§01 — WHERE DAMAGE HAPPENS
Most cable is not damaged in service. It is damaged between delivery and pulling.
A drum that arrives on site and sits in the compound for three months goes through more mechanical and environmental stress than it will see in thirty years of service. Water ingress through an unsealed end, a drum rolled the wrong way, a flange cracked by a forklift — none of these show up at handover, and all of them surface as a fault years later.
§02 — STORAGE RULES
What to do with a drum before it is pulled.
| Rule | Why |
|---|---|
| Store on firm, flat ground with the drum on both flanges | A drum on edge will creep and the turns will loosen and kink |
| Keep the sealing caps on both ends until the pull | An open end lets water wick into the screen and insulation within days in a wet season |
| Roll only in the direction of the arrow | Rolling backwards unwinds the outer turns and damages the sheath |
| Do not stack drums flat on top of each other | The weight flattens the lower drums and damages the cable underneath |
| Protect from direct sun for long storage | UV degrades PVC and PE sheaths over months |
§03 — BEFORE THE PULL
Four checks that take ten minutes and prevent a re-pull.
- Seal check: both ends capped, no sign of water inside the cap
- Drum check: flanges sound, no protruding nails, battens tight
- Megger check: insulation resistance recorded and attached to the drum card — this is the baseline the commissioning result will be compared against
- Length check: drum card length against the route plan, so the pull is not discovered short at the far end
Record the megger value at delivery. If a fault is disputed later, the delivery reading is what separates a manufacturing defect from site damage.
§04 — FAQ
Can a drum be rolled to move it a short distance?
Yes, in the direction of the arrow, on flat ground, and only for short moves. For anything longer, lift it.
How long can a drum be stored outdoors?
Months are fine if ends are sealed and the drum is off wet ground. For storage beyond a season, cover it and rotate the drum a quarter turn occasionally to avoid flat spots.
Who keeps the delivery megger record?
Both parties. It belongs in the project file next to the drum card and the factory test report.
