Flexible conduit systems from Flexicon will be protecting critical power and data cabling for the ten new Elizabeth line stations.
Daniel Tokoro, senior project engineer and package manager for the Electrical Installation for NG Bailey at Farringdon station said: “Power and data is vital for operational efficiency and critical safety systems. Cable protection is important not just from day one but for the lifetime of the installation.”
Cable protection from Flexicon will be used for lighting, small power, CCTV and audio systems in both the general public and back office areas and for the Platform Edge Screens (PES) that separates the station from the track area.
Tokoro continued: “Flexicon worked with the supply chain to get the cable protection specification correct. The cable protection for PES simply did not exist in the market, so Flexicon had to develop an all metallic chemically blackened system that met all the fire and IP requirements, while appearing invisible to the eye against a dark background.
“They also delivered all the metallic conduit systems cut to length and assembled with fittings to save installation time on site and ensure factory controlled quality.”
The main requirements for the cable protection system are to protect cabling from vandalism, provide ingress protection of up to IP68 and meet the stringent fire safety standards for sub-surface rail installations. For public facing areas the conduit also had to meet the aesthetic requirements of the installation.
Back office areas use FSS stainless steel corrugated conduit, which combines inherent low fire hazard performance with an ingress protection of IP68 and excellent corrosion resistance. Public facing areas use either FSSBRD, which has a stainless steel over braid for added aesthetic appeal or a specially developed all metallic black stainless-steel conduit called FSS black which is being used on the PES.
The latter offers all of the benefits of the FSS system, but thanks to its black colouring appears invisible to the naked eye when set against a dark background. Its secret is the development of an anodised black surface treatment.
Tim Creedon, sales and marketing director for Flexicon, said: “We have a wide range of metallic conduits, but there are areas on this project that required a metallic system that can be hidden, but is not coated in PVC or other material. This means it will not burn or create smoke in the event of a fire and is halogen free. FSS Black was developed for the Platform Edge Screen.”