Faults on cables with the power distribution network are common, especially on fluid filled type cables. The costs of maintaining, locating and repairing a fault can easily run into the £10,000's - not to mention the drain on resources and man hours used.

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The use of Perfluorocarbon Tracers (PFT's) can drastically cut the costs and time associated with finding and repairing faults within the network. Our technology has been tirelessly developed and improved over 20+ years to lead us to todays solution.

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PFTs are highly volatile compounds with excellent electrical insulation properties that are added to the cable. When there is a fault, the PFT leaks out and permeates through the ground into the surrounding atmosphere. 

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We are able to respond to emergencies within 48 hours or less. High profile circuits or circuits that pose a risk to the environment can be pre-tagged with PFT, in the event that a fault occurs we begin locating the leak almost immediately to minimise the damaging effect to the environment, preserve the safety of the cable and save money.

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For UK and European based operations we have mobile detection units. These allow us to, where possible, drive along the cable route and analyse the contents of the immediate atmosphere searching for the presence of PFT.

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Once we detect a presence of PFT in the atmosphere, we use pinpointing techniques to get as close to the fault as possible, generally within 2m where one of our engineers will mark the location to be excavated.

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Unlike traditional solutions, PFT Leak location requires no trenching or excavation until the time or repair and the cable can stay live while we locate the fault.