Chasing cable into walls

[platforminc]

Hi All,

A friend of mine is getting some major electrical works done, and I have just gone in to observe what is being done.

I noticed that the wall was being hacked off and the cables being buried inside. There is no conduit or anything, is this normal ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Sure, conduit/capping is not obligatory.
It is there only to protect the cables from the plasterer's trowel and to make it easier to pull new cables through at a later time.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

It is not a requirement to run cable in conduit or cap the cable when buried within fabric of wall.
Cables must however follow permitted safety zones when buried, if not they should be chased greater than 50mm or be mechanically protected.
There are also regulation on depth of chases in to solid walls
No greater than:
*1/3rd of thickness on vertical chase
*1/6th of thickness on horizontal chase

 

[Gossamer]

I'm about to get a rewire done and am surprised socket / light switch cables can be run without conduit and buried into the plaster. Am I being unreasonable to ask the electrician to do this?

 

[Simon35]

I'm about to get a rewire done and am surprised socket / light switch cables can be run without conduit and buried into the plaster. Am I being unreasonable to ask the electrician to do this?

What do you think the purpose of the conduit would be?

Its your house, you're paying so you can ask for whatever you like.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Sure, conduit/capping is not obligatory.
It is there only to protect the cables from the plasterer's trowel and to make it easier to pull new cables through at a later time.

 

[OwainDIYer]

For major new work I would want and specify conduit for the switch and socket drops. I'm using conduit in the kitchen as it's fairly likely that things might get rearranged in future and having conduit makes it easier to withdraw cables rather than risk having live cables left outside permitted zones if accessories are removed.

For ordinary sockets rising up from the floor I've put directly in plaster. They're unlikely to need to be moved.

 

[sparkwright]

I'm about to get a rewire done and am surprised socket / light switch cables can be run without conduit and buried into the plaster. Am I being unreasonable to ask the electrician to do this?

Not at all.

Insist on oval conduit.

It does prove very useful for any alterations at a later date, or repairs.