BEAMA Premature Collapse Cable Guide 2026
21 September 2026
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the subsequent Hackitt Report, the UK Government in December 2018 issued a publication entitled ‘Building A Safer Future – An Implementation Plan', whilst also approaching the electrical industry for its support to implement the recommendations contained within the report. BEAMA responded by stating that its members are committed to work with Government to achieve the recommendations and in respect of cable management systems to investigate measures that could be taken to improve the performance of cable management systems to improve fire safety.
Some work had been carried out by the IET prior to the Grenfell tragedy following another fire in a high-rise building – a fire had taken place in Shirley Towers which is a 15-storey concrete tower block of 150 apartments located in the Shirley area of Southampton. In the process of fighting the fire and attempting to clear the building two firefighters died. As an evacuation was attempted, escaping firefighters became entangled in fallen cables, both inside and outside the compartment after the heat from the fire had melted the plastic trunking, they were contained in.
Following the Coroner’s inquest, recommendations were made to the UK Government to improve wiring regulations to ensure fire resistant cable support. The IET then amended the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) regulations with the publication of Amendment 3, clause 521.11.201. This requirement was subsequently further clarified in the 18th Edition of BS 7671 (521.10.202) stating that “wiring systems shall be supported such that they will not be liable to premature collapse in the event of a fire.”
Note 5 has been added to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 with further clarification. That it is not the intent of this regulation to provide support to maintain circuit integrity.
Unfortunately, the term 'premature collapse' was not defined and rather than offer clarity to installers this may have added confusion. Furthermore, the fact that there are currently no fire rating tests for the performance of cable management systems within the harmonised product standards, installers have a problem when their clients specify fire safety performance levels for installations.
BEAMA members who represent many of the leading UK cable management manufacturers have been working on further guidance in this area. In conjunction with many stakeholders, including the fire services, the following guidance has been established for installers.
BEAMA have produced a 'Technical Specification' which is available for FREE, that defines test methods for cable management products that will aid compliance with Regulation 521.10.202.