Use of insulation tape on exposed copper

[ringer]

Been reading thread on another forum where someone has discovered some insulation has been melted and burnt off on the rfc by a plumber leaving exposed copper. He has used insulation tape to repair, is asking if this is ok, and has had quite a few replies stating this is a good repair. I was surprised - I know it is called 'insulation' tape but would have thought this would be regarded as an unsatisfactory repair and that the section of cable would need to be replaced.

 

[nickblake]

the answer is no insulation tape can come off over time the only way to repair a damaged cable using that method is by heat shrink and self amalgamating tape or a junction box

 

[Adam W]

I would agree with you and not the plumber - like nickblake said the tape can come off, and while you could do an IR test to check it is offering an appropriate level of electrical insulation you might have a job testing how much mechanical protection it offers.

 

[MartinSigsworth]

Hi there Read this thread with interest as I currently work in Canada in the Rail environment and "dead" unused conductors are taped. Normally then left for years. I'm trying to make a procedural change. I'm looking for definative evidence or regulations that show "insulation tape must not be used for more than or that over time the properties breaks down or that the glue fails etc

I took part in an Audit Recently...read that as I was the Auditor for my organisation and I questions the maintainers and Technicians on the use of tape and the fact that some of it was peeling and unwrapping. I asked "What they did about it?" they replied "retape and move on"

I find that a little unacceptable

I've also heard that any extension cord that has been repaired using insulation tape must be replaced after 24hours

I have always considered insulation tape or Friction tape to be used as phase markers only i.e. we rely on the insulation of the conductor but notify the cable as PH1/PH2/PH3

be it Red Yellow Blue, Black Brown Grey, Red White Blue.

 

[telectrix]

Been reading thread on another forum where someone has discovered some insulation has been melted and burnt off on the rfc by a plumber leaving exposed copper. He has used insulation tape to repair, is asking if this is ok, and has had quite a few replies stating this is a good repair. I was surprised - I know it is called 'insulation' tape but would have thought this would be regarded as an unsatisfactory repair and that the section of cable would need to be replaced.

ask your plumber if he would be happy for you to repair one of his central heating pipes with a bit of poxy tape after you'd put as nail thtough it.

 

[kingeri]

I don't have insulation tape in my toolbag any more. It's only use is marking wires, and it's not even good for that!

 

[Brightspark2]

I don't have insulation tape in my toolbag any more. It's only use is marking wires, and it's not even good for that!

What about for when you cut yourself?...

Works great as a plaster...

Nothing screams "I'm a man, I'm an electrician" more than insulation tape on cut fingers!

Sent from my Xperia S using next doors WIFI

 

[Andy78]

I agree !
cut fingers, attaching cables to rods, sticking plans to walls, temporary ID flags for cables, repairing broken tool handles, it's uses are nearly endless.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I use tape for:
Labels to identify conductors and circuits during installation.
To identify conductors if sleeving is not available.
To cover the join between a cable and a crimped lug if coloured heat shrink is not available.
Temporary labels on panel doors.
To join conductors to draw tapes or wires, when drawing in new conductors or cables.
As a filler when repairing or joining cables, then covering the filled section with heat shrink.
To seal off the ends of underground cable joints to prevent the resin running out.
As a plaster.
To tape drawings to walls.
To seal plastic bags containing small parts such as long 3.5mm screws, packs of fuses, crimps, etc.
Temporarily to cover exposed cable ends if the cables could become or are live.
To cover an isolated switch if a lock off kit is not available.
To identify extension leads on sites.
To block off sections of PIRs.
There's probably a hundred other uses that I can't think of right now.
I find it a very useful bit of kit.

 

[BlueToBits]

Depending on the environment, I have found that over time the glue used in PVC tape either 'sweats' and turns into sticky oily jelly or dries out and loses adhesion. I also suspect that adding on-site insulation to any cable that requires to be insulated will render that cable no longer compliant with the British Standard the cable was manufactured to.

 

[Guest111]

Hi there Read this thread with interest as I currently work in Canada in the Rail environment and "dead" unused conductors are taped. Normally then left for years. I'm trying to make a procedural change. I'm looking for definative evidence or regulations that show "insulation tape must not be used for more than or that over time the properties breaks down or that the glue fails etc

I took part in an Audit Recently...read that as I was the Auditor for my organisation and I questions the maintainers and Technicians on the use of tape and the fact that some of it was peeling and unwrapping. I asked "What they did about it?" they replied "retape and move on"

I find that a little unacceptable

I've also heard that any extension cord that has been repaired using insulation tape must be replaced after 24hours

I have always considered insulation tape or Friction tape to be used as phase markers only i.e. we rely on the insulation of the conductor but notify the cable as PH1/PH2/PH3

be it Red Yellow Blue, Black Brown Grey, Red White Blue.

over here uk the utility companies usually apply a heavy duty cap to their cables if they are not used but may be needed later,it used to be called a pot end and is like a pipe with a domed end they go over the cable and are heated up with a gas torch this shrinks then onto the cable and a resin inside seals them.

 

[Steve_P]

I don't have insulation tape in my toolbag any more. It's only use is marking wires, and it's not even good for that!

I do, it comes in really handy for sticking plumbers tools all over scaffolding while they're taking extended tea breaks

 

[Darkwood]

ask your plumber if he would be happy for you to repair one of his central heating pipes with a bit of poxy tape after you'd put as nail thtough it.

Ironically there is a repair tape that has been approved to make good screwed or nailed pipes, it can withstand high pressure and temp and can be put on wet, but having said this i used some and the plumber refused to acknowledge it as a permanent repair even though i provided the relevent info to its compliance .... he didn't like the fact that an electrician could repair a pipe for a fiver in materials and 5mins time :nonod:

 

[vjsmarwick]

Mmmm main use for insulating tape for me is drawing in cables marking my own tools or in extreme cases taping up the shaft of my screwdriver after the efing plumber gripped it with his pipe grips for extra leverage funny the fact he did not like me using his blow torch as a hammer he shouted it cost him £60 and I told him that was just half the price of my set of torque screwdrivers so did he have another blow torch I could use lol

 

[Engineer54]

over here uk the utility companies usually apply a heavy duty cap to their cables if they are not used but may be needed later,it used to be called a pot end and is like a pipe with a domed end they go over the cable and are heated up with a gas torch this shrinks then onto the cable and a resin inside seals them.

I know the same thing as ''cable caps''!! ...lol!!

 

[Guest111]

I know the same thing as ''cable caps''!! ...lol!!

Funny how the same thing has different names,when I worked at BT they were called a pedcap,same thing different name.

 

[Stroppy]

A couple of weeks ago my colleague, who will remain nameless, "repaired" about 6 inches of brand new 2.5T&E which we were first fixing in a new build, which the builders had damaged the sheathing of, by cutting the sheathing off and wrapping the insulated conductors round with insulating tape. He argued that the tape restored the required second layer of insulation so was completely acceptable, despite the cable being accessible and easily replaced!

Would you have taped it, or replaced the cable?

 

[telectrix]

i'd have cut out enough to strangle him with, then done a proper repair.

 

[Darkwood]

How many examples have we seen of educational dumming down is this seriously the mind set of the new breed of sparkies leaving college! ....although i hope not im seeing more and more examples :O

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Depends on whether the builders were likely to pay for the time and materials.