I have rakes of cable from a kitchen revamp (by previous owner) some 13 yrs ago. I'm now redoing the kitchen, but heard the red and black is no longer allowed? So all the decent cable I have goes to waste and I have to re-buy purely because of colour?
Cable colour regs
- Thread starter Deansplit
- Start date
- Joined
- 26 Jul 2010
- Messages
- 223
- Reaction score
- 25
- Country
First off as it's been lieing about for most likely 5 yrs are you sure it's good, might look ok but unless you IR test it you won't know.
Part P says that from March 31 2006 only new colours may be used for new installations and or alterations to existing so that sleeving will need to be used, that is of course if the cable is ok.
As you working in your kitchen you know that this work will notifiable. So your either going to have to notify your LABC or get an electrician in who is either Part P registered or is going to notify the work for you.
As an interesting aside here, if purely for argument sake, that red/black cable is good and you use it, you are still going to notify it aren't you
Part P says that from March 31 2006 only new colours may be used for new installations and or alterations to existing so that sleeving will need to be used, that is of course if the cable is ok.
As you working in your kitchen you know that this work will notifiable. So your either going to have to notify your LABC or get an electrician in who is either Part P registered or is going to notify the work for you.
As an interesting aside here, if purely for argument sake, that red/black cable is good and you use it, you are still going to notify it aren't you
It's not been lying around, only removed it this month, ready for new extension being built. Just seems crazy to chuck and buy new, all worked fine last month when using kitchen and has for the 8 yrs we've been there! 
Probably looking at a couple of hundred quid in cable if need to re buy!
Probably looking at a couple of hundred quid in cable if need to re buy!- Joined
- 26 Jul 2010
- Messages
- 223
- Reaction score
- 25
- Country
Your using second hand cable?? That as been working for 8yrs until last month. Have you taken it out of a wall then or was it surface, or have I got what you wrote totally wrong
Unless your kitchen is huge or your runs are so long you need to fit larger than normal cables for kitchen circuits, look on TLC they even sell 1.0mm by the meter, how would it cost you a couple of hundred pounds?
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Cable_Index/Twin_and_Earth/index.html
Unless your kitchen is huge or your runs are so long you need to fit larger than normal cables for kitchen circuits, look on TLC they even sell 1.0mm by the meter, how would it cost you a couple of hundred pounds?
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Cable_Index/Twin_and_Earth/index.html
No it's been in for 6 yrs before us, so 14 yrs max - all in suspended ceiling and dry lined walls so no buried cables.
Kitchen will have 9 lighting circuits plus wiring 2 for utility and outside lights. Plus fish tanks, TV, usual appliances, 2x dishwashers... more than av I'd say. It's a 47m2 room, so much larger than average size to - 10m long.
Kitchen will have 9 lighting circuits plus wiring 2 for utility and outside lights. Plus fish tanks, TV, usual appliances, 2x dishwashers... more than av I'd say. It's a 47m2 room, so much larger than average size to - 10m long.
As far as I understand, using old colours would have to be listed as a departure on the EIC. You can make a departure with a justifiable reason. Using old colours because the rest of the existing installation is in old colours, and therefore using old colours would reduce confusion and hence increase the safety of the installation would be such a justifiable reason. Therefore I see no reason the OP can't use the old colours, assuming his existing installation is in old colours, which it sounds like it is. Correct me if I'm wrong.
But the issue here turns out not to be the use of old colours, rather the re-use of old cable.
Unlike flex, twin and earth cable is not intended to be bent and twisted beyond what is necessary for installation. This cable will have been installed, then removed, then re-installed and there could possibly be unseen damage as a result.
On top of that, if used for ring circuits there is a possibility that sections of the cable may have been overloaded - one of the 'special features' of a ring is that this can happen without anybody being aware of it. This would reduce the service life of the cable.
I agree entirely with Tickly's comment:
You're not wrong.
In fact, there's a good case to be made for the law requiring you to use old colours to extend/modify/repair old installations, if you can reasonably do so, i.e. if you have access to NOS cable in good condition at an economic price.
Ah sorry - I missed that little detail
In that case... aah... eeeh... hmmm... maybe not then. Unless he removed it all with the patience of a saint and can absolutely gaurantee none of it has been excessively stretched, kinked, insulation nicked etc etc. What's that reg number about suitable materials and workmanship - BAS'll know
Weigh it in and buy new.
Seriously? how big is this kitchen?? Also using 14 year old second hand cable thats been installed as a ring final circuit feeding a kitchen is a bad idea.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Similar threads
- Millennium_Boy
- Electrics UK
