Electric cables and loft insulation

Blunda · 10 Nov 2008

Hello

I am currently insulating my loft After feeding the wiring down through my new stud partition and plaster boarding it up. I realize that some of the wires go under some of the rafters which is going to make it difficult for me to get them above the loft insulation. I should be able to get them above the insulation but it will be difficult and moving the wires is not possible because I have insulated and plaster boarded the stud wall already. I was just wondering if there was any sleeve I can put on the cables so they would be safe from over heating if I had to leave them under the loft insulation?

ericmark · 10 Nov 2008

If you look at http://www.ericpalmer.fsnet.co.uk/Table4D5.html you will see how they show the cables pressed up against plaster board to remove the heat does that help you?
Eric

ban-all-sheds · 10 Nov 2008

Blunda said:
I was just wondering if there was any sleeve I can put on the cables so they would be safe from over heating if I had to leave them under the loft insulation?

Hello.

I'm too hot, so I thought I'd put another coat on to make me cool down.

Blunda · 10 Nov 2008

Thats a valid point but not very constructive!

Can I get away with leaving the cables below the insulation?

leeco · 10 Nov 2008

yes if you want to replace the cables with ones with a bigger csa that could handle been under the insulation

davy_owen_88 · 10 Nov 2008

What cables are under the insulation and what do they supply?
What size are the cables?
What device are these cables protected by and what is the rating in amps?

Blunda · 10 Nov 2008

It is 2.5m sq cable supplying regular double plugged power sockets. At the moment it is an ancient fuse box but this will be replaced by an RCD box.

Steve · 10 Nov 2008

Blunda said:
It is 2.5m sq cable supplying regular double plugged power sockets. At the moment it is an ancient fuse box but this will be replaced by an RCD box.

I dont think you'll get away with it, unless you have the ring main on a 20A protective device.

electronicsuk · 10 Nov 2008

I don't see any issues with some kind of boxing in around them, perhaps even running a piece of upturned 50x50 trunking over them with the lid removed. Not exactly an approved installation method, but it should give adequate space for heat dissipation.

There are many lofts that have been insulated under government schemes with absolutely no thought to the issues you mention in your original post, so the above suggestion should still be a whole lot better than that.

ncoups · 10 Nov 2008

What sort of insulation is it? If its fairly rigid stuff like celotex, you can cut sort of chases in it for the cables, providing the cables are clipped down and you make generous trenches it should be OK.

rssteve · 10 Nov 2008

ncoups said:
What sort of insulation is it? If its fairly rigid stuff like celotex, you can cut sort of chases in it for the cables, providing the cables are clipped down and you make generous trenches it should be OK.

surely that avoids putting the insulation in in the first place. In my 8/9 years being a spark i have never noticed a warm cable under insulation.

leeco · 11 Nov 2008

this is a job i did a few months back and only covered the light circuit wire which was 1.5

Untitled

leeco
10 Nov 2008
1

not had no problems yet

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Electric cables and loft insulation

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