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For what it's worth, I figured out how to solve this and avoid the problem of running electrical wiring in the ceiling altogether. Might be useful for anyone else who has my problem. Turns out my ceiling has a small layer (~5mm max) of plaster. Decided to use 12v fittings all over, so I...

Hi, I'm doing an alarm install as part of a whole flat refurb, using 8 core shielded wire (with a texecom 24). I have a couple of places where I need to join alarm cables (either because I can't put cable all the way through, or I have to cable and stop before something is finished)...

Having thought about it, I won't route through the boxes - I don't like it either, and the point about if one needs to be replaced in the future is the deal breaker! I'll either need to wear the long cable run, or route just below/above, not sure on which of these yet. The 150mm allowance...

Thanks for the replies - yes, the cables would be unbroken as they pass through their opposing boxes. Is it relatively standard practice, would be great to hear on this point? I can't say it's my preferred option, but it will cut down significantly on the overall cable distance which matters in...

I have a power and lighting circuit on a large room that has a concrete ceiling and floor, and breeze block walls, and a number of 5A lighting sockets (for lamps) that sit right next to 13A double sockets for the power. I'm not sure on the best way to run the cables. Rather than run the two...

Great, those are useful replies, many thanks. The ducting (~10cm x 3cm) has 5 circuits through it. I could split into two circuits, but would prefer not to use up an extra slot on the CU & cost of RCBO. It sounds like 6mm will work, even if it is a pain to wire up - but I can live with that pain...

Hi, for a kitchen radial circuit supplying a total of 5.2kw of fixed load (dishwashers, washer/dryer, hob, etc) plus two 2g sockets, this would normally be fine for 4mm csa on a 32a rcbo, however the circuit passes through 2m of ducting with other circuits so derating brings it below 32a, and...

Planning, lots of it since this will be my first wire (apart from 5v circuits in elec eng :-) to be LABC approved. Thanks, that is useful and pretty much what I suspected. Due to some doors and windows in the path, I can't wire horizontally anyway.

For a radial lighting circuit (that runs along the top of wall around a room) where the circuit has a number of round 2A sockets (at usual socket height) - is the best practice to run cable down to socket and back up to top of wall, or just take a spur from the cable down to the socket. Cables...

Okay, a follow up. I was informed by my UFH supplier -- "The large aggregate for that room will not damage the pipe or reduce output from the floor. It may crack in some places in the future. But that can be repaired by filling the cracks." So that is reassuring. In any case, for...

The manufacturer is clear: "We say up to 10 mm aggregate is OK around the underfloor heating pipes. I am also concerned about the size of 20 mm aggregate and specially when the total thickness over the insulation is only 65 mm. So it is wise not to continue with this mix." A whole large...

My builder says that is to give additional strength to the screed. The UFH company says that it is not recommended (they only say it is OK to have up to 10mm of aggregate). I'm still working on sorting this out, such an annoyance.

Thanks, 20mm insulation is fine (and standard) for this application - it's over a pre-existing slab (whether it has insulation underneath or not, a 1972 build). There's no way building regs would require me to put 50mm insulation on my slab, that would not be practical, I'd have to move gas...

My builders are laying 65mm of screed (over slab + 20mm kingspan + wet UFH pipes), and they're using aggregate (stones) in the mix. I'm comfortable they know what they are doing (having seen the process they are using) - but I don't understand the pro/con of using stones in screed - I thought...

The IEE guidelines (I bought, to educate myself) indicate that when cable <50mm below surface in joists it needs mechanical protection. I assume the same applies to screed floors for flush fit ducting, a 12mm timber cover (even with 18mm of engineered floor over it) doesn't seem sufficient to...

Okay, but that stuff wouldn't provide sufficient mechanical protection (only 12mm plywood cover). I need some sort of galvanised trunking/ducting, something like this (http://www.cableduct.ltd.uk/PDF/PAGE10%20FF.PDF) I found on Google. I need to look harder!

Thanks! Does anyone have suggestions where I can get some inscreed ducting from, etc? Since I'm a DIYer I'm not familiar with elec distributors and these components.

I am rewiring a front room/kitchen will be LABC approved. I have five circuits that run from a CU in hallway cupboard - these have to run in screed for about 1.5 m (two door widths) L shape due use of full height doors, concrete ceiling etc. Circuits then run up 2.4m of stud wall, along 4m...

Okay, but even if I don't upgrade my supply to 100A, it appears that merely by changing my CU (which I have to do, since the existing CU is inadequate for my needs) I may be forced to "fix" the meter cabling anyway. The rated load of my two ovens (3.2kw + 3.7kw) plus induction hob (7.2kw) is...

Thanks ericmark, good advice - I may be best getting a spark to do this part of the work. Currently, due to ripping apart part of the property, the CU has only two active circuits (one 32A and one 6A), so I could get someone to upgrade and test those, then after that, do my own LABC approved...