a large amount of bothavailable directly from stock.

The FireTuf Coax performs in a similar way

electrically to 75Ω

RG59 which is widelyused in the CCTV sector. This maintains theintegrity of video signal in the event of fire,enabling continued monitoring of fire exitsand evacuation routes. Applications alsoinclude video surveillance with digitisedscreening capabilities, for example wheresmoke detection systems are used.

Due to the Low Smoke Zero Halogenproperties of the FireTuf Coax, it is ideal foruse in public, commercial and industrial

environments. We also stock a suitable BNCconnector.

For full details of the Draka FireTuf Datarange please visit our website where youcan download a full technical specificationsheet. Alternatively please call our salesteam for a quote, or more information.

LatestProducts

In BriefInvestors in people We are delighted to announce that

FS Cables has been officially recognised as

an Investor in People. It took around a year

to achieve this prestigious accolade and

involved the efforts of all members of thecompany. The net results so far have been

very positive, with effects on increased

customer satisfaction, improved staff

motivation, and reduced wastage and costs.

This is a great achievement for the

company, but we are fully committed to

continually improving the processes and

skills that gained us the Investors in People

recognition in the long term.

We have a commitment to training

and development within FS Cables,

recognising the benefits of people

performance to the future of our company.

Cat 6 We have recently added the Cat 6 Duct

Grade cable to our product range.

Featuring a heavy black polyethylene

sheath and a flame retardant PVC inner

jacket for easy stripping, the Cat 6 offers

high speed data transfers where

underground duct or a weatherproof

cabling solution is needed. The cable hasan overall diameter of 9.8mm making it

possibly the most robust version on the

market.

Please call or email our technical sales

team for more information or to request a

datasheet or sample.

RiserFlex and RiserShield The new RiserFlex and RiserShield range

of cables have been developed primarily

to run alongside power cables due to

their 0.6/1kV power rating. The dual

screened version uses an overall foil and

tinned copper wire braid to reduce both

radiated and induced interference. Ideal

for running clean supplies to computer

rooms and power in close proximity to

data cables, RiserShield minimises the

effect of high and low frequency

interference.

RiserFlex is a Low Smoke Halogen Free

unscreened, unarmoured version, also

0.6/1kV designed for use in buildings

running under floors, in risers and dry

ducts. The class 5 flexible conductors in

both cables make installation and routing

easier, particularly in confined spaces.

Both cables are Low Smoke Halogen

Free throughout and flame retardant

minimising the risk to both property and

personnel.

Reigniting an old flameThe RRFSO reforms 30 year old fire saf

Draka FireTuf Data



The threat of cabling systems spreading firesis a real one. A continued build-up ofcombustible cable can add greatly to thefuel-load within ceilings, which can cause afire to reach extreme temperatures, produceexcessive smoke, and enable fires to spread

throughout a building. The Seven Dials fire in

The Building Services Event 2006

M&E 2006 is the annual buildingservices exhibition based at Olympia,London. As one of around 100exhibitors at the show, FS Cables wasplease to meet many existing andpotential customers to discuss our

varied product range.

Around 6,000 visitors attended what was avery successful two days for all concerned.

FSC Global, the export arm of FS Cables

exhibited at KIOGE 2006, the premier

exhibition in Kazakhstan for Oil and Gas

exploration and distribution.

With 600 exhibitors and around 14,000

visitors, there really was something for

everyone, from pipelines and valves to drillingrigs and trucks. We were promoting the range

of marine and offshore cables we stock.

Kazakhstan is a fascinating place with a

predominantly young and female population.

Out of town the scenery is spectacular and

beautiful with friendly people and mad drivers!

This was the first exhibition we have been to in

Kazakhstan and the furthest away from the UK,

with the stand having to be packed up and

shipped out 6 weeks before the show began.

One interesting experience was the visit to the

ambassador residence. The food and drink

were excellent but the clincher was the UnionJack toilet seat!

It’s good to know we are working as a team to

promote Britain!

Gavin Clements

Director FSC Global Ltd.

We were able to talk to many prospectiveand existing customers face to face aboutways we can work together in the future.

