Electrician has cut holes to close to joist ends

JazzyB · May 16, 2021

Hi

Employed electrician to wire extra sockets in bedrooms upstairs in an empty house. However I have noticed when I lifted floor board up to do other work, that the cables are running through holes close to ends of the joists, not within the safe zones, .25 & .4, as with Building Regs.

Looking for advise on how to approach this, with them.

Thanks
Jazz

Mike Johnson · May 18, 2021

Near the end at the point or near the point of maximum shear, I too will look forward to the pictures.

JazzyB · May 23, 2021

Here are the photos as promised, I’am ok with it as long as it not going to cause me problems in the future.

suffolkspark · May 23, 2021

JazzyB said:
Here are the photos as promised, I’am ok with it as long as it not going to cause me problems in the future.

Did he run the tv cable in too?

JazzyB · May 23, 2021

suffolkspark said:
Did he run the tv cable in too?

Yes

Jim_e_Jib · May 23, 2021

If that was new work in my house, like you, I wouldn't be happy.

There doesn't appear to be a reason for not putting the holes in the prescribed zones and, unless more cables are to be added, the holes appear to be larger than they need to be.

Was the same electrician responsible for the hole bottom left in the 2nd picture?

As I think Littlespark is alluding to, it's not good practice to run a signal cable such as coax so close to LV power cables.

All that being said, my house (Victorian era) has had many of the joists butchered over the years. Notches and holes out of prescribed zones and often very close together. Holes drilled at a 45 degree angle through the timber. The previous owner took a huge chunk out of a joist under the bathroom as they positioned the shower tray such that the waste outlet was on a joist. So far, the floors are still standing...!

SJD · May 23, 2021

The holes do look ridiculously large for the cables, as if the electrician only had one size of drill bit and it was big.

No, wait, big pipe-sized holes whereever convenient, ... are you sure this guy is not a really a plumber?

JazzyB · May 23, 2021

Jim_e_Jib said:
If that was new work in my house, like you, I wouldn't be happy.

There doesn't appear to be a reason for not putting the holes in the prescribed zones and, unless more cables are to be added, the holes appear to be larger than they need to be.

Was the same electrician responsible for the hole bottom left in the 2nd picture?

As I think Littlespark is alluding to, it's not good practice to run a signal cable such as coax so close to LV power cables.

All that being said, my house (Victorian era) has had many of the joists butchered over the years. Notches and holes out of prescribed zones and often very close together. Holes drilled at a 45 degree angle through the timber. The previous owner took a huge chunk out of a joist under the bathroom as they positioned the shower tray such that the waste outlet was on a joist. So far, the floors are still standing...!I

GBDamo · May 23, 2021

The problem with deviating from guidance is you then have to qualify your choices.

We all know that there is an --- Cover Factor in many regs but if we venture there the onus is on us to demonstrate we have not introduced a hazard.

In solid, dry and rot free joists, like those, I can guarantee those holes will no be an issue but I cannot qualify that statement.

All I can offer is if it were my house I wouldn't be worrying.

Mike Johnson · May 23, 2021

As the electrician has deviated from the prescribed zones ask for his Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment, that he obviously did, to satisfy himself that it was OK to do so.

Pretty Mouth · May 23, 2021

Mike Johnson said:
As the electrician has deviated from the prescribed zones ask for his Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment, that he obviously did, to satisfy himself that it was OK to do so.

Come off it Mike. Everyone here, including yourself, knows those joists aren't going to collapse.

To the OP: Of all the sins an electrician can commit, this is about as minor as it gets. Put the floorboards back down, and don't worry about it.

Mike Johnson · May 23, 2021

The analysis carried out by a qualified Structural Engineer that qualified the zones specified where established for a reason, taking into account the compression and tension zones within the timber and the shear zones at the bearing end, a Structural Engineer would not dream of telling an Electrician how to do his job.....................................

telectrix · May 23, 2021

them joists will still be supporting the floor long after today's new builds have been bulldozed into landfills.

mattg4321 · May 23, 2021

Where’s the eye roll emoji

MJPD29 · May 23, 2021

I dont think that will ever cause any structural damage to the joist. It'll be absolutely fine I've seen it in many many places and it's never caused an issue. Just put the floorboards down and don't worry about it.

Pretty Mouth · May 23, 2021

Mike Johnson said:
The analysis carried out by a qualified Structural Engineer that qualified the zones specified where established for a reason, taking into account the compression and tension zones within the timber and the shear zones at the bearing end, a Structural Engineer would not dream of telling an Electrician how to do his job.....................................

I am literally holding my head in my hands reading this

Electrician has cut holes to close to joist ends

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