Cable Zones

[moulder1987]

Hi hope someone can help (maybe you have had the same problem)

I put a fuse spur in a kitchen to control a socket for a washing machine. I took the cable from the Fuse spur down in the vertical zone, and across in the horizontal zone to the socket, then the building inspector came to the property before the wall was boarded and said that it was incorrect and if it wasn't sorted he could not sign it off. He said that it is where it changes angle (but I have never heard off this and came home today to read the regs book and also does not say anywhere about not being able to do this because of the angle change).

Please tell me if I'm wrong

It is a complete rewrite so it will all be RCD protected.

 

[ProDave]

Put an empty back box and a blank cover plate where it changes direction to shut the numpty up. 

 

[moulder1987]

Thanks Dave that is what I will probable have to do. You just can't win with these idiots

 

[Andy™]

ask him exactly what regulation its against. and you could always offer him the diagrams in 7671 / OSG...

sounds like someone trying to enforce something he doesnt know anything about

 

[Sharpend]

Level with the spur is there another socket outlet? If so go horizontally first then vertical to socket.

 

[Evans Electric]

Imagine if you'd 've  run on the diagonal   

 

[moulder1987]

I asked him to email me with what proof he had and he sent me a page from the competent person from napit. Which I have read and nowhere it says about zones and change of direction.

I'm going to site tomorrow and think I will be calling him back and will probably change it as like I said earlier you can't win. (Wasting my time in my eyes). Not happy.

 

[moulder1987]

Imagine if you'd 've  run on the diagonal

Chased in 50mm and that would be fine.

 

[NozSpark]

Chased in 50mm and that would be fine.

Won't be too far off that once they've dot and dabbed it

 

[moulder1987]

Andy - Where are the diagrams ? I just had a search and can't find them !

Page 74 OSG

 

[NozSpark]

If it was me I'd be standing my ground and asking him to show me the building Reg that it contravenes

 

[moulder1987]

Won't be too far off that once they've dot and dabbed it

I know, that was what I said to him, ok I will chase it in 26mm

If it was me I'd be standing my ground and asking him to show me the building Reg that it contravenes

I really wish I had the time.

Like I said one more phone call tomorrow and it will probably leave me with changing it.

 

[OnOff]

Just Blu-tack a face plate on with a couple of cut down 3.5's in for "effect" and remove when he's gone! 

 

[OnOff]

The NICEIC diagram from their Building Regs guide shows it better perhaps........

 

[kerching]

You can only work to

The Regs as they are written

It is F difficult to work to regs that have NOT been written, never mind someone elses interpretation of something that has not been written

Just saying.....

 

[moulder1987]

Forgot to mention, this idiot of a man also said that because I came out the top of the metal box of the socket to the fuse spur to complete the ring, that is also wrong (I sit my sockets so there touching when two are together by the way).

Am I wrong here also.

Suppose I could have gone out the side but I'm a bit fussy and like both cables coming in the same place

 

[ProDave]

The lesson here is get the plasterboard on the rest of the house before he comes back.

Why is a building inspector inspecting a rewire by the way? Never known that happen.

 

[moulder1987]

The lesson here is get the plasterboard on the rest of the house before he comes back.

Why is a building inspector inspecting a rewire by the way? Never known that happen.

It's a complete refurb. Turned a house into two flats.

The NICEIC diagram from their Building Regs guide shows it better perhaps........

Selection_010.jpg

Thanks for finding and sharing that image, I have just emailed that to the inspector with a very polite message.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Hi hope someone can help (maybe you have had the same problem)

I put a fuse spur in a kitchen to control a socket for a washing machine. I took the cable from the Fuse spur down in the vertical zone, and across in the horizontal zone to the socket, then the building inspector came to the property before the wall was boarded and said that it was incorrect and if it wasn't sorted he could not sign it off. He said that it is where it changes angle (but I have never heard off this and came home today to read the regs book and also does not say anywhere about not being able to do this because of the angle change).

Please tell me if I'm wrong

It is a complete rewrite so it will all be RCD protected.

Is the washing machine under a worktop, if so you could have just done the vertical drop buried in the wall, then run the horizontal clipped onto the wall surface, as it will be hidden below the work top anyway. As the others have said the building inspector is the idiot not you. Regulation 522.6.101 clearly describes the zones as vertically or horizontally from any accessory, point or switchgear. Of which sockets and fused spurs clearly fall within this category.

Doc H.

 

[ProDave]

Ah, so it is in effect a new build.

But I have still never had a building inspector looking at my cable runs. They normally only worry about switch and socket heights, and smoke alarm positioning.