Safe zones

[Lectrician]

Working in a house doing a few alterations and additions.

Also on site is a chap installing some multi-room audio and TV.

As part of his price HE has quoted to add a spur on the ring circuit (didn't check RCD protection etc as he didn't even now where the CU was).

What a mess - the holes are far larger than required - A notch the width of the cable and for just as long as necessary is all thats needed - this is just being lazy.

Oh, and safe zones? What are they!?!

 

[Chri5]

Surprised he didn't do the work behind the skirting

Thing is he went as far as taking the rad off- maybe he didn't have any tools man enough to take the rad brackets off.

I wonder what's protecting the cables under the back filled floor

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[Lectrician]

I have no idea whats been used in the floor - the making good of the floor is dia!

I don't think the audio guy remove the rad - I think it was the decorators. Lucky the room is being decorated. Those holes are not going to be easy to patch though!

Trunking on the skirting would look a bit of a lash IMO TBH.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yup.

But would it look as bad as a false EIC, or no EIC? Cos there's no way a valid one can be written for that.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What a mess - the holes are far larger than required - A notch the width of the cable and for just as long as necessary is all thats needed - this is just being lazy.

Doesn't look like he's notched the studs - plasterboard patches won't go in those holes. Hope the owner is having heavy embossed paper...


Another thought.

That's clearly an external wall - was it just boarded out because the surface was ****, or has insulation been applied? Is there a vapour barrier, and where? Better not be foil-backed plasterboard.....

 

[Lectrician]

It was battened out a few years back after a DPC was injected to the outer wall. This was only done on the 'old' end of the room, but carried on all the way around. No vapour barrier or foil back used.

You can't see from the pic, but the battening off is only upto dado height - there is then a 2" shelf around the wall so to speak.

It annoys me as I actually added some sockets the other end of the room, and did it very neatly (should have taken a comparison photo). If he had kept the notches nice and tight and as short as possible, plasterboard would not be needed - just filling would be fine. I just wish he had kept his cable where it should be.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

But seriously - have you asked him what he intends to do about an EIC?

Even though not notifiable he was legally obliged to comply with P1, and whilst that does not mean that he had to comply with BS 7671 it is the most sensible route. And even if not electing to comply, it would be hard to see how a contravention of a regulation designed to stop people inadvertently drilling into cables counts as making reasonable provision to protect persons operating, maintaining or altering the installation from fire or injury.

I suggest you advise the customer not to pay the guy, and report him to Trading Standards.

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Which bit of 522.6.6 do they comply with?

 

[RF Lighting]

Maybe holmeslaw is thinking of the zaire regs?

 

[ColJack]

given that those notches are for audio and tv, do they have to be in the safe zones?
does 522.6.6 apply to tv and audio cables not carrying mains or just to mains and control / signaling cables

given that the regs also recomend 100mm seperation, isn't that about right?

 

[Lectrician]

Those notches are for a piece of T+E!!! The audio and TV cables are burried on the floor screed (see the scar).

 

[GaryMo]

does 522.6.6 apply to tv and audio cables not carrying mains or just to mains and control / signaling cables

522.6.6 applies to 'cables'.