Infinity cables imported by Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd were recalled nationally in 2013 after they failed electrical safety standards due to poor quality plastic insulation coating. This could cause electric shock if the cabling is disturbed.
There is faulty electrical cabling in thousands of Australian homes and businesses. The risks relate to the ageing of the cables, and time is running out before the cables become an electrocution risk.
All TPS and Orange Round cable sourced from Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd and supplied under ‘INFINITY’ and ‘OLSENT’ brands are affected.
If you are a builder or electrician and have installed any recalled Infinity cables in the last seven years, and have not yet remediated them or alerted someone to ensure the cables are remediated under the supplier’s recall, you could:
- Be issued Rectification Orders, or be sanctioned in other ways
- Be prosecuted, fined or potentially lose your licence if these sanctions are ignored
- Be held financially liable for property damage, injuries or loss of life
- Be responsible for the loss of a life.
You can take appropriate remediation steps by:
- Liaising with the business you purchased the cable from, as to where they have been installed, and the solutions available as part of the recall
- Contacting customers/homeowners to let them know they can have the cables remediated under the supplier’s recall
- Taking steps to remediate cables under the supplier’s recall, at the supplier’s expense. It’s important that you contact the supplier before doing any work that you hope to be reimbursed for
- Checking homes and businesses where you may have installed Infinity cables between 2010 and 2013.
- You can also return any unused Infinity cables to their place of purchase for a full refund.
The more action you take to ensure that any Infinity cables you installed are remediated now, the less likely you will be held accountable for damages or be fined later.
You could also save someone’s life, including the life of a fellow sparky.
It’s important you keep records of each installation you remediate, as these may be required if you are prosecuted by a regulator or sued by a home or business owner for damages due to your inaction.
If you have not installed any recalled Infinity cables there is no need to take any action.
What are the products?
- All Infinity TPS cable -All sizes and configurations of ‘Polymeric Insulated Electrical Cable and which is PVC Sheathed, PVC Insulated, Flat and Flexible Low Voltage Electrical Cable’ also commonly known as ‘TPS’ imported and sold by Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd;
- All Infinity Orange Round -All sizes and configurations of ‘Polymeric Insulated Electrical Cable and which is PVC Sheathed, PVC Insulated, Round and Flexible Low Voltage Electrical Cable’ also commonly known as ‘Orange Round’ imported and sold by Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd.
The recall was limited to the three batches of the TPS cable only. Those batch numbers were INFH 190311, INFH 210912 and INFMEL 081112. All TPS and Orange Round Cable sold by Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd are branded with the words ‘Infinity’.
The TPS cables are used in all kinds of electrical wiring work. It is used in roof spaces, wall cavities and may at times be exposed on in some accessible locations of homes. The cables are also used in commercial and retail premises.
The safety issues with this cable is:
The plastic coating insulation on the cable can become brittle when exposed to high temperatures over time. The cable can degrade through exposure to external heat, for example if it is used in the roof of homes or in warmer parts of NSW.
If these cables fail the internal wires will expose people and/or animals to live conductors potentially resulting in electrical shock or a fire. Safety switches, if installed, along with other types of circuit protection will operate to shut off the circuit. Power will be cut off to that circuit.
TPS – End view of cable
TPS -Cable marking and close-up of cable marking
Orange Round -three core end view of cable
Orange Round – five core end view of cable
Orange Round marking and close-up of cable marking
Your assistance is crucial with adhering to the mandatory recall.
For more information please read this fact sheet or visit the ACCC website.