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Any electrician will tell you that a vital part of cable management is identification. Cable marking must be clear and legible, and colour coding is the most easily identifiable method.
Cable marking is a regulatory requirement, mostly using colour coding to indicate individual functions.
However, quality standard BS 7671 also insists that, where is reasonably possible, wiring should be "arranged or marked so that it can be identified for inspection, testing, repair or alteration of the installation."
This is particularly important when it comes to complicated installations where conductors cannot be identified by the arrangement of wiring.
Examples include distribution boards, where the arrangement of terminals on the neutral and/or earth bar doesn't match the exact layout of the phase terminals - which could lead to the dangerous disconnection of the wrong conductor.
Therefore cable labels, marks, or codes should be used to ensure the neutral conductors are easily distinguishable from the earth ones.
Cable marking must be clear and legible, and colour coding is the most easily identifiable method.
However, where further identification is required a range of products is available, for example:
* Sleeves, meaning conductors can still be identified once they are disconnected from their terminals, for example for testing, thereby ensuring safe reconnection.
* Stainless steel markers, plates or tags where a durable product is required.
* Computer printable products, such as labels, tapes, heat shrinkable sleeves and tie-on cable markers.
These can be marked with essential information such as: earth, neutral, phase colours; the type of material; the service temperature range; and resistance to hazards such fire, petrol and oil.
Where cables are buried, they can be identified by marks on aluminium or fibreglass posts, or on surface-mounted concrete markers carrying a durable metal cap on which data is inscribed, with arrows indicating the cable location.
Labels should be placed within two feet of the buried cable, at the beginning and end of the cable runs, and at regular intervals and changes of direction.
There are exceptions where cable marking is not required, such as where a metal sheath or armour is used as a protective conductor, or on bare conductors where permanent marking is not practical.
However, whether it's above or below ground, for domestic or public installations, cable marking is essential to health & safety.
