Using chimney as cable route?

littlespark · May 12, 2018

I'm going to look at a job on Monday and I'm not sure if there's any regulations that I need to think about.
The job is to install a wall mounted TV on a chimney breast, with the sky box and bluray player installed in the fireplace.
Now obviously the fire isn't in use, and the homeowners are utilising a wasted space.

My thought was to drill straight through the brickwork into the chimney and drop the cables down the void, possibly in pvc conduit. Alternatively, cut a channel into the front of the wall.
Is there any building regs to say I cant drill through it?

I also need to find power for inside the fireplace, so the whole job might not happen if there's no socket nearby.

I could run surface trunking up the front, but that's not going to look very professional.

Octopus · May 12, 2018

I would say what you are proposing is fine .... but as you say you need a socket too ..............

littlespark · May 12, 2018

If the route is ok, my plan was to find a nearby socket on the rfc, spur off through an sfu and run a radial to the fireplace, double socket, or even 2 x doubles there for the equipment. Then run up through the void, coming out behind where the TV will be positioned with a single socket on a dual box, with a brush plate next to it for all the AV cables.

The homeowner will be decorating after, and building shelves inside the fireplace.

I think i'll leave him to mount the TV bracket. Knowing him, it'll be 50" TV at least

Octopus · May 12, 2018

^^ I would ask him to mount the TV bracket before you do your bits ...

Then you know where he will be drilling

Spoon · May 12, 2018

littlespark said:
or even 2 x doubles there for the equipment.

They already have a TV, Bluray & Sky box. I'd go with the above. 2 double sockets.

littlespark · May 12, 2018

Yes.There might be a games console, or whatever. I'm going to need a big hole for HDMI cables.

Squid · May 12, 2018

Remove chimney breast, #dothejobproperly ;o)))

123 · May 12, 2018

For all the extra cost I'd put a double socket behind the TV as well. The likes of firesticks and roku sticks are ever improving so who knows what they will plug into hdmi ports in time to come

Corbs · May 12, 2018

Make a disclaimer up saying they can't use the fire again / they can't install one etc

telectrix · May 12, 2018

most importantly you need a 10 year old child to do the work inside the chimney.

pirate · May 12, 2018

I got some very good advice on here when I installed a wall-mounted TV...and the brush plates were an excellent choice. I would say that the ones from TLC were far superior to those from Screwfix. The 38mm conduit easily took 2 HDMI, a satellite cable, a coax cable and an ethernet, with room to spare, and the usual 16mm for the power supply. For what it's worth, I bought the HDMI cables from Currys, and opted for the flat ones...they are very easy to install, and take up little space, plus the actual plugs are neat, not too bulky. Fully agree with Murdoch-get client to install the TV bracket beforehand, so you know where everything is to fit. As advised, I used a double back-box, with the media cables to one side, took out the 2 cutouts and sawed the rest out to make a rectangular hole, with grommet strip.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Using chimney as cable route?

I fitted a "divider" between the 2 sides of the back-box, keeping separation between the media cables and the power supply. Probably not really necessary.

Squid · May 12, 2018

telectrix said:
most importantly you need a 10 year old child to do the work inside the chimney.

A 10 year old English child will be so fat he'd get stuck,

pirate · May 12, 2018

but not a scrawny Scot!

Squid · May 12, 2018

pirate said:
but not a scrawny heroin addict lower sugar Irn brew drinking Scot!

He'll be cheaper as well..........

pirate · May 12, 2018

...and eat the soot, thinking it's the "good stuff"

Andy5678 · May 13, 2018

I have noticed this forum loves the Scots.
Another good thread that’s ended up about the Scottish or about alcohol.

telectrix · May 13, 2018

Andy5678 said:
I have noticed this forum loves the Scots.
Another good thread that’s ended up about the Scottish or about alcohol.

all in jest, my friend. think about us poor Scousers. we're all classed as thieving gits.

Wes1000 · May 13, 2018

Just a thought, but if this a semidetached and an old house (Victorian etc) then the fires from this and next door will use the same stack. The bricks inside the stack that separate the flues are usually loosely stacked with bits of mortar faking out. This would compromise the separation of each flue. Then if next door lit a fire that didn’t have a steel liner the result could be dangerous gasses finding a path in to the room. Just something to be aware of.

littlespark · May 13, 2018

I think it is a semi... but i'll see tomorrow. I'll find out from the homeowner how long their fire has been removed for. There will be a smell if next door are still using theirs, even from a few months back.

I've worked in attics before where next doors fire smoke was seeping through the walls. No one knew until we were in rewiring. That all had to be sorted before we could go back in.

I'm hoping they haven't just blocked the chimney just above the fireplace so I cant get up the void.
Surface trunking might be my (their) only option.

elsparko · May 13, 2018

telectrix said:
most importantly you need a 10 year old child to do the work inside the chimney.

or a chain on a bit of string lol

elsparko · May 13, 2018

telectrix said:
all in jest, my friend. think about us poor Scousers. we're all classed as thieving gits.

View attachment 42177

up here the petrol stations on the southern end of the city have to report you lot and your vehicle registrations to the police so they can search your vehicles

if you have a scouse accent, expect to be searched

elsparko · May 13, 2018

littlespark said:
I think it is a semi... but i'll see tomorrow. I'll find out from the homeowner how long their fire has been removed for. There will be a smell if next door are still using theirs, even from a few months back.

I've worked in attics before where next doors fire smoke was seeping through the walls. No one knew until we were in rewiring. That all had to be sorted before we could go back in.

I'm hoping they haven't just blocked the chimney just above the fireplace so I cant get up the void.
Surface trunking might be my (their) only option.

i worked in a loft space in a fish factory that had a wood burning stove exhausted into the loft space, there was a vent in the roof where i could cool down at lol spent most of my day there the heat was unreal

had a decent respirator on but i assume i needed an oxygen tank in reality

telectrix · May 13, 2018

elsparko said:
up here the petrol stations on the southern end of the city have to report you lot and your vehicle registrations to the police so they can search your vehicles

if you have a scouse accent, expect to be searched

sweaty sock cops won't find anything. a bottle of single malt will make them look elsewhere.

elsparko · May 13, 2018

telectrix said:
sweaty sock cops won't find anything. a bottle of single malt will make them look elsewhere.

there was a chap from birmingham staying in one of the hotels here, he had previous for firearms , turned out he was only on holiday

birmingham must be ---- if you choose to holiday here lol

Squid · May 13, 2018

Andy5678 said:
I have noticed this forum loves the Scots.
Another good thread that’s ended up about the Scottish or about alcohol.

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