Our home is wired with cable that looks like copper piping. I have been told that it is fireproof cable and that it is better than PVC cable. The house is almost 40 years old now and I was wondering if it would need rewiring. We have had no problems with the electrics and the cable looks almost new even though it has been around since the house was built. Can anyone tell me how long this type of cable lasts?
Fireproof Cable?
- Thread starter quicksilver
- Start date
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Sounds like pyro, also known as MICC.
The only surefire way you can find out if the property needs rewiring is if you have a PIR (periodic inspection report) carried out by an electrician. Providing the cable is not abused, does not get damp in or damaged, the cable should last almost indefinately.
The only surefire way you can find out if the property needs rewiring is if you have a PIR (periodic inspection report) carried out by an electrician. Providing the cable is not abused, does not get damp in or damaged, the cable should last almost indefinately.
B
breezer
its actually solid coper cores, insulated my magnesioum oxide, this is then covered by a copper sheath (the bit you can see)
It really is fire proof and was often used in fire alarms. unlike most cables where you just stip it and connect it, each end has to be "made off" with a "pot" this pot is screwed on, filled with a sealing compund, a small "core seperator" is then put on, it is then "crimped" then insulating rubber is put on to give the cores insulation
only thing with yours is its likely to be an old imperial size
It really is fire proof and was often used in fire alarms. unlike most cables where you just stip it and connect it, each end has to be "made off" with a "pot" this pot is screwed on, filled with a sealing compund, a small "core seperator" is then put on, it is then "crimped" then insulating rubber is put on to give the cores insulation
only thing with yours is its likely to be an old imperial size
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MICC is a very good cable type (expensive and hard to work with though so pretty rare in domestic installations)
provided its properly sealed it should last basically forever but if damp gets into the cable through a poor joint or damage the insulation resistance will plumet.
its also about the most fireproof cable type availible. I'm not positive but i think to destroy it requires heating to the melting point of copper.
provided its properly sealed it should last basically forever but if damp gets into the cable through a poor joint or damage the insulation resistance will plumet.
its also about the most fireproof cable type availible. I'm not positive but i think to destroy it requires heating to the melting point of copper.
I remember the trade adverts with a steamroller flattening it and still the insulation reading was infinity! the other demo was a coil at the bottom of a swimming pool for a month (supposedly) taken out stripped back(six inches to a foot ) and the cable had perfect readingsplugwash said:
Thanks for the information!
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