Went to look at a house a couple of days ago with an ageing relative. There are several under construction, so it was easy to see the different stages - and what's normally hidden alongside how they are finishing off.
Apart from the plastic plumbing installed to "average" standards, the plumbing that seems designed to catch out the unwary (plastic pipes in places I wouldn't expect them, gas pipes buried where I'd not expect them), I noted that the tails from meter in fugly box to CU are (as best I can see) not in compliance with 522.6.6 in that the bottom of the CU is above the hole in the wall where the tails come through and so there are meter tails buried in the wall (<50mm deep) with no protection.
But then I spotted something else. Now, it's been said on here that things like aerial leads don't have to be in safe zones, but I see nothing in 522.6 (or indeed, the whole of 522) exempting them. So when I see the (cheap and nasty aluminised plastic foil) aerial cables clipped up the bedroom walls (2 stories worth) above with absolutely nothing to indicate they are there once plastered in (no trunking so not repairable without ripping the house apart) - I'm wondering if 522.6 applies or not. I thought there might be something in the definition of "Cable" - but I don't see a definition for cable so I guess we have to assume the everyday use of the term which I think has to include non-power cables.
I've been asked to do a list of things that we want customising. One is to install network cables - so I really hope the builders left some gaps in the dabs as that's one of the (for me) non-negotiable bits.
I'm also wondering if an installation with no provision for "electric cooking" can be considered to comply with reasonable design standards - the only electrics are the RFC so I assume that they assume that the only power requirement is for the ignition/clock in the gas hob & oven. I'd be wanting a good induction hob - nice and easy to clean !
Apart from the plastic plumbing installed to "average" standards, the plumbing that seems designed to catch out the unwary (plastic pipes in places I wouldn't expect them, gas pipes buried where I'd not expect them), I noted that the tails from meter in fugly box to CU are (as best I can see) not in compliance with 522.6.6 in that the bottom of the CU is above the hole in the wall where the tails come through and so there are meter tails buried in the wall (<50mm deep) with no protection.
But then I spotted something else. Now, it's been said on here that things like aerial leads don't have to be in safe zones, but I see nothing in 522.6 (or indeed, the whole of 522) exempting them. So when I see the (cheap and nasty aluminised plastic foil) aerial cables clipped up the bedroom walls (2 stories worth) above with absolutely nothing to indicate they are there once plastered in (no trunking so not repairable without ripping the house apart) - I'm wondering if 522.6 applies or not. I thought there might be something in the definition of "Cable" - but I don't see a definition for cable so I guess we have to assume the everyday use of the term which I think has to include non-power cables.
I've been asked to do a list of things that we want customising. One is to install network cables - so I really hope the builders left some gaps in the dabs as that's one of the (for me) non-negotiable bits.
I'm also wondering if an installation with no provision for "electric cooking" can be considered to comply with reasonable design standards - the only electrics are the RFC so I assume that they assume that the only power requirement is for the ignition/clock in the gas hob & oven. I'd be wanting a good induction hob - nice and easy to clean !
