ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Installing and using MICC

I have scanned and PDF'd a BICC cables publication, "The Electrician's Mate" showing how to install and use Mineral Insulated cable. It includes a description of Earthed Concentric Wiring (TN-C) which is now no longer permitted to be connected to the public electricity mains.

http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=32214511594611681284

Interesting stuff
I suspect that these days an electrician could go his whole life and never see MI cable.

MI is difficult to install. It requires specific tools and talent.

It is, however, able to tolerate conditions that devastate all other conductors.

My personal favorite is motor leads to sewage pumps in a water treatment facility. Nickel coated MI can stand the vapors.

The other obvious need is where it's very hot or could be very hot: steel mills, rocketry, emergency circuits, nuclear power systems, and such.

All of which I'll never get involved with.

There's still plenty of it about in the UK. MI used to be the standard for fire alarms and emergency circuits, and although more modern alternatives like Pirelli FP200 are now used instead, MI lasts so long there will be loads of it still in service for many years.
It is still used extensively on fuel sites and in other high explosion risk areas.

I think someone (Pauluk?) once posted pictures of an entire home wired with MICC once.