Hi All
I have a bungalow loft whose main pitched roof is of Purlin type, with 4 x 2 joists running at 90° to rafters. As the Joists are 4 x 2 it seems that the 1mm and 1.3mm lighting T+E cables have been run over or round joists rather than through.
I’m thinking the reason was the installer wanted to avoid drilling a cable hole through joists as they are (4”) 100mm deep. Guess you wouldn’t be able to drill that would be < 50mm from the top or bottom of the joist (as per regs?).
The attached picture (with red arrow) is the worst case of cables being vulnerable (bridging multiple joists so susceptible to being trod on) and I was wondering how this should be dealt with.
Do you screw some timber between joists that’s below the top of the joist, then clip the cable to that, so that it’s not so proud and it’s also supported? I’ve looked online and can’t see any examples of how this is done (what the consensus is).
Also, if some of the “clipped to the top” cables have to stay, I’ve seen “Safeplates” you can buy to cover the cable but the joist still needs to be notched using these. As I understand it, notching is also a no no with 4 x 2 joists.
My goal is to board the loft to use for light storage, so it would be good to have a reasonably level base to start with. I don’t really have to screw 2 x 1 (or thinner) sawn timber to the tops of all the joists leaving gaps for the cables do I?
I’ve included more photos showing the general state of the cabling which surprised the carp out of me when I first saw it
I would welcome any thoughts with open arms, cheers guys.
I have a bungalow loft whose main pitched roof is of Purlin type, with 4 x 2 joists running at 90° to rafters. As the Joists are 4 x 2 it seems that the 1mm and 1.3mm lighting T+E cables have been run over or round joists rather than through.
I’m thinking the reason was the installer wanted to avoid drilling a cable hole through joists as they are (4”) 100mm deep. Guess you wouldn’t be able to drill that would be < 50mm from the top or bottom of the joist (as per regs?).
The attached picture (with red arrow) is the worst case of cables being vulnerable (bridging multiple joists so susceptible to being trod on) and I was wondering how this should be dealt with.
Do you screw some timber between joists that’s below the top of the joist, then clip the cable to that, so that it’s not so proud and it’s also supported? I’ve looked online and can’t see any examples of how this is done (what the consensus is).
Also, if some of the “clipped to the top” cables have to stay, I’ve seen “Safeplates” you can buy to cover the cable but the joist still needs to be notched using these. As I understand it, notching is also a no no with 4 x 2 joists.
My goal is to board the loft to use for light storage, so it would be good to have a reasonably level base to start with. I don’t really have to screw 2 x 1 (or thinner) sawn timber to the tops of all the joists leaving gaps for the cables do I?
I’ve included more photos showing the general state of the cabling which surprised the carp out of me when I first saw it
I would welcome any thoughts with open arms, cheers guys.