Insulating Cables

[PARTPISGREAT]

I'm about to floor my loft (I recently posted about the loft over my extension, but this is different). The loft is insulated, and the majority of cables lay on top of the insulation. My idea was to notch the joists for the lighting cables to run in (it's 1.5mm T&E) and then lay and screw boards on top.(putting the screws and cables some distance apart!) However after reading World War 3 with mad Joe 90, I'm wondering if it's safe to do this? Will enclosing the cables against the insulation make it unsafe, or is it OK to do it?


By the way, can I thank all the sparks who contribute to this forum? I have been educated and amused in equal measure during the past year! Merry Christmas to you all!

 

[JohnD]

Notching? Ugh!

How deep are the loft timbers? It may be worth counterbattening.

 

[PARTPISGREAT]

They're 5" x 2".Counterbattening sounds like a lot of work?

 

[JohnD]

It's often worthwhile in modern trussed-construction roofs where the spot-loads need to be distrubuted over several trusses, or where the timbers are too shallow to allow enough insulation under the boarding.

Your timbers sound substantial enough.

The counterbattening work is very simple, just lay them down and screw into place.

I suppose it depends if you are content with 125mm of insulation up there. It will be much harder to top it up once you've got the flooring down.


p.s. remember to paint on the boards where the cables and pipes run.

 

[PARTPISGREAT]

Thanks John, I think that's what I'll do.

Will do with the markings, I always do -I've got a red marker pen I always use for the job if I ever lift boards in the house!

 

[JohnD]

see //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=72839&highlight=counterbatten and lots of others