Dodgy looking cable run?

[600rob]

Doing some work on a downstairs bathroom which required some remedial work from the other side of a partition wall in the kitchen....

Whilst moving the washing machine uncovered this loose cable run that supplies a over counter socket...

DSC_2127

• 600rob
• 23 Jun 2019

shouldn't this at least be secured and/or protected by some sort of trunking?

I have enough clearance when i refit the washing machine so was thinking to fit some of that self adhesive surface mounted trunking to at least house the exposed cable.

Any other suggestions to improve this??.

 

[winston1]

Plaster it in.

 

[rsgaz]

Where it turns horizontal at the bottom is not allowed to be concealed by plastering over or skirting without other measures (SWA or MICC cable instead, or in steel conduit, or earthed metallic covering, etc).

Clip the cable and plaster the vertical bit, yes, but use surface mount trunking for the horizontal bit, you can even buy it so it looks like skirting board, but is PVC.
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/categories/pvc-perimeter-trunking-pvc-skirting-trunking

edit: Cut the lid in half before clipping it on. Between two 'walls' like that, you'll never be able to get the lid off in the future otherwise!

 

[JohnW2]

Where it turns horizontal at the bottom is not allowed to be concealed by plastering over or skirting without other measures (SWA or MICC cable instead, or in steel conduit, or earthed metallic covering, etc)....

True, other that the last 150mm before it meets the adjoining wall.

Clip the cable and plaster the vertical bit, yes, but use surface mount trunking for the horizontal bit....

That would work - but, if this is all behind the WM (i.e. not visible), the vertical bit could be left as it is (with addition of clips if it is not currently clipped or otherwise held in place) and the horizontal bit could be exposed slightly more, so as not to be buried/concealed. I personally don't bury or 'enclose' fixed wiring behind essentially 'fixed' appliances!

If any of it is buried (even in 'safe zones'), it should, of course, per current regs, be RCD-protected.

Kind Regards, John

 

[rsgaz]

last 150mm before it meets the adjoining wall

I was going on the assumption that this is somewhere in the middle of a run of kitchen units, not that the left side is the 'actual wall' beside the chipboard panel.

Otherwise, you're right, he might only need about 4 centimetres of trunking, then he can plaster it in anyway!!

 

[JohnW2]

I was going on the assumption that this is somewhere in the middle of a run of kitchen units, not that the left side is the 'actual wall' beside the chipboard panel.

True - I was 'subconsciously assuming that it was up against a wall on the left - but, as you say, that its by no means necessarily the case..

Otherwise, you're right, he might only need about 4 centimetres of trunking, then he can plaster it in anyway!!

Indeed. However, as I said, my personal approach (certainly in my own home) would be to leave all the cables behind an appliance 'exposed' - I see no real advantaging in plastering them in or enclosing them in trunking/whatever.

Kind Regards, John

 

[600rob]

thanks all for the advice, will probably surface mount the lot and maybe add some trunking.