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Ok, but still no idea why they haven't touched any of the new timber? Either way I'll spray the loft a couple of times and hope that does the trick. Cheers, iep

Loft was not insulated until recently but I've had a good look around and can't find any frass. Given it a really thorough hoovering so hopefully new stuff will show up. Only issue is that it'll be boxed in with plaster soon so won't get much of a chance to watch before then. I was taking...

Adding some velux windows to a loft and noted the wee holes left by woodworm. None of the usual dust that goes with an active infestation but little patches of holes here and there throughout the loft. House is over 300 years old and has been renovated countless times over the years so this...

Absolutely, that is main concern. It'll be combination of existing gaps, shims, notches and SDS magic. Either way, I'll be making sure no amount of 'wear and tear' can end up in squashed cables. iep

Possible in a pinch but I'd hope to get away without it. As a halfway compromise though, I might use an SDS to dig a shallow recess under the joists if I can't find a point in the floor where a ripple in the concrete provides a pre-existing route under the joist. iep

Thanks for the advice guys. I do have a few spare slots in the C.U. so an independent circuit is a good plan. Cheers, iep

Sorry should have said. Four smoke detectors and one heat detector. Was planning on running interlinked with all five independently run back to a central box (at spur in the lighting circuit). Absolutely admit my knowledge here is light. Any advice gratefully received. Cheers, iep

What type of cable should be used for a hardwired smoke alarm system (domestic install)? Not doing the commissioning myself but want to run the cable this weekend when the ceilings are down. My guess is that 3 core and earth (1.5mm as I have some) should be okay but I don't know for sure...

Fair point. Reckon then that 10mm is a fair compromise and should be relatively future proof. Cheers, iep

Basically, 6mm or 10mm? We don't actually have an electric hob right now (just an electric oven) but when wiring in a new circuit I want to be future proof. iep

I actually quite like the junction box approach and fortunately, the box will always be accessible. Chri5, I like the look of the KO Box and sealed grommets but the WAGOBOX stuff looks fairly OTT to me. In the existing box they just used terminal block. Is there any issue with replicating...

Only say ring lighting is normal since it is widely used in new builds. Personally, I prefer the approach taken here. It's for an open plan living dining/area in a house. There will be around 8 light fittings and three triple switches so a fair few wires. Box will be mounted between joists in...

Need to update an old lighting circuit where all lights and switches wire back to a central box rather than being arranged in a ring. Essentially we're just adding a couple of extra switches and light fittings to the room. Only issue is that I can't find a replacement for the existing central...

Ta for the further posts. The joists do meet the walls (in fact they prop the wall framing up). There are gaps under the joists here and there (hence the need for shims) however they are usually quite a small gaps which might mean the cable might get a little squashed every time someone walks...

I guess my other option is to notch the bottom of the joists where they meet the concrete. Wedge a couple of bits of 6mm ply either side of the notch and the cable will sit exactly 50mm under the top of the joist (albeit lying on the concrete slab). Bit of a fiddle but definitely doable. That...

Lectrician, yes, sorry, noticed that as soon as I posted my response. Makes sense. Cheers, iep

pjcomp, would using this approach allow me to meet the current regs? I have four cables to run so this looks a lot less hassle than running 4 lots of conduit. Cheers, iep

That makes sense to me (or at least correlates with my previous understanding). Only thing that puzzles me is how a PVC conduit can help since the points ii, iii, and iv all referred to an earthed protection of some type? Cheers, iep

All circuits on their own rcbo. Have to admit that I've always stuck to the 50mm rule but perhaps that is overkill with an rcd. Thanks for the link to the details on holes in joists but it's worth noting that our joists are not structural, they are very small at 5cm x 5cm and are shimmed...

I need to run mains cable across a room (both parallel and then perpendicular to the joists). Normally I'd simply drill holes >50mm below the top of the joist when running perp and then clip to the joists below 50mm when running parallel to them. However, this floor comprises a concrete slab...