Cable routing

[alchemist]

Going to route a cable through a wall (hole to be made behind skirting, then along the surface of the wall (behind skirting briefly) before going on the wall under plaster.

What can I use to protect the cable under the skirting?

 

[anelay]

is the circuit rcd protected???

who will guard the guards???

 

[Doc Hudson]

Going to route a cable through a wall (hole to be made behind skirting, then along the surface of the wall (behind skirting briefly) before going on the wall under plaster.What can I use to protect the cable under the skirting?

Shouldn't you be running it in a safe zone?

Doc H.

 

[alchemist]

Yeah it has RCD

No safe zones are available for where it is coming from and going to, the non safe zone part is only about 20cm, then it's in the safe zone on the wall.

I was hoping to put it under some steel plates/capping but not familiar with what can go behind a skirting.

---------- AUTO MERGE Post added at 16:31 ---------- Previous post was at 16:15 ----------

I should add that given where it is, there is no chance anyone will be drilling through it or putting nails in, but I know I have to protect it because of the regs.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Yeah it has RCDNo safe zones are available for where it is coming from and going to, the non safe zone part is only about 20cm, then it's in the safe zone on the wall.

I was hoping to put it under some steel plates/capping but not familiar with what can go behind a skirting.

You just need anything you consider appropriate to meet 522.6.6 pg 100 of big red book..

think its the bullet point (iv) that you would be looking for..

any sort of mechanical protection to prevent penetration by nails or screws and the like...

Unless you use a short length of Earthed conduit?

It really is a question of what you think you can make room for behind the skirting..

Is the skirting already fitted or have you got a clear access to hack and chip the wall structure a bit before the skirting is fitted?

:|

 

[alchemist]

I've got the skirting off on both sides so can make a small channel. I'd favour some sort of plating rather than conduit as there's not much room.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

I've got the skirting off on both sides so can make a small channel. I'd favour some sort of plating rather than conduit as there's not much room.

Well, any plating you can fit in, that meets 522.6.6 (iv) will be all OK!

could you adapt something with a few of these?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Cable_Accessories_Index/Necessities~Cable_Protection/index.html

Just double check you can't bang a nail though them before you fix them to the wall.

 

[Andy™]

i have used 2mm galv steel plate in the past (complete with an earth to it)

 

[alchemist]

Funny you should suggest that, because those plates from tlc are exactly what I was considering.I might stick them on to the back of the skirting if it's not practical to fix into the wall directly, does that sound too shoddy?

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

[quote name='Andy

 

[Andy™]

Interesting that the mechanical protection (iv) part of 522.6.6 doesn't ask for Earthed protection...yet (i), (ii) & (iii) ALL ask for an earth connection to the protection!

:coffee

nice to see they keep it all consistant!

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Funny you should suggest that, because those plates from tlc are exactly what I was considering.I might stick them on to the back of the skirting if it's not practical to fix into the wall directly, does that sound too shoddy?

I would probably take the plaster off the wall.

stick a couple of small battens either side of my cable run.

place cable in run.

put plates over top fixed to each of the batten.

then put the skirting back..

means if someone removes & replaces the skirting the protection is STILL in place!

:coffee

---------- AUTO MERGE Post added at 16:55 ---------- Previous post was at 16:52 ----------

[quote name='Andy

 

[Andy™]

Think the assumption is, from the wording of the regs..

That as your mechanical protection should prevent penetration by nails or screws or similar then you cannot penetrate the cables..

so earth protection not needed.

i would like to see someone get a nail/screw through galv conduit. earthed or otherwise!

if anything, the conduit will offer more protection. since its round, most things will move off to the side and not penetrate. steel plate and its more likely to stay on target

 

[ianmacd]

Indeed. If you are goign to chip wall out then fitting in earthed conduit maybe easier rather then plating it.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

[quote name='Andy

 

[sprocketflup]

regarding reg 522.6.6 part v, its ok to have a cable just under the plaster so long as its in a safe zone and is protected by an RCD (522.6.7)

Im not quite getting that, after all Joe Public doesnt know about safe zones does he?

Also if the cable is buried deeper than 50mm, does that mean that you neednt bother with any of the protective measures called for in 522 if you are so inclined?

Could I theoretically have a cable running straight from an MCB, that meanders all over the wall to an accessory so long as its buried 2 " deep?

If I was hanging a heavy mirror, id probably drill more than 2 inches deep to put an anchor bolt in

 

[Andy™]

regarding reg 522.6.6 part v, its ok to have a cable just under the plaster so long as its in a safe zone and is protected by an RCD (522.6.7)Im not quite getting that, after all Joe Public doesnt know about safe zones does he? yes

Also if the cable is buried deeper than 50mm, does that mean that you neednt bother with any of the protective measures called for in 522 if you are so inclined?yes

Could I theoretically have a cable running straight from an MCB, that meanders all over the wall to an accessory so long as its buried 2 " deep?yes. but if you do manage to chse 50mm into the wall, you will most likely be less than 50mm from the other side. and more importantly, the wall could eb structurally unsafe

If I was hanging a heavy mirror, id probably drill more than 2 inches deep to put an anchor bolt in

my red

 

[sprocketflup]

Thats what I mean Andy - not too sensible really lol

 

[kme]

Further; chasing that deeply into a wall will usually mean you`ve not complied with building regs......depth of horizontal / vertical chases.

Plus, to go a little further with Andy`s answer - if you WERE >50mm deep, you could ignore the requirement for RCDs; as long as they weren`t required for another reg (socket outlet, etc...)

KME

 

[sprocketflup]

Its a larf ent it?