Safe zone for lighting

Is running a 1.5mm twin and earth cable for a light switch on the other side of a wall within a safe zone?

For example.... running the cable down the wall in one room and then drilling through the wall to a light switch in line with the cable drop on the other side of the wall?

Thanks for your help

 

Surprisingly, Im sure the zone applies to both sides of the wall, years ago it was common practise to tube down one side and drill through back to back but with a switch each side, but the Regs seem to allow it to be done your way with no switch, which dont seem right to me

 

Our electrician wont allow that done, he says you can say a socket on one wall, cable going through and up to say a high level socket on opposite wall. Both sides have a socket and that indicates a safe zone.

However he wont allow a cable drop on a wall and through the wall to a switch on the other side, there is no apparent safe zone on the first side.

 

I should have added I think it depends on the wall thickness too, I seem to recall 100mm being the limit to allow it.

 

Yes, and I think there has to be a door so you can see both sides.

I don't think it is so that you can fit a switch on the 'other' side, merely that you should be aware and not drill from the 'other' side.
Although it comes down to the same thing if you do put the switch on the 'other' side.

 

Yes, I was going to say something very similar - I've always thought of this not so much as accessories on one side of a thin wall (with a door etc .) creating a safe zone which one can 'use' as such but, as you say, more a matter of accessories on one side of the thin wall creating 'danger zones' (for he with a drill, nail or screw in his hand) on the other side!

Kind Regards, John

 

I never thought of that, as you have said many times "safe" zones not really the right name.

 

Well, I suppose that it depends upon one's viewpoint - which, in turn, depends on 'who one is'. To the electrician it should (but not necessarily always is!) a 'safe' place to route cables, but, as I said, for the person with a drill, nail or screw in his hand, it's definitely a 'danger' zone!

Kind Regards, John

 

Seems to be lots of opinions, but no one has mentioned that you don't need 1.5mm cable, 1.0mm is OK for lights.

 

That's because no one except you thinks that there is any value whatsoever in mentioning it.

 

522.6.202 A cable installed in a wall or partition at a depth of less than 50 mm from a surface of the wall or
partition shall:
(i) be installed in a zone within 150 mm from the top of the wall or partition or within 150 mm of an angle
formed by two adjoining walls or partitions. Where the cable is connected to a point, accessory or
switchgear on any surface of the wall or partition, the cable may be installed in a zone either horizontally
or vertically, to the point, accessory or switchgear. Where the location of the accessory, point or switchgear
can be determined from the reverse side, a zone formed on one side of a wall of 100 mm thickness or less or
partition of 100 mm thickness or less extends to the reverse side, or

 

Indeed - but, as I've said, I would personally not regard that 'safe zone' on the reverse side of the wall as being a 'safe' place to install cables, but I would regard it as a 'danger zone' for anyone armed with a wall-penetrating tool. If I wanted to write some relatively 'foolproof' regulation, I would probably forbid any cable in a wall <100mm thivk, unless adequately mechanically protected!

 

And your response to the Ops actual question is ?, or is it out your depth

 

More so now, have you seen them "Grip-It Plasterboard fixings, they show you making a hole with a Spade Bit.