Cable Runs and Loft Insulation

[pyounger]

A friend of mine prompted me to ask this question as he has just had an extra light fitting fitted upstairs.

When the electrician was in the loft he told him he would have to run the cable through conduit because the new regulations state that cable can not simply be laid loose over the top of loft insulation - it has to be fixed to the rafters and because his insulation is above the rafters (thus would cover the cable) there would be a danger of overheating the cable.

This seemed like one of those ways of using regulations to earn an extra few quid on a job that wasn't going to earn you much.

The odd thing is all his 'old' wiring was left under the insulation only the new run he put in was put into the conduit!

 

[ricicle]

Although the cables must be ran tidily and positioned so as to avoid mechanical damage there is not any mileage in protecting a lighting cable from insulation in a loft as they are rarely fully loaded and 1.5mm² is rated at over twice a 6A mcb.