Cables in cavities (Sorry!)

[FUSEServices]

Hi all.

Want to get this clear once and for all!!

Can you run unprotected cables through or along or down a cavity?

I have seen what the polystyrene stuff does to cables, also replaced someones alarm cable today that had been munched on inside the cavity!!

Sorry to start this one off again - what's the opinion? I ALWAYS install 20mm conduit as I have done today!

Kev

Okay - no one is biting here, so I'll cut to the chase. Please have a look at this site and the video that's on it - unbelievable if you ask me, but what's the general opinion out there?

MagnaMole - Talpa Products Ltd - Home

 

[roukel01]

agree with Des, I've popped cables through walls for years, and my old man's been doing it for 35, and I don't ever recall being called back to one problem.

Infact, I don't think I've ever seen any conduit through a wall in this area, so I recon no one else round here does it either!

 

[chocolate]

I see loads of electricians pass cables through and across cavity walls without the blink of an eye. As long as it's not polystyrene insulation - as the chemicals used to make polystyrene and polyvinylchloride ( PVC ) react together to produce something not so useful to an electrician - or something similar.

Ideally, some PVC tube through the wall to completely enclose the cable, will do nicely.

Assess the location and make a professional judgement.

 

[martinxxxxxx]

Very useful debate. I will be using a bit f oval in future

Thanks Martin

 

[FUSEServices]

Very useful debate. I will be using a bit f oval in future

Thanks Martin

Cheers Martin! It really is no hassle to do! Job's a good 'un, and done well. No comeback, no problems!!

 

[roukel01]

how much damage does polystyrene cause when it comes into contact with PVC cable? We had to rewire an office when we were asked to pop in a couple of extra floor sockets and found an NIC contractor had wired the entire office sockets and laid the cables under the floor in direct contact with polystyrene insulation sheets! They had stuck together but there were no visable signs of serious damage, but I was wondering just how much damage can be caused?

 

[FUSEServices]

I dont want to get into a slanging match with you especially about something so trivial in the scheme of safety issues that its no big deal, cavity or not, conduit or not, acrobatic rodents I might concede

The likelyhood is that the cable will be twin +earth and if the insulation deteriorated the breakdown would most probably occur between a live/neutral and earth rather than live-neutral
This type of fault can occur anywhere at any time and the protective devices should operate in a system to prevent danger of fire,so yes I am not telling but suggesting that a fuse or rcd will go before a fire starts,not certain but very probable
I have rarely seen rodent damage that becomes more than an occasional nuisanse and dont consider them as too much of a problem or I would install cable that suited the expected environment
Cables in cavities in conduit or not in conduit are very unlikely to have any form of support,this as you know is a requirement of the regs that is being thrown aside domestic or not
I run cables straight through with no conduit and I probably breach a few building regs doing so,but I dont consider it has any or very few implications for electrical safety,perhaps bending a few regs to perform in the real world
As I said earlier,more of a structural problem than anything electrical safety related
Well thats my take on it,your wellcome to yours and will get no critisism from me

Mate

Thanks Des,


Sorry if I came across a bit arrogant - didn't mean to.

However, in the time it took you to write the few paragraphs of defence you have, you could have had a fool proof installation and put a bit of conduit through a wall without any comebacks!!!

No offence mate!

If they have stuck together, what next??? If the insulation is that knackered, then it is not fit for the purpose it was intended for. Have you seen the NIC video???? Enough said about NIC and their contractors / members.

If they have stuck together, what next??? If the insulation is that knackered, then it is not fit for the purpose it was intended for. Have you seen the NIC video???? Enough said about NIC and their contractors / members.