When inspection happens
Pre-shipment inspection is scheduled once production is finished, routine tests are recorded and drums are wrapped but not yet loaded. Earlier and the records are incomplete; later and a problem drum is already in a container. For large project orders the desk often adds a mid-production check after the first drums leave the line, so that print or diameter issues are found before the whole order is made. Inspection can be done by the desk, or by a third-party inspection body you appoint, with the desk preparing the checklist and the records.
Inspection checklist
| Point | How it is checked | Accept when |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Start and end metre marks on each drum, compared with the drum tag and the drum plan | Length within the tolerance on the spec sheet |
| Sheath print | Print text read at several points along the accessible length | Matches the approved text, legible, correct spacing |
| Diameter | Overall diameter measured on the outer end | Within the datasheet range for the construction |
| End caps | Both ends sealed with heat-shrink caps; inner end accessible for testing where agreed | Caps intact, no moisture path |
| Drum condition | Flanges, battens or wrapping, spindle holes, stencilling and drum tag | No damage that will reach the cable in transit |
| Test records | Routine test sheet for each drum number | Every drum has a traceable sheet within acceptance values |
| Witness tests | Selected drums retested in front of the inspector | Results consistent with the plant's records |
| OTDR data (fibre) | Traces and summary per fibre for each drum | Attenuation within the datasheet values, no step events, length matches tag |
Length, print and diameter
Short drums are the most common site complaint and the easiest to prevent. The metre marks at both ends give the length, so the inspector reads both and compares them with the drum tag. Print is checked against the approved text from the spec sheet: brand or private label text, construction, standard, year and metre marks, including the CPR class where the cable is declared under EN 50575. Overall diameter is measured on the outer end and compared with the datasheet; a cable well below the range can point to thin insulation or sheath. See cable marking and identification.
End caps and drum condition
Water entering a cable end can travel along the conductor and ruin a length before it is installed. Both ends should carry heat-shrink end caps, and the inner end should be fixed so it cannot be damaged when the drum rolls. Drums are checked for cracked flanges, loose battens and missing protective wrapping, and the drum tag must show drum number, construction, length and gross and net weight. More on drum choice in packaging and drums and drum damage prevention.
Witness tests
A witness test repeats selected routine tests in front of you, the desk or your inspector. Typical choices are conductor resistance on a sample of drums, a voltage test, and for MV cable a partial discharge test to IEC 60885-3 in the plant's screened room. Witness tests should be agreed when the order is placed, because they need a line slot or lab time; they are not something a plant can add on the day. If witnessed results differ from the plant's records, the desk holds the order and the records for the whole lot are reviewed.
Coils and boxes
Building wire coils, cords and 305 m boxes of LAN cable are inspected by sampling to an ISO 2859-1 plan agreed before production. The inspector opens sample cartons, checks coil length, print, colour, conductor material and labels, and records defects as critical, major or minor against the agreed AQL. Lots that fail are sorted or re-inspected at the plant before release.
Fibre drums: OTDR data
Each fibre drum should come with OTDR data for every fibre: attenuation at the specified wavelengths, length, and a trace without splice-like steps or reflections. Values are compared with the fibre datasheet and, for G.652.D, with the cabled fibre limits in the G.652 tables, 0.4 dB/km at 1310 nm and 0.3 dB/km at 1550 nm. The inspector also checks that the fibre count and colour sequence match the order. See fibre OTDR test reports.
The inspection report
- Drum-by-drum results with photos of print, end caps and drum tags.
- Measurements, witness test results and any open points.
- A clear release or hold recommendation for your decision.
Inspection time is planned into the schedule shown on MOQ and lead time; ask for it in the quote form.