bare wire in wall

[mkb]

hi akk.
Just a quick question regarding a re-furbed house I'm looking at buying to let out. ( Not bought it yet but have agreed a price ) Basically the re furb has just got under way and I called at the house but there were no buliders there so just looked through the window and noticed some new cabling chased into the wall which is all going to be skimmed. Should this cable be in conduit or is it likely that they will be putting plastic or maybe metal protection over it ? Thanks.

 

[ccrowe]

It's perfectly acceptable to bury T&E cable direct in plaster. However, it's good practise to protect it against wayward plasterers tools taking chunks out of the cable. PVC capping or conduit are usually enough. They also make it easier to pull a cable out of the chase should you have reason to in the future. If you cover the cable with earthed steel conduit you can avoid the need for RCD protection should you desire.

 

[GaryMo]

If you cover the cable with earthed steel capping/conduit you can avoid the need for RCD protection should you desire.

Not with capping you can't!

 

[ccrowe]

If you cover the cable with earthed steel capping/conduit you can avoid the need for RCD protection should you desire.

Not with capping you can't!

Sorry, you're spot on. I got that one wrong. I'll change the post to remove the error.

 

[swidders]

hi akk.
Just a quick question regarding a re-furbed house I'm looking at buying to let out. ( Not bought it yet but have agreed a price ) Basically the re furb has just got under way and I called at the house but there were no buliders there so just looked through the window and noticed some new cabling chased into the wall which is all going to be skimmed. Should this cable be in conduit or is it likely that they will be putting plastic or maybe metal protection over it ? Thanks.

If you do buy it, make sure you have all certification for electrical work carried out!!

 

[mkb]

Swidders, So in theory should there be a certificate with the HIPS pack for all gas / electrical work / new upvc windows ?

 

[ColJack]

doesn't that depend on the capping you use?

the flimsy tin foil stuff you get from the wholesalers isn't going to stop a nail, but th stuff I got them to make me at work would.. it's 2mm galv steel... If I extend it 50mm above the top of the ceilings, and and bond it to earth then that should satisfy the requirements shouldn't it?

 

[swidders]

Swidders, So in theory should there be a certificate with the HIPS pack for all gas / electrical work / new upvc windows ?

Yes - any electrical work (post April 2005) is notifiable and there should be certificates for it.

Any new UPVC windows need to be FENSA regulated and there should be proof that it has been installed in accordance.

New gas boilers must be installed by Corgi registered fitters and there must be paperwork for this.

You are entitled to insist upon them being produced as part of the sale as proof that the work has been done up to industry/building regs standards.

 

[ccrowe]

doesn't that depend on the capping you use?

the flimsy tin foil stuff you get from the wholesalers isn't going to stop a nail, but th stuff I got them to make me at work would.. it's 2mm galv steel... If I extend it 50mm above the top of the ceilings, and and bond it to earth then that should satisfy the requirements shouldn't it?

522.6.6 (i) mentions compliant earthed metal covering, so I guess that capping may actually be acceptable as long as it meets BS standards. (I haven't looked up the BS standard definitions so maybe they don't include capping).
522.6.6 (ii) and (iii) specifically mention compliant earthed conduit, trunking, or ducting. No mention of capping at all.
However (iv) states "be mechanically protected against damage suffficient to prevent penetration of the cable by nails, screws and the like..."

I'd guess that 2mm steel capping meets the requirements of (iv) and possibly (i).

 

[ColJack]

522.6.6 ( i ) says INCORPORATES an earthed matalic covering..

it's refering to the likes of MICC, armoured or firetough and alitube type cables..

522.6.6 ( iv ) be mechanically protected against damage sufficient to prevent the penetration of the cable by nails, screws and the like

that was the one I was thinking of.. doesn't even mention it having to be earthed..

so I see a market for heavy duty capping... would be cheaper than MICC...

 

[londonboy]

I was recently told when I did my 2391 that capping wasn't acceptable, because it obviously doesn't protect both sides of the cable. If someone went a bit crazy with a drill on the other side they wouldn't be protected? They also said socket outlets being used by unskilled personel should also be RCD protected, i.e still needs RCD'ing whether it's in capping/conduit etc

 

[RF Lighting]

Steel tube is soooo easy to use as a method of compliance

 

[ColJack]

that's sockets... means you don't have to RCD the light switch drops though if you fulfil the protection requirements..

and what a div your lecturer is.. as long as the wall is wider than 50mm, then it's ok.. you don't have to protect the cable at all if it's more than 50mm from either surface..

it's only got to be protected from screw or nail penetration.. even a conduit or trunking will not protect against a drill under the right circumstances..

 

[ColJack]

Steel tube is soooo easy to use as a method of compliance

if you don't mind chasing into the brick, or dot 'n' dabing out 25mm from the brick face..
than there's the tools to cut it and thread it... and the extra cost of the tube itself, the crampets to secure it to the wall, the couplers and brass bushes...

 

[londonboy]

as long as the wall is wider than 50mm

How many jobs have you chased out 50mm for switch/socket drops? Bearing in mind you can't chase more than 1/3 of the total thickness, and it obviously still has to be 50mm from the other side. That 50mm thing is a ridiculous suggestion don't even know why it got put into the 17th