600mm swa cable depth rule

joehat · Jan 5, 2016

I've always assumed this rule was the same under slabs or concrete, not just under soil Ect.
Am I correct as the regulation doesn't state so that's why I assumed it.

The reason being, I've just gone and quoted a job and another (electrician!!) quoted a lot less, I asked how much Ect and how he was doing it and he said he would cut a cap below the slabs and run swa to the shed. ??

HandySparks · Jan 5, 2016

Andy78 said:
Only in special locations, depths and heights are specified for buried and overhead cables.

Yep. Agricultural, 705.522, 0.6m min plus mech protection, 1.0m min where cultivated. Camping/caravan parks, 708.521.1.1, 0.6m min.

ruston · Jan 5, 2016

Agricultural and Horticultural Premises.
In selection and erection of wiring systems in relation to external influences 705.522 indicates depths required for buried cables.
notes 1 and 2. This is where the 600 mm and 1 metre come from. (in relation to vehicles and and mobile agricultural machines)
This is not conclusive.

Handy , you beat me to it , but I posted anyway.

Getting fed up of 3 mobile dropping out.

Welchyboy1 · Jan 6, 2016

Well domestically with small swa circuits/submains, i will always try to clip it above ground as much as possible, i would omit rcd protection if the route is visible or buried sufficiently

if i have to bury it (avoiding high risk areas such as flower beds etc) and its not sufficiently deep, i normally just put tape above the cable run and rcd protect the swa cable

i think this is as sensible an approach as you can arrive at realistically, and is similiar to the regs with cabling buried in walls etc, if not a little safer as its obviously swa

anything serious then i would endevour to bury at an appropriate depth

sparksburnout · Jan 6, 2016

As above, you have to be realistic. I agree regarding RCD protection and maybe the regs should take account of this the same way cables in walls are. If someone has gone through a cable planting a tree, then either it was planted in a stupid place, or, more likely, the installer didn't use his common sense. Either avoid such routes or bury it appropriately. If you quoted for burying at 450mm in every situation you would either not get the job or it would be impossible anyway.

joehat · Jan 6, 2016

I quoted to go round the fence instead,
It was a new build, fcu would have fed from ring to shed with 1 double outside and one in shed with a light and this would have been 10-12 meters or so, 2 meters to shed if went under slab Ect.

Quoted £200
4 hours £120
Materials £80

He told me the previous quote £130 all in !!

Andy78 · Jan 6, 2016

joehat said:
I quoted to go round the fence instead,
It was a new build, fcu would have fed from ring to shed with 1 double outside and one in shed with a light and this would have been 10-12 meters or so, 2 meters to shed if went under slab Ect.

Quoted £200
4 hours £120
Materials £80

He told be the previous quoted £130 all in !!

Tell the customer that your price is staying, you're too cheap as it is in my opinion, and that there is a difference between a cheap job and a good value job. Let them know exactly what paperwork they should be expecting and wait for the call, either to take you on for the job or to mop up the mess afterwards.

sparksburnout · Jan 6, 2016

Sounds like they are just trying it on anyway. Why would a customer ring you up and say that? most just make a decision and you either get the job or never hear anything in my experience.

joehat · Jan 6, 2016

sparksburnout said:
Sounds like they are just trying it on anyway. Why would a customer ring you up and say that? most just make a decision and you either get the job or never hear anything in my experience.

Has 2 sparks come and quote

Andy78 · Jan 6, 2016

joehat said:
Has 2 sparks come and quote

If he wants the cheapest job done in a rush and for shelf stacker's wages then let him opt for that. Just don't let the mug who does it be you.

joehat · Jan 6, 2016

Andy78 said:
Tell the customer that your price is staying, you're too cheap as it is in my opinion, and that there is a difference between a cheap job and a good value job. Let them know exactly what paperwork they should be expecting and wait for the call, either to take you on for the job or to mop up the mess afterwards.

Yep
I said I take no short cuts and it would be to a high standard with good quality materials not thin plastic sockets Ect Ect

His face was like [emoji15] yet he was in a new 3 bed house prob £200 grand.

Octopus · Jan 6, 2016

joehat said:
I quoted to go round the fence instead,
It was a new build, fcu would have fed from ring to shed with 1 double outside and one in shed with a light and this would have been 10-12 meters or so, 2 meters to shed if went under slab Ect.

Quoted £200
4 hours £120
Materials £80

He told me the previous quote £130 all in !!

Cash most likely, no certs, etc

brenches · Dec 11, 2022

uksparks said:
I always try to aim for a minimum of 450mm when doing runs in gardens etc, but when its under a path... 300mm

There’s more than BS5761 to consider. Building Regulations and any applicable Housing Regulations such as NHBC might be applicable.

Good practice guides recommend:
Domestic- soft landscaping >450-600mm
Domestic- hard landscaping >600mm
Roads & driveways >900mm
Agricultural land >1000mm
Warning tape should be laid >300-450 with a 150 space between tape and cable.
Cable should be laid on a sand bed with sand covering to 100mm.
Where the cable rises above ground it should be protected by a duct, conduit or other suitable mechanical protection.

Midwest · Dec 11, 2022

brenches said:
There’s more than BS5761 to consider. Building Regulations and any applicable Housing Regulations such as NHBC might be applicable.

Good practice guides recommend:
Domestic- soft landscaping >450-600mm
Domestic- hard landscaping >600mm
Roads & driveways >900mm
Agricultural land >1000mm
Warning tape should be laid >300-450 with a 150 space between tape and cable.
Cable should be laid on a sand bed with sand covering to 100mm.
Where the cable rises above ground it should be protected by a duct, conduit or other suitable mechanical protection.

Don't think the OP got the job or probably given up after 6 years.

Spoon · Dec 11, 2022

brenches said:
There’s more than BS5761 to consider. Building Regulations and any applicable Housing Regulations such as NHBC might be applicable.

Good practice guides recommend:
Domestic- soft landscaping >450-600mm
Domestic- hard landscaping >600mm
Roads & driveways >900mm
Agricultural land >1000mm
Warning tape should be laid >300-450 with a 150 space between tape and cable.
Cable should be laid on a sand bed with sand covering to 100mm.
Where the cable rises above ground it should be protected by a duct, conduit or other suitable mechanical protection.

Welcome to the forum mate.
As above, best to take note of the dates of the posts.
Still its a good reference for anyone doing a search in the future.

Electro-tech · Dec 11, 2022

johnboy6083 said:
Personally, when I'm specifying projects, I use NJUG 2 as a guide to burial depths of services.

600mm swa cable depth rule

joehat

HandySparks

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ruston

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Welchyboy1

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sparksburnout

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joehat

Andy78

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sparksburnout

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joehat

Andy78

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joehat

Octopus

brenches

Midwest

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Spoon

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Electro-tech

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