3 core cable exposed in new house

[PeteCar]

3 core cable exposed in new house

We have just moved into a new house and have noticed that bath panel has water damage.....as kitchen ceiling indicates new plasterboard (replacement/cut out) and ames taping.....but also, a wall socket has 3 core cabling coming out of it, from the wall (child could easily grab it)...which then goes along wall and into recessed wardrobe and up into attic/loft, which powers the light switch up there...

Anyone know the legal requirements for 3 core cabling and lights ? should they be exposed/come out of existing wall (plug) socket ????? the house is approx 15 yrs old

We moved into this house a week ago in Glasgow and have just advised lawyer of these issues, he seems peeved off !!

Many thanks for your help !

 

[rjm2k]

New to you, or new build?

 

[PeteCar]

Hi RJM



Sorry, yeh, new to us, property is approx 13-15 yrs old, We moved from a new build (never again !!)...to this older property.....

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Anyone know the legal requirements for 3 core cabling and lights ?

There is nothing wrong per se with surface mounted cable, as long as it's suitable for the environment, e.g. probably not outside or in a garage/workshop.

As long as where yours is it's not likely to get damaged and is adequately supported, it complies with the regulations.

Is it clipped to the wall?

How does it actually come out of the socket?

Photos would be useful.



Do you want it? You could remove it.

Or you could remove it, and replace it inside trunking.

Or you could remove it and chase it into the wall, but see http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:walls.

We moved into this house a week ago in Glasgow and have just advised lawyer of these issues, he seems peeved off

I'm sure he'll be happy to take your money when there's nothing either of you can do about the situation.

 

[PeteCar]

Hi

It comes out from below a standard wall, double plug socket.....not clipped to anything, hangs loose, then goes down about 3 or 4 inches, until it sits on top of skirting, then seems to be tacked onto top of skirting, along maybe a foot, goes into recessed Wardrobe (came with the house...with mirrors) then up the inside and into ceiling into attic, presumably to coneect to a switch box for the light up there....

We have young kids, should 3 core cable be exposed like that, just coming directly out from a plug socket !?!? we have a baby boy....

Thanks

 

[JohnW2]

We have young kids, should 3 core cable be exposed like that, just coming directly out from a plug socket !?!? we have a baby boy....

Assuming that it's not damaged, exposed house-wiring cables (which have two layers of insulation) are no less safe than the 'exposed' mains flex connected to any electrical appliances in your house - TV, vacuum cleaner, table lamp, computer or whatever - and, as BAS has said, have it on the surface of a wall (hence touchable) id totally compliant with the regulations provided that it's not in an environment (like garage) where mechanical damage is particularly likely.

Kind Regards, John

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

Mostly it's just naff in appearance. However it is probably not restrained under the socket cover, so if for example there is sufficient slack to grab hold and pull then it could be considered potentially dangerous. (Bit of a stretch though, as you would need one live wire to come out and the other to stay connected.) I would have suggested clipping the cable to the wall, close to the socket, except that it is a safe zone, so you shouldn't start putting nails in there.

But don't waste your effort/money on trying to get recompense. That's a mug's game.

 

[cjard]

We have young kids, should 3 core cable be exposed like that, just coming directly out from a plug socket !?!? we have a baby boy....

Thanks

Maybe you should spend time with your kids watching and educating them of the dangers of yanking on live wires instead of running around desperately looking for someone to sue? You faced far greater dangers when you were growing up but back then common sense hadn't yet been replaced by compensation. However did you survive?

 

[winston1]

One thing that no one has mentioned is that it appears the loft light is run directly off the power circuits without fusing down. Unless of course the switch in the loft is a fused connection unit, but I bet it isn't.

 

[maltaron]

Caveat emptor-let the buyer beware. These items should have been picked up in the pre purchase survey. Rather than shout at solicitors about what is in 2 cases probably just cometic you should really find a competent electrician to sort out the dodgy cable.