Compulsory specification - VC 8077

As from 15 October 2003 SANS 97 and SANS 1339 became compulsory specifications. This means that all medium voltage electric power cables installed in South Africa must comply with the stipulated requirements in SANS 97 and SANS 1339.
There could be serious repercussions for any organisation that deliberately or unintentionally sells or installs non-compliant cable.

No. R. 1164                              GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. 15 AUGUST 2003                                      
15 August 2003
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

STANDARDS ACT, 1993
AMENDMENT OF COMPULSORY SPECIFICATION FOR MEDIUM-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC CABLES-VC 8077

I, Alexander Erwin, Minister of Trade and Industry, hereby under Section 22(1)(a)(i) of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No. 29 of 1993), and on the recommendation of the Council of the South African Bureau of Standards, with effect from the date two months after the date of publication of this notice, declare the amendment to the specification contained in the Schedule, to be compulsory.

SCHEDULE

AMENDMENT OF COMPULSORY SPECIFICATION FOR THE SAFETY
OF MEDIUM – VOLTAGE ELECTRIC CABLES

1 Scope
This specification covers the requirements for single-core and three-core paper-insulated and XLPE-insulated cables with rated voltages in the range 3,3/3,3 kV to 19/33 kV, but excluding pressure-assisted cables.

2 Definitions

2.1 For the purposes of this specification, the definitions given in SANS 97 and SANS 1339 apply.

2.2 Proof of compliance: A full safety test report issued by a laboratory accredited by an applicable internationally recognized laboratory accreditation scheme, or in the absence of an accredited laboratory, by a laboratory accepted by the SABS and a Letter of Authority (LOA) as issued by the SABS upon evaluation of the aforesaid full safety test report.

3 Particular Requirements

3.1 Medium voltage paper-insulated electric cables

Medium voltage paper-insulated electric cables shall comply with the relevant requirements of SANS 97, Electric cables: Impregnated paper-insulated metal-sheathed cables for rated voltages 3,3/3,3 kV to 19/33 kV (excluding pressure assisted cables), as published by Government Notice No. 973 (Government Gazette No. 21605) of 6 October 2000, as amended from time to time.

3.2 Medium voltage XLPE-insulated electric cables

Medium voltage XLPE-insulated electric cables shall comply with the relevant requirements of SANS 1339, Electric cables: Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated cables for rated voltages 3,8/6,6 kV to 19/33 kV, as published by Government Notice No. 773 (Government Gazette No. 22577) of 24 August 2003, as amended from time to time.

4 General Requirements

4.1 Proof of compliance:

4.1.1 Proof of compliance shall be made available to the SABS in respect of each item of apparatus covered by the scope of this compulsory specification prior to the sale of such items.

4.1.2 Such proof of compliance shall be made available to the SABS, within 5 working days after a request during inspection by a duly authorized person of the SABS.

4.1.3 Failure to provide such proof of compliance shall constitute reasonable grounds to suspect that the item of apparatus covered by the scope of this compulsory specification, does not comply with the requirement of this compulsory specification.