Protecting Electrical Cables

[markknell]

Hi all

I have just built a conservatory with the help from a friend in the trade.

I wanted to extent the existing downstairs ring main to add 4 double sockets in the conservatory. I have had a look on the screwfix.com website for protective channelling but they are all plastic. Is this sufficient? It doesn't seem much of a protective layer. A plasterer will cover all cables once the work is complete.

Any suggestions or comments would be gratefully received.


Best regards
Mark.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Do you want protection or need it?

Red these to see which category you are in:

http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/C5-43.pdf

http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/concealedcables.pdf

http://www.iee.org/Publish/WireRegs...les_concealed_in_thin_walls_or_partitions.pdf

If it's just a want, then capping, or better still oval PVC conduit will do. If you need it though, then steel conduit is what you must use.

 

[markknell]

Thanks for your reply.

As I understand it then I guess I need it as the cables will be run against / along the wall and then covered over with plaster less than 50mm thick and will run outside the zones. I will need to at least cover the cables with an earthed metallic covering/conduit.

I can't seem to find anything other than PVC cover products though.

Maybe it's safer and easier to use armoured cable which complies with BS 5467. My only concern is it maybe a little too ridged to handle.

Does the above make sense and correct ?

 

[sam8364]

Hmmm, reading the links posted I am now all confused.....

.... if I am running a cable vertically down a chased out wall from the ceiling to a light switch and then plastering over with 5-10mm plaster, what sort of protection do I need?

 

[markknell]

Hmmm, reading the links posted I am now all confused.....

.... if I am running a cable vertically down a chased out wall from the ceiling to a light switch and then plastering over with 5-10mm plaster, what sort of protection do I need?

I have re-read http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/C5-43.pdf and think I understand it all now.

If you have cables within 50mm of a surface and **outside** a horizontal or vertical zone then you basically need to armour the cable. If you stick within the zones you should be ok. Maybe someone could confirm that.

To clarify a point, if I run cables down from a socket along the base of the wall and then up to the next socket is this still within the zones or would I need armoured cable for that ??

 

[dingbat]

If you have cables within 50mm of a surface and **outside** a horizontal or vertical zone then you basically need to protect* the cable. If you stick within the zones you should be ok. Maybe someone could confirm that.

Confirmed

To clarify a point, if I run cables down from a socket along the base of the wall and then up to the next socket is this still within the zones or would I need armoured cable for that ??

No. Look at the diagram again. There is no safe zone along the bottom of a wall. Go under the floor if you can.