Electric cables in conservatory - should they be diagonal ?

[gidrae]

Hi,

very quick question. Had a new conservatory added onto the house recently and the electrician has run cables for sockets/light switch and light.

He has run all the cables either vertically or horizontally except for the cable that goes into the roof for the light which runs diagonally along the wall of the house.

Should this be done like this? Makes it tricky to know where the cables are once its been plastered?

any thoughts or comments gratefully appreciated.

 

[comms]

When you say diagonally across the wall, is the cable within 150mm of the conservatory roof & following the roof line up to the apex & the circuit has an rcd?
if so no problem.

• if not then its not ideal & the cable should be
  1) a minimum of 50mm below finished wall surface.
  2) have earthed armour or earthed metal sheath.
  3) be enclosed inside earthed metal conduit or trunking.
  or
  4) have mechanical protection to prevent penetration by nails or screws.

 

[gidrae]

Hey comms, I believe it may be within 150mm from the conservatory roof.
That's answered my questions perfectly.

Many thanks for the speedy answer

 

[gidrae]

I've been informed by a friend on page 23 of the
building regs part p electrical safety guide:

Cables should be routed in 'safe zones' horizontally or vertically from fittings or close to corners or at ceiling level. Cables should not be run diagonally or outside these zones.

 

[EngStudent]

I've been informed by a friend on page 23 of the
building regs part p electrical safety guide:

Cables should be routed in 'safe zones' horizontally or vertically from fittings or close to corners or at ceiling level. Cables should not be run diagonally or outside these zones.

Anywhere within 150mm of the ceiling is a safe zone. If the cables are within that area then what your sparky has done is absolutely fine.

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[gidrae]

I've been informed by a friend on page 23 of the
building regs part p electrical safety guide:

Cables should be routed in 'safe zones' horizontally or vertically from fittings or close to corners or at ceiling level. Cables should not be run diagonally or outside these zones.

Anywhere within 150mm of the ceiling is a safe zone. If the cables are within that area then what your sparky has done is absolutely fine.

The document kinda indicates that diagonal is wrong and outside of the zones is wrong. So it implies that diagonal and inside the zone is still wrong.

I'm baffled.

 

[comms]

Dont be baffled.
As Mr Holms said 150mm is 150mm, if you want to zigzag the cable in that 150mm space you crack on.... its classed as a safe zone nomatter what the angle of the dangle is.

building regs part p electrical safety guide