Cable cleat manufacturer, Ellis, has had its Phoenix fire-proof cable cleats specified to secure all emergency system cabling in two new properties being built at the Cobalt Data Centre Campus in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
DC2 and DC3 add an additional 6,000m2 of prime commercial property to a business location that is already home to the likes of Santander, Hewlett Packard and Orange.
Ellis’ Phoenix cleats, plus cable glands and associated fixing products were specified by M&E contractor, Cundall and supplied through Middlesbrough-based electrical cable distributor, Cleveland Cable Company.
Chris Leahy, a project manager for Cleveland Cable Company, said, “This is the first time we’ve dealt with its Phoenix cleats and, as with all other Ellis products, they certainly deliver to an extremely high standard.”
The Phoenix range of fire-proof cable cleats was developed by Ellis in order to provide a proven and cost effective method of safe cable restraint for any Fire Protection (FP) installation.
Manufactured in 316L stainless steel, the range underwent vigorous testing prior to launch in order to demonstrate its fire and corrosion resistant properties. These tests included exposure to fire, impact and water spray, all of which combined to ensure that the Phoenix range offers fire protection to the same level as the cables it is installed to protect.
Paul Nolan, UK sales manager for Ellis, explained, “At the time we brought the Phoenix cleats to market the only proven way to secure emergency cabling was to use cast iron cleats, which of course was an extremely costly solution.
“In practice this resulted in a lot of emergency cabling systems not being properly restrained, which meant that in the case of an emergency there was no protection. Instead risks ranged from the loss of vital services through to the dangers caused to life by live cables falling.”
Ellis’ Phoenix cleats corrected this problem and did so at time when the growth in the number of FP installations was soaring and the clamour for a more cost effective solution was growing.
Nolan concluded, “In order for FP rated cables to continue working in an emergency they need to remain not just intact, but in place – something that simply can’t be guaranteed without the use of restraints that have the same fire resistant properties as the cables they are restraining.”
