Why NATA accredited test reports

Testing in Australia to AS/NZS standards is an ongoing demand of the industry and testing labs like CabLab are assisting in winning projects.

Neeraj Das, Managing Director, Ojas Infrastructure Pty Ltd.

CabLab’s broad testing scope means we can qualify cables locally and in half the time, with the confidence that a NATA endorsed test report provides.

Kevin Martinez Nielson, Quality Assurance Manager, Bambach Cables

Neeraj, how does type testing of electrical cables benefit the end users?
Neeraj: Usually in large infrastructure projects, the cost of the cables is less than 5 per cent of the overall budget but any compromise in cable quality control processes exposes the whole infrastructure to a major risk. Type testing ensures the quality of the cables is compliant with AS/NZS standards and eventually turns out to be a huge cost saving measure as compared to replacing cables post installation due to quality issues.

What is the key to your success of supplying cables in Australia since a decade?
Neeraj: The primary pillars of an effective quality control system are factory qualification, regular audits, batch testing and resource training. Our aim has always been to work together with supplier and customer for an effective quality control program.

Which testing laboratories in Australia would you recommend?
Neeraj: Surprisingly for a very long period Australia managed with just one local third-party cable testing lab, making type testing a lengthy and costly process. However, in the last few years, we have actively engaged Cablab as they not only provide local testing services for MV and LV cables but also assist in local and overseas supplier evaluation. We can feel a huge difference in terms of time, money and quality between cables being tested in Australia via CabLab and elsewhere.

Kevin, you have been using CabLab’s services for quite sometime. What is the benefit of a NATA accredited test report?
Kevin: A test report, calibration certificate, or any similar document serves as a statement on the activities performed and the results of these activities. NATA-accredited testing, performed by a NATA-accredited laboratory is the safest way of proving compliance to mandatory and voluntary regulatory requirements. CabLab is one such NATA accredited lab offering testing services in Australia.

Have you experienced quality problems with imported cables?
Kevin: We have had some issues in the past with cables imported from UAE, Turkey and China. Issues were detected when we performed routine inspections. In these cases, we had to request remakes from the suppliers or in extreme cases make the cables ourselves, causing delays in customer delivery in some cases delaying projects and incurring penalties.

How does CabLab help you in your operations or to control the quality?
Kevin: Typically for a full type test on a new cable we would have to work with an overseas laboratory as we are not capable of performing the full range of testing in house; this requires us to send large quantities of cable overseas, significantly increasing the testing turnaround time and cost. CabLab’s broad testing scope means we can qualify cables locally and in half the time, with the confidence that a NATA endorsed test report provides. We have found CabLab’s services to be exemplary; they have been highly professional and knowledgeable, willing to work with us when we have unusual requirements and kept us informed throughout the process.