down lights

[rtonne10]

Hi there,

I am re-wiring my cousins lighting (he wants spots everywhere), I work on industrial/commercial so not as up to speed with domestic. for the lights downstairs I can't get floorboards up so I have found where the joists are and have put a 20mm hole through the joists as close to the centre as I can but not been able to put in any protection e.g. metal conduit. and also re-positioned the switches. the cables aren't 50mm deep and I will probably have cables lying on the ceiling between joists. Is this ok as the CU is RCD protected. Floor can't come up as has just been laminated.

Thanks

rtonne10

 

[philip962]

Check the building regs don't think you can put it through the center of the joist but sound to late the onsite guide will tell you about rcd protection

 

[rtonne10]

Just check the Scottish Building regs. You can put hole through the joists as long as it is on the neutral axis (in the centre so that should be fine). My taking on the regs are that if cables are not mechanically protected but are protected with an RCD then they can be ran at a depth of less than 50mm. Was just wanting to make sure I was not mis-understanding them.

Thanks for the reply I will check the on site guide when I get home to confirm.

 

[Steve1412]

In the true vague way of the regs the statement about 50mm depth in walls or partitions is true if protected by RCD as per 522.6.6 and .7 but it does not give you that benefit for cables run in cielings or under floors...unless one of our Regs gurus can enlighten me???

 

[rtonne10]

Another take on it could possibly be that you are not going to put nails/screws through your ceiling or floor (well as often as you would with walls) so the risk is significantly reduced.

Don't know what do you think.

Will double check tonight before I start running cables. There are 18 spots in the downstairs so don't want to bust my hump and find out it has to come out.

So much easier when you have the space and time to put in conduit.

 

[ukpablo]

if u are extending the cct, who will test and sign it off?

is it in a special location i.e kitchen?

if so, needs rcd protection. or rcbo. this would solve ur problem.

 

[GStueyXR]

is it in a special location i.e kitchen?

Kitchen is no longer considered a special location.

 

[robsparky1975]

No kitchen work is just part p notifiable,infact any new downlights have to be notified(if memory serves me right) even if in any room other than bathrooms/kitchens,probably to stop diyers chucking em in with poor wiring,sure u know about using 17th edition jbs if needed with them,i done 100 on last rewire,phew,

 

[rtonne10]

The work is in Scotland. It is included on the building warrant so wil have to be verified by Building Control before they give a completion cert.

Thanks

 

[rtonne10]

Thanks for the replies has helped.