Cotton? braided insulated cable

[RF Lighting]

The red singles into the CU is good old VIR, and judging by the tape it is well over due for replacement. There's loads of VIR still in service which if left undisturbed will probably keep going for another 50 years.

The white wire does not look like asbestos. It just looks like very badly deteriorated VIR. You can still see that distinctive interwoven pattern of VIR.

Asbestos wiring looks more like this:

 

[dingodeano]

Thanks for your help. I actually thought the blue tape was on there to identify the conductors as a sort of pre+post harmonised colour scheme!

 

[RF Lighting]

I would have expected just one ring of tape rather than half the conductor being taped up if it was just for conductor identification.

Regardless of this, I'd still be recommending they be replaced. It's not going to be a big job to do so.

Just to add to my previous post, even though it doesn't appear to be asbestos cable, I'd still play it safe and leave it alone until you can determine for certain whether it is asbestos or not.

 

[mfarrow]

With regards to your test kit, you'll probably find the red VIR to be OK, as long as it hasn't been disturbed.

Even if it has been disturbed, you can still get good IR readings, but when you move it you will hear it cracking underneath the cotton cover.

 

[dingodeano]

Update: customer agreed to renew cable & an asbestos survey before work.