Which one of the following is NOT an advantage of direct-buried cable?

Flexibility for future reinforcements or changes is NOT an advantage of direct-buried cable - it is actually one of its primary disadvantages. Once the cable is buried, accessing it to add capacity, change routing, splice, or repair requires excavating the entire affected run, which is costly and operationally disruptive. Conduit-based systems, by contrast, allow cable replacement or addition without re-trenching.

Low initial installation cost is a genuine advantage because direct burial requires no conduit material or installation labor, significantly reducing upfront project costs.

The ability to bypass obstructions is a genuine advantage because the trench route can be adjusted during installation to go around underground obstacles without additional infrastructure.

Preserving the aesthetic appearance of buildings is a genuine advantage because placing cables underground eliminates visible aerial runs, surface conduit, or riser hardware on building exteriors.