2023 Anuário Brasileiro do Cobre Brazilian Copper Yearbook 26 Qualifio has been present in the Brazilian market for more than 30 years, monitoring the quality of electrical wires and cables. In all these years, Qualifio has guaranteed the quality of electrical wires and cables for end consumers in accordance with the applicable standards. The Brazilian Technical Norm Association (ABNT) and National Metrology, Quality, and technology Institute (Inmetro) set standards to be followed by manufacturers, establishing minimum requirements so that electrical wires and cables do not harm consumers, preventing higher energy tariffs, and electrical shocks, for example, or short circuits leading to fires and risk to people. The major problem in electrical wires and cables is the use of less copper than the minimum necessary for an electrical installation to be considered safe. Less copper causes electrical wires and cables to generate heat, instead of electricity. If this heat is higher than the maximum allowed by the insulation, the probability of a short circuit increases because the material used as insulation, usually PVC, has a pre-established melting temperature. The insulation may melt and cause two or more wires or cables to meet, generating a short circuit and a probable fire. All this because a manufacturer uses less copper in its products. Consumers need to be aware of this problem and employ qualified personnel for electrical installations, and technicians who use reliable materials. The amount of copper in wires and cables must be in accordance with the standards so that the electrical resistance is sufficient to transmit power within the standards required. Qualifio has found alarming numbers of brands, manufactured by companies duly certified by certified product bodies accredited by Inmetro. Qualifio collects the products from installers, construction companies, and public agencies, and performs basic tests to evaluate their quality. Unfortunately, 65% of the samples collected do not meet current regulations. Qualifio reports the manufacturers and informs Inmetro of where the material was collected and, after analysis, forwards the complaint to the regulatory bodies in the relevant Brazilian state. However, the current system allows manufacturers to circumvent the system and product certification bodies are unable to monitor the market, and product audits are carried out in factories only every six months. So, some manufacturers can sell their sub-standard products for six months, putting consumers at risk. The red tape in Brazil makes this process time-consuming and helps malicious manufacturers. We work to guaranteed buyers the quality required in products, to make sure public agency bids properly define standards to be used, and payments are made only after the quality of the product has been proven. We make construction companies aware of the risk they are exposing future residents to by using poor quality products and ensure that manufacturers of sub-standard products are punished and no longer manufacture wires and cables that put consumers at risk. Finally, we make sure the regulatory bodies responsible for inspection have the minimum conditions to carry out their work. Vigilance and quality QUALIFIO
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