Under-Specified Cable Duct Seals Can Leave You & Your Client In Deep Water

By Chris Dodds on 19th June, 2013

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Flash Floods + Builders Foam = Power Blackout.

Today's Low Price, Tomorrows High Cost

CSD is the market leading, advanced specification Cable Duct Sealing System with the project track record and intensive Test Reports. When specifying, installing and purchasing cable duct seals the actual material cost should always be contexted with the potential real cost of a product failure, in terms of time, reputation and money.

Picture : Flooded Substation - Carlisle UK

Video : CSD RISE Cable Duct Sealing Installation :

Utilities Get A Wake-Up Call - The Guardian, Sept 2012.

This summer's floods have been catastrophic for many, but they could have been even more disastrous. Despite the fact that rivers burst their banks and flood defences were overwhelmed, water and electricity infrastructure held up and, compared to last summer's flooding, this is progress indeed.

It was only by a whisker that 500,000 inhabitants of Gloucestershire and south Wales, and 750,000 people around Sheffield did not lose power due to flooding the electricity substation serving their homes. As the Pitt review noted, a power failure on that scale in either region would have almost certainly caused loss of life.

As it was, the flooding of the Mythe water treatment works in Gloucestershire meant 350,000 people were without fresh water for up to two weeks, 40,000 had no power for 24 hours in Gloucestershire and 9,000 were on rota disconnection in South Yorkshire and Humberside. It was a wake-up call for the utilities industry.

Many power stations, substations and water treatment works were built near rivers, therefore a large proportion of the UK's critical infrastructure is at risk of flooding, their contingency plans were not up to scratch. They were not always quick enough off the mark in helping with the emergency response to ensure safety checks on gas and electricity supplies in flooded homes were carried out.

This year, utilities companies were much more on the ball. In Morpeth, the area worst affected in this month's floods, they were much more involved in both the emergency response and the aftermath. "From the word go, the utilities companies were involved in the emergency response and now are playing a vital part in the recovery process. That didn't happen last year," says John Healey, the floods recovery and local government minister.

According to Barrie Clarke, director of communications at Water UK, the water industry was more prepared this time round. He says after last year's floods, the water companies have looked closely at all their assets, including treatment works, and have taken steps to protect any in areas of potential flooding. "But we are by no means complacent," he says. "A lot more work is still needed. We are reviewing mutual aid arrangements and the minimum standards of flood protection we need to ensure the maintenance of water systems."

The problem is deciding what level of protection is needed. David Southwell of the Energy Networks Association says the sector has been investing in flood prevention and resilience since 2000. While there may be times when there is no other solution than to raise or relocate the whole site, there are less drastic but nonetheless effective practical steps that can be taken. "A lot of major sites already have perimeter protection, but if the potential flooding is just a few inches then it may just be question of raising key elements such as control panels and components and erecting door barriers," he says. Other measures include waterproofing and sealing entrances and walls, or installing both permanent and removeable flood protection gates and panelling, but extra protection could increase consumers' utility bills.

Sir James Perowne, chair of the Consumer Council for Water's central and eastern regional committee says companies should conduct a cost-benefit analysis of any work and customers must understand and be willing to pay for improvements.

Category:  Cable Transits & Duct Sealing

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