1. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

2. CABLE

3. 3 Core Flex Stranded Cores PVC Insulation
Generally used for appliances
Advantages
Very Flexible
Low Cost
Disadvantages
Low Strength
Limited usage

4. 2 Core Flex Stranded Cores PVC Insulation Used for domestic lighting
Advantages
Highly flexible
Cheap
Quick installation
Disadvantages
No earth
Limited usage

5. Single Core PVC Insulation Installed in trunking/conduit Stranded core
Used for small power
Advantages
Carries more current than the flex’s can
Disadvantages
Containment can be expensive
Takes longer to install as individual cables

6. Twin and Earth Solid Cores PVC Insulation
Used for general wiring & appliances
Advantages
Carries more current than singles
Can be clipped to walls
Malleable
Disadvantages
Earth is not sleeved
Not very mechanically robust

7. FP200 Silicone insulation for fire protection
Used for fire alarm cabling
Advantages
Foil wrapped to prevent interference
Good fire protection
Disadvantages
Can be expensive

8. MICC Used for fire alarms
Contains magnesium oxide as an insulation material
Advantages
Very strong
Good fire protection
Disadvantages
Brittle
Hard to work with
Requires pot head for termination

9. Fibre Optics Uses light rather than electricity PVC Insulation
Advantages
Fast transmission rate
Almost impossible for signal to be interfered with
Disadvantages
Needs some form of protection
Can only be used for data
Requires special terminations for converting the signal form light to electricity
Cable can not go around tight bends as the angle of refraction would be too great

10. Data Cable Contains 8 cables Used for data communication Advantages
Good for transmitting information
Flexible and lightweight for easy installation.
Disadvantages
Special tools are required for termination
Not as fast transfer speeds as fibre optics.

11. Steel Wired Armoured Used for mains and submains cabling
Can have PVC insulation
Advantages
Good mechanical protection
Can carry a high amount of amps
Disadvantages
Time consuming to install
High cost
Requires glanded connections

12. CONTAINMENT

13. Steel Trunking Made from galvanised steel Used for singles cabling
Advantages
Good mechanical protection
Fairly quick installation
Accessible
Disadvantages
Expensive
Not aesthetically pleasing

14. Lighting Trunking Used for singles cabling powering lights
Can come fitted with light fittings
Advantages
Fittings already have a secure fixing point
Reduces lighting installation time
Disadvantages
Limited uses
High expense

15. PVC/Mini Trunking For housing general small power wiring Advantages
Quick to install and relatively low cost compared to steel trunking
Disadvantages
Limited mechanical protection
Can not handle large cables

16. Dado Trunking For housing general small power and data wiring.
It can also have power and data outlets mounted onto it
Advantages
Internal segregation allows data cabling to be run alongside power cabling
Quick to install
Disadvantages
Limited mechanical protection
Can not handle large cables
Can be expensive

17. Cable Tray
Often used in ceiling voids and plantrooms for the distribution of all types of cabling except singles
Advantages
Can carry a large amount of cables
Good ventilation
Disadvantages
Limited mechanical protection
Not aesthetically pleasing

18. Steel Conduit Constructed from galvanised steel
Tube shaped construction
Advantages
Good mechanical protection
Wide range of fittings to aid installation
Malleable
Good for use in industrial applications
Disadvantages
Usually only used for singles cabling
Limited space for cables
Time consuming to install
Large amount of fixings

19. PVC Conduit Made from PVC Tube shaped construction Advantages
Malleable
Wide range of fittings to aid installation
Can be used for general power wiring in many environments
Disadvantages
Low mechanical protection
Time consuming to install
Limited room for cabling

20. Flexible Conduit Made from plastic
Used for final connections to equipment
Advantages
Highly flexible so allows some movement
Disadvantages
Low mechanical protection
Limited room for cabling

21. Clipped Direct
Cables are clipped directly to the wall using cable clips
Advantages
Very quick and cheap to install
Disadvantages
Not aesthetically pleasing
Very little mechanical protection

22. Embedded with Capping
Cables are embedded behind plastered walls, and are then capped with galvanised steel
Advantages
No sign of cables or containment shown on surface
Does no interference with appearance
Disadvantages
Has to be installed before other contractors
Very hard to access after it is covered and plastered over

23. Underground/Underfloor
Cables are contained in underground ducting to take them to other buildings or parts of sites.
In underfloor systems cables are contained in either Trunking, Cable Trays and Ducting underneath a false floor.
Advantages
Very good mechanical protection and naturally protected from surrounded ground
Labelled with tape, for good identification
Disadvantages
Very time consuming and expensive as trenches must be excavated.

24. Distribution Board Enclosures
Distributions boards and panels that are made from metal. They are locked for safety and security reasons.
Advantages
Protects vulnerable equipments such as circuit breakers, switched and incoming mains.
Safety lock prevents non authorised people getting into the equipment
Disadvantages
Can be very expensive
Locks need to be removed when
maintenance takes place