Cable damage can happen at any time, a struck cable during excavation, a failed joint under load, mechanical damage from plant, or deterioration that has finally reached the point of failure. When it does, the priority is the same: make the site safe, identify the extent of the damage, and get the cable repaired and back in service as quickly as possible. R&D Cable Jointing provides cable damage repair for LV, 11kV and 33kV cables across the UK, fast mobilisation, correct materials on site and clean workmanship that gives you confidence the repair will hold.
Cable damage presents in a wide range of forms. Our repair approach is determined by the nature and extent of the damage, the cable type and voltage, and the access conditions at the repair site.
Cable strikes during excavation are among the most common causes of cable damage in the UK, the Health and Safety Executive records hundreds every year. When a cable is struck, the priority sequence is: stop work, call 999 if there is immediate danger, call the network operator, make the site safe. Once isolation is confirmed and the excavation is stabilised, the damage must be assessed and a repair scope determined before work can proceed.
Struck cables frequently require a new joint, or in cases of severe damage, a cable section replacement, before the circuit can be restored. We respond to cable strike situations across the UK, attending once site controls are in place and the cable is safely isolated.
A failed joint is a common cable fault type, joints are the weakest point in any cable circuit and are susceptible to moisture ingress, manufacturing defects, poor original installation and end-of-life deterioration. Joint failure on an HV circuit typically causes immediate protection operation; on LV circuits it may present as a fault or intermittent supply issue. Once the failed joint position has been identified, either by inspection or fault location, we excavate, remove the failed joint and install a new one to manufacturer procedure.
Cables can be mechanically damaged by plant movement, ground settlement, tree root intrusion, rodent attack or impact from construction activity above the cable route. Mechanical damage may rupture the cable sheath without immediately causing an electrical fault, in this case a sheath repair or joint may be required before moisture ingress leads to insulation breakdown. Where mechanical damage has already caused an electrical fault, a joint or section replacement will be needed.
Where the extent of damage, or the length of cable affected by a fault, makes a joint repair impractical, a cable section replacement is required. This involves cutting out the damaged section, pulling in a new cable length and jointing at both ends. Section replacements are more complex and time-consuming than single joint repairs, but are sometimes the only practical solution where damage is spread along a section of cable route.
On modern XLPE HV cables, the outer sheath provides the first line of defence against moisture ingress to the cable screen. Sheath damage, from excavation, mechanical impact or deterioration, can be repaired without a full cable joint in some circumstances, using sheath repair kits applied over the damaged section. The decision on whether a sheath repair is appropriate, or whether a joint is required, depends on the extent of the damage and the condition of the cable at the damaged point.
A cable damage repair needs to be done right: a rushed or poorly installed repair will fail again, often sooner than the original fault. Our approach is methodical regardless of the programme pressure.
HV cable damage repair requires authorised engineers, appropriate safe working arrangements and compliance with the network operator's safety management system. We hold UKPN authorisations and work under DNO Distribution Safety Rules on DNO circuits. For private HV networks we work under the operator's own safety management framework. We carry the full range of HV joint kits for 11kV and 33kV XLPE and PILC cables and can respond rapidly to HV cable damage situations across the UK.
LV cable damage repair covers service cables, mains cables, sub-mains and commercial LV circuits. We provide LV joint installation, section replacement and termination works following cable damage, integrating with utility and ICP operational frameworks where required.
Once the fault position has been identified and the cable is exposed, we carry out the repair, a new joint, a section replacement or a sheath repair as the damage requires, followed by appropriate testing before the circuit is returned to service.
R&D does not undertake excavation, groundworks or fault-finding/fault-location works, these are arranged separately with your own contractor. We can provide details of a groundworks contractor if required.
Send us the scope, cable type, voltage and location and we'll come back with availability and a clear plan. No lengthy process, just a straight answer.