What is this about?
Infinity cables, imported by Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd (now in liquidation), were recalled nationally after they failed electrical safety standards due to poor quality plastic insulation coating.
This could cause electric shock if 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.
A NSW mandatory recall in August 2015 has now identified 25 additional traders that supplied Infinity brand cables, in addition to those identified under the previous national recall.
These cables were sold nationally between 2010 and 2013.
All TPS and Orange Round cable sourced from Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd and supplied under 'INFINITY' and 'OLSENT' brands are affected.
Consumers are advised to read the information below to protect their home against the serious risks posed by these cables.
Builders and electricians should refer to the information on their responsibilities below, and the ACCC Infinity Cables Bulletin (PDF, 588.35 KB).
What should I do?
Builders and electricians
If you are a builder or electrician and have installed any recalled Infinity cables in the last six 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/home owners 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.
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.
You could also save someone's life, family or home.
Refer to the specific information for builders, electricians and suppliers on the ACCC Infinity cables frequently asked questions page. You can also find out more on the ACCC Infinity cable recall: act now before it's too late page, which includes images of recalled cables.
Consumers
Affected electrical cable was sold between 2010 and 2013. To check if the recalled Infinity cable was used, please contact your builder, electrician or appliance installer.
They will liaise with you and their cable supplier to comply with the action required under the recall.
The cable supplier will then arrange for inspection of your wiring. Any installed Infinity cable they supplied will be fixed free of charge to you.
If your electrician does not know who the cable supplier was, you are still entitled to ask them to fix the problem.
Do not inspect cables yourself. If you are unsure who did the electrical work, talk to your builder.
If you don't know who the builder was and are unsure if Infinity cables were installed, get a licensed electrician to inspect your wiring.
For more information visit the ACCC Infinity cable recall: act now before it's too late page. You can also refer to the ACCC Infinity cables frequently asked questions page.
Recall information
Under the recall, if electricians have supplied and installed Infinity cables sourced from one of the cable suppliers below, then the consumer is entitled to ask the electrician and the supplier to fix the problem.
Traders now under the NSW mandatory recall since August 2015 include:
- Jubart Pty Ltd t/as Advantage Electrical Suppliers
- AEW Electrical Wholesalers Pty Ltd
- AGM Electrical Supplies Pty Ltd
- AKM Electrical Services
- Alliance Electrical Wholesalers (Blue Mountains) Pty Ltd
- Automation Electrical Controls
- Awe-Sim Holdings Pty Ltd t/as Awe-Sim Electrical and Industrial Wholesalers
- Taybet Pty Ltd t/as Bowral Electrical Wholesaler
- BSD Industries Pty Ltd
- Harlech Trading Co Pty Ltd t/as Buckley Bros Lawson
- CMI Operations Pty Ltd t/as CMI Electrical Products
- Smith and Pearce Pty Ltd t/as Direct Electrical Supplies
- ECB Electrical Group Pty Ltd
- Energy Electrical Wholesale Pty Ltd
- Grange Electrical Suppliers
- Hajjar Electrical Contractors Pty Ltd
- Herkes Electrical Pty Ltd
- Integral Electrical Wholesalers Pty Ltd
- Isupply Electrical Pty Ltd
- M and E Equipment Traders Pty Ltd
- Martin Lighting and Electrical Pty Ltd
- Rovert Pty Ltd
- Switchgear Commissioning and Maintenance Engineers Pty Ltd
- Wilpa Electrical Pty Ltd
- Y Y Corp. Pty Ltd
Other NSW cable suppliers that were already under the national recall are:
- Masters Home Improvement
- John Danks and Son
- Mitre 10
- Pioneer Electrical Supplies
- Salmon Bros. Data and Electrical
- United Electrical and Data Supplies
- Alliance Electrical Wholesalers
- Sydney Electrical Wholesalers
- Ramax Electrical Wholesalers
- Network Electrical Supplies
- Go Electrical
- Advanced Electrical Wholesalers
- EZLEC Trade Supplies and Project Lighting
Refer to the specific information for builders, electricians and suppliers on the ACCC Infinity cables frequently asked questions page. You can also find out more on the ACCC Infinity cable recall: act now before it's too late page, which includes images of recalled cables.
Additional information
What actions does the recall require?
Action that must be taken under the recall includes:
- removing and replacing any cable in accessible areas (eg. roof spaces and under flooring), unless it is in an appropriate conduit (a tube for protecting electrical wiring).
- removing and replacing cable installed close to heat sources
- having an appropriate electrical safety switch for cable left installed in appropriate cable conduit or in inaccessible wall spaces
- ensuring the electrical metering or switch box has an appropriate warning sticker on it if cable is left installed at the premises.
Where can I get more information?
For further details on Infinity cable and the national recall visit the ACCC Infinity cable recall: act now before it's too late page at accc.gov.au
Lu Luo (Infinity Cables) prosecution
On 14 September 2016, the Director of Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd, Ms Lu Luo, pleaded guilty to breaching the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 by selling non-compliant electrical cables imported from China.
On 12 April 2017, the Supreme Court handed down a fine of $18,000 to Ms Luo, with an additional $15,000 in court costs.
Due to the serious nature of the actions of the accused, substantial consumer detriment and significant cost to industry, NSW Fair Trading took this matter to the Supreme Court, which can impose higher penalties.
Ms Luo, imported and supplied two types of non-compliant insulated electrical cables, (commonly known as TPS cable and orange round cable) typically used for household and commercial electrical wiring.
Following both indicative and laboratory testing commissioned by Fair Trading, these cables were found to be non-compliant and initially became the subject of a mandatory recall in NSW in October 2013, at which time the company entered into voluntary administration.
Where these cables have been installed in high-risk areas such as roof cavities, under floors or other concealed areas where excessive heat is present, the insulation sheath can break down.
This can cause live wires to be exposed, resulting in a major risk of electric shock if disturbed.
Prior to and since the compulsory recall was issued, Fair Trading has worked to warn and educate the public about the safety concerns of these cables, and consulted extensively with smaller NSW suppliers to identify and rectify work done using Infinity cables.
Important: NSW Fair Trading is not aware of any incidents or injuries to people or property resulting from the use of these cables.
Consumers concerned that they may have this cabling in their homes should not try to inspect the cable themselves, but should contact their builder or electrician and ask them what cable they used.
If Infinity Cable has been used, the cable may need to be inspected or replaced.
Fair Trading will continue to work with industry stakeholders and concerned members of the public affected by the use of Infinity Cables to ensure consumer safety.