Rubber Wiring

[Colin_D]

Hi Guys

24 years ago when I moved to my current house, I replaced all the rubber wiring with plastic. (I know these are not the correct definitions, but you know what I mean.)

I replaced all wiring, except part of a ring main that is under a suspended floor which is covered in parquet tiling.

I am currently decorating this room, so I thought I should take up some of the parquet tiles that are under the large rug that covers the majority of the room, lift a few floor boards, crawl into the space under the floor (uck) and replace the 4 lengths of rubber cable.

I know under the floor I can get to the two junction boxes where the plastic changes to rubber and vice versa.

The problem is that having taken up a few parquet tiles I find, somewhat obviously but I had not thought about it, that there are plywood sheets between the parquet and the floor boards. Consequently to take up enough tiles to lift the plywood sheets in order to make an access point will be an horrendous job. So bad that that all tiles may have to be lifted, The room is 5m x 4m approx.

The rubber wiring has stranded conductors. It is two core with an earth run as a separate earth wire.

The question - although the rubber cables shows no sign of degradation at the points where they connect to the 13amp wall sockets, should I bite the bullet and rip up the floor, or should I hope that there is no insulation breakdown for many years to come?

Your thoughts please.

Regards

Colin

 

[ban-all-sheds]

1) You really should replace it, and by the sounds of it not by re-linking those 2 inaccessible JBs but by replacing the cables from socket to socket.

(BTW - why are there 4 cables and only 2 JBs?)

2) If there will be parquet covering it, can't you cut through the plywood, and then replace it, as it won't matter what it looks like?

3) Notifiable, BTW..

 

[ColJack]

circular saw is your friend..

also BAS... ring main.. 2 JB's are ends of the ring, 2 interlinks.. = 4 sockets.. not rocket science... having a bad day?

also, the replacement of damaged cables is not notifiable..

can the OP not get under the floor from an adjacent crawl space.. ( bad news is that there's likely to be a second wall mid floor to support the joists.. ) you could use a car jack, a bolster and fit a lintel

 

[ban-all-sheds]

also BAS... ring main.. 2 JB's are ends of the ring, 2 interlinks.. = 4 sockets.. not rocket science... having a bad day?

OK - I was assuming that all the cables attached to sockets had been replaced.

also, the replacement of damaged cables is not notifiable..

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SCHEDULE 2B
. . . . . DESCRIPTIONS OF WORK WHERE NO BUILDING NOTICE
. . . . . . . . . . OR DEPOSIT OF FULL PLANS REQUIRED

1. Work consisting of—
(a) replacing any fixed electrical equipment which does not include the provision of—
(i) any new fixed cabling; or
(ii) a consumer unit;
(b) replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit only;

 

[ColJack]

so if i happen to drill / chisel / cut with a paper scraper / add your own method of damaging cables here... through both cables to a socket, then I have to notify the LABC and pay £150 to change 2 cables to get the socket working again?

there is a workaround.. deem the ring in the room to be damaged, replace the cable from the socket before the room and connect it to the socket after the room.. one cable replaced.. then add all the sockets you want to the ring as per 2.C.ii)

[code:1]2. Work which—
(a) is not in a kitchen, or a special location,
(b) does not involve work on a special installation, and
(c) consists of—
(i) adding light fittings and switches to an existing circuit; or
(ii) adding socket outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit;[/code:1]

also to the OP.. is there no way of using the old rubber wires to draw the new cables in?

and i miscalculated it's 3 sockets..

 

[ban-all-sheds]

so if i happen to drill / chisel / cut with a paper scraper / add your own method of damaging cables here... through both cables to a socket, then I have to notify the LABC and pay £150 to change 2 cables to get the socket working again?

That's what the law says.

there is a workaround.. deem the ring in the room to be damaged, replace the cable from the socket before the room and connect it to the socket after the room.. one cable replaced.. then add all the sockets you want to the ring as per 2.C.ii)

Or you could stop looking for ways to convince yourself that you aren't breaking the law.

 

[ColJack]

i'm going to go with the approved documents definition..

replacing THE cable for a single circuit only..