We had a very positive response to theshow, with many new contacts beingmade from various sectors within theindustry. It was apparent how much this

sector has grown in the past few years,and the number of building servicesvisitors only served to reinforce this.

Building relationships is a key aspect to ourcommitment to service at FS Cables.We are very aware that meeting and exceedingcustomer needs is based on understandingthe individual and unique requirements of everyproject. We value our relationships with ourcustomers and are always looking at new waysto better serve their needs.

If you missed us at M&E 2006, be sure tocheck our website for future exhibitions thatwe will be attending. It would be a greatopportunity to meet you.

Covent Garden in 1999 and the HeathrowAirport fire in 1997 are known to havespread through buildings via cabling systemsand act as a sobering reminder of thedangers that exist.

Secondly, there is a need for cabling systemswhich retain their integrity in the event of anemergency, for safety dependent systemssuch as alarms, fire detection equipment andemergency lighting, right down to theprotection of networks and informationstorage systems. High performance fire safety

cabling systems, once the preserve of largeinstitutions and data centres are now beingseen as strategic investments to protect lives,property and vital business assets.

Fumes are the greatest cause of damage toelectrical equipment in offices, rather thanheat or flame. Even if a fire has beensuccessfully extinguished, the smoke thathas been created can wreak havoc withcircuitry, even in equipment located a longway from where the fire started. SpecifyingLSHF cabling can reduce this risk.

Advances in cabling materials have enabledthe installation of systems which go a long

way to addressing some of these dangers. Inlight of the new legislation, building ownersand managers, architects, electr icalengineers and installers of cabling systemsneed to be aware of available options toimprove fire safety.

One such option is the Draka FireTuf serieswhich is designed to emulate as closely aspossible the performance of Cat 5. Thesehigh performance fire survival data cables aredesigned to carry on functioning even in theevent of fire, allowing safe monitoring ofevacuation without putting lives at risk.

Where a video signal is carried the coaxial

version performs in a similar way to RG59

which is widely used in the CCTV sector. Thisallows continued monitoring of fire exits andevacuation routes in the event of fire.

Whilst it is important to recognise theimportant part that cabling plays in therecent reforms, it certainly doesn't end there.Increasingly, business owners need torecognise that fire safety doesn't simplybegin and end with cable. Of course,installing a LSHF system goes some way toreducing the spread of fire, but so oftenpeople overlook the amount of other

combustible materials that are present andthe other contributing factors that need to beaddressed.

Appropriate cabling can go a long way toimproving fire safety systems and helpbusiness owners conform to the newlegislation. But when it comes to protectingyour people and your property, don't takeany chances.

For more information or to read theRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order

in full, please visitwww.communities.gov.uk

Editorial

M&E 2006

The average 10 storey commercial

building with 100 work stations per

floor can contain around 1 million feet

of cabling in concealed spaces.

Where inappropriate cable is used,

in the event of fire this is the equivalent

of 5,700 litres of petrol.

Source: Cable Fire Research Association

Special Offers If you’ve an eye for a bargain be sure totake a look at the brand new ‘SpecialOffers’ section of our website. Here

you’ll find a regularly updated list ofproducts that we were either overstocked on, or cables that arediscontinued lines. This gives you theopportunity to purchase top-qualityproducts at hugely reduced prices.Be sure to check regularly however, aswhen it’s gone it’s gone!

Welcome to Wired from FS Cables.

Our ambition is to bring you news

from around the industry together

with information and updates about

our company.

Being the first edition, I would really

appreciate your feedback so please

take the time to fill in the enclosedprepaid reply card and send or fax it

back to us.

We are fortunate to have a great

bunch of people here who always

make meeting your needs their

priority. We operate a ‘no cut off time’

policy, put simply, if we can ship it,

we will.

Whilst it is always appreciated when

you get your orders over early in the

day we understand this isn’t always

practical. If you do place an orderlate, we will confirm that we can ship

it at the time of booking so you can

receive it the next working day.

Although we really do try hard to

meet your needs I am also realistic

enough to know we don't always get

it right. But, please tell me how we

can improve.

If you have any comments about

any aspect of our service I would

welcome them either by email or

by telephone.

Yours,

Jon Herbert

[email protected]

y legislation

FSC Global Goes to Kazakhstan

wired issue 1

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