Help with Regulations Re Routing Cables

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:15 pm

I've been looking around the site and found lots of great info and help in ensuring I get as much right as I can. Thanks for that.

As I'm now rerouting cables into the kitchen having taken 800 mill from the kitchen and added that to the lounge.

Basically, I've built a new stud wall in the kitchen 800 mill from the existing stud wall which devided the kitchen and lounge and have dropped the original stud wall.
This exposed the ring main that was in the kitchen and I have to get it back into the kitchen to reconnect. It also includes the lighting switched and 1 ceiling rose which is right on the new stud wall, it would be wouldn't it.

So I cut holes in the ceiling to let me see what was what and expose the floor/ceiling joists.

My question comes from the recommended depth of cables routed below a floor "When running cable beneath wooden floors the cable must run through joists at a minimum depth of 50mm from the surface of the joist or must be run inside of steel conduit."

Because of the available access and the angle I'm working with I cannot get 50mm away from the ceiling, but I'm obviously more than 50mm from the floor above.

Would this be acceptable or should I be routing 50mm from the ceiling too?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:30 pm

The wire needs to be run at least 50mm from both the floor above and the ceiling below. This is normally pretty straight forwards unless you have shallow joists.

If you can't get the required 50mm then the cable should either be armoured or enclosed in earthed steel conduit to meet the requirements.

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:02 pm

:twisted: Bloody typical!

I can't get my drill in between the joists through the small hole. Will need to cut out a bigger section!

But at least I'll be right with the regs! Thanks for making this info so easily available and understandable. Maybe worth just adding to the A-Z that it is above and below as it does only say below floor

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:31 pm

I will change that asap!

An angle drill is best for drilling between joists, it makes light work of it.

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:03 pm

Friend just got a Ryobi as a 2 part kit, might borrow that and let him know if is any good.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:08 pm

Hi, despite being unsafe, is it illegal to non-comply with the regulations of running cable? What if the person who owned the property before you did the routing of cable which wasn't to regulations (and either you don't know about it or do know about it)? Do you have an obligation to rectify it if you know about it?

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:37 pm

Guys,

What are the regulations re running cable in a stud wall? I assume that you don't have to put it in protective sheathing, is that correct? Does it still have to follow the guidelines for chasing in walls?

Also, despite being unsafe, is it illegal to non-comply with the regulations of running cable? What if the person who owned the property before you did the routing of cable which wasn't to regulations (and either you don't know about it or do know about it)? Do you have an obligation to rectify it if you know about it?

Any thoughts appreciated.

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:24 pm

Andrew wrote:Guys,

What are the regulations re running cable in a stud wall? I assume that you don't have to put it in protective sheathing, is that correct? Does it still have to follow the guidelines for chasing in walls?

Also, despite being unsafe, is it illegal to non-comply with the regulations of running cable? What if the person who owned the property before you did the routing of cable which wasn't to regulations (and either you don't know about it or do know about it)? Do you have an obligation to rectify it if you know about it?

Any thoughts appreciated.

well who will ever know where they are when plastered

you can read into this two ways

1 on one will know if it works it works
2 you wont know so will worry everytime you drill a hole

and no sheathing required anywhere it is only to protect the cables during plastering

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:09 pm

I just wonder if, if I sold the place and someone came in and drilled into a wire which under the regs shouldn't be there, I am liable? I mean, I didn't put it there, and I'm not a qualified electrician so having seen it I didn't think to move it.

Does all this make sense?

Yup, I'm paranoid!

If anyone knows about building work and the law, I'd like to know. What is the come-back if you yourself were injured by someone else's negligance (professional or amatuer)?

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:18 pm

houses are sold as seen

end of story

once the deal is done its done, there no come back unless you have given them assurances otherwise

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:14 am

That's assuring.

I suppose it can't happen any other way, otherwise you'd be liable for everything about the house, including stuff you had no idea about and weren't qualified to know about.

So where does Part-P come in with all of this? I guess it's there to make the "sold as seen" as safe as possible. So what if people don't comply with it?

All very interesting (and I'm not trying to dodge making unsafe things safe, I'm just curious!).

Does the routing of cable in stud walls following the positioning of cable in plastered walls?

tim'll fix it · Post by **tim'll fix it** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:54 am

well if you were asked to have an electrical safety certificate for a house you or the buyer would have to have an electrician to perform a test on the wiring, I dont think an electrician would be worried about the cable routing as he couldnt see it. If you had given a test for a house then the house would be deemed safe or not on that day.

Personally I think all this sellers pack nonsense is banded about too much imo. There are no requirements to have it done at the moment and sellers packs have been dropped as an idea, and the test is really only valid on the day it was performed like an MOT.

Cable routing is more a case of common sense and trying to help you identify safe areas to drill/knock nails in, in your home.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:08 pm

Thanks for the sensible replies. Appreciated.

Let's hope people use cable and stud finders before they nail into walls!!!!