SWA to outbuilding.

[danhx]

I'm currently doing ground works for a DIY garage replacement, and trying to decide what if any services will need to be considered before I concrete over anything!

As its a long term project (Just me mostly, so its going to take me all summer to build) I don't want to drag a sparky out just yet so thought I could get the answer here regards electrical regs.

Will any electrical cable run to the garage need to be buried or could they be run from the house above ground (1m between house and garage, car port 'links' the buildings)? If they need to be in the ground would the sparky want to see any excavations/conduit before I cover it up or would he be happy to pull the cable through afterwards?

 

[Taylortwocities]

The sparky will need to design the size of cable depending on several factors tha can only be determined by a site visit.

Your best solution would be to bury a service duct, with a draw cord, half a metre deep with proper warning tape over the top of it.
The electrician can then pull in whatever sized SWA cable is needed a bit later on.

 

[bernardgreen]

Your best option is to install two ducts from house to garage. One for mains cable and one for ELV cables ( phone, data, alarm etc )

Decide where the walls of the garage will be and bring the ducts up through the concrete base so they appear in the garage against the wall about a metre above finished floor level. No sharp bends and preferably one metre deep. No need to install a draw cord just yet as a vacuum cleaner will pull light string through later. Cover the ends to prevent any large debris getting into the ducts. Take care when pouring concrete.

Take photos of the duct being laid so the electrician can see how it was installed

 

[danhx]

Would it be a requirement for it to be buried?

To run from where the main fuse box is to the garage would be 3m ish, need to go over/under drains and would run across a tarmacked + concreted area, or from the back wall of the house would be 1.5m but would have to go over/under the gas main (eek!) and again, would mean excavating tarmac/concrete.

I guess this is going to be one of those 'would have to see it' jobs to give a full answer?

 

[Taylortwocities]

I guess this is going to be one of those 'would have to see it' jobs to give a full answer?

Indeed, the electrician will have to sign it off as complying with all sorts of regulations, so he/she would need to agree the cable route before you take what might be the wrong approach.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

(1m between house and garage, car port 'links' the buildings)?

Overhead is an option, as long as the cables are properly supported and of external type (i.e. not twin & earth).

 

[JohnW2]

(1m between house and garage, car port 'links' the buildings)?

Overhead is an option, as long as the cables are properly supported and of external type (i.e. not twin & earth).

Indeed. If the situation were such that it were possible to attach a cable to the structure of the car port (presumably an 'extension' thereof if only 1m wide), that would presumably be by far the most painless way of traversing a 1m gap between house and garage.

Kind Regards, John.