Painted cables

[JohnW2]

I'm sure that we've all seen plenty of 'well painted' surface cables, mainly in old properties/installations, but sometimes in the not-so-old .

I've seen it suggested that some paints can interact with plasticisers in the PVC sheath, rendering it less flexible - but I'm not sure that I see that as much of an issue with cables that are permanently clipped to a solid surface. Over the years, I've seen/examined plenty of 'well painted' cable that has been removed, and I have to say that I've never seen any obvious evidence that the paint has had any appreciable deleterious effect.

Do people think that paint represents any real problem? I'm sure that cable manufacturers and other authorities would 'advise against it', but I can't see anything in the regs about this; maybe I'm missing it.

Kind Regards, John.

 

[ricicle]

522.5.3 (depending on the risk of paint degrading cables)

 

[JohnW2]

522.5.3 (depending on the risk of paint degrading cables)

Yes, I guess that could cover it - but, as you imply, it begs the question that I was asking - i.e. does paint significantly degrade PVC cables?

I'm obviously talking about 'ordinary household decorating paints', and would be much more nervous about some others, such as cellulose-based ones. As I said (and the same is probably true of you), I've seen plenty of cables which have been painted for decades without any obvious signs of damage, 'degradation' or impaired 'performance' (insulation resistance).

Painting may, of course, even reduce some risks of degradation. For example, people seem to forget that there is UV light inside buildings as well as outside them, and we know that unprotected PVC outdoors can suffer UV-related damage.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ricicle]

Unless emulsion and gloss paint mixtures have changed significantly over the past years then we can safely assume that no harm comes from paint being applied to PVC cables.
This is, of course, in the absence of any cable manufacturers specifically advising against allowing paint to come into contact with their product.

 

[JohnW2]

Unless emulsion and gloss paint mixtures have changed significantly over the past years then we can safely assume that no harm comes from paint being applied to PVC cables.
This is, of course, in the absence of any cable manufacturers specifically advising against allowing paint to come into contact with their product.

As you will realise, that is certainly my view. I just wondered whether anyone (or any regulations) disagreed.

I certainly haven't noticed any cable manufacturers spontaneously advising against painting - although, as I said, if they were asked the question I suspect that they might well 'advise against', just to protect their backsides!

Kind Regards, John

 

[RF Lighting]

AFAIK old creosote is the only 'paint' that is of a concern if applied to cables. Normal gloss or emulsion should be just fine.

 

[JohnW2]

AFAIK old creosote is the only 'paint' that is of a concern if applied to cables. Normal gloss or emulsion should be just fine.

Goodness, yes; I wouldn't have let that stuff anywhere near a whole host of materials, let alone cables - but, fortunately, is is no longer generally available. Some of the more modern wood treatments and wood preservers warn against contact with plastics, so I'd probably steer clear of them. However, we seem agreed about 'normal gloss or emulsion' (and, perhaps suprisingly, the latter seems to stick to PBC cables pretty well).

Kind Regards, John