Downlights/Spots replaced with pendant - is cable OK?

[ydrol]

Hi my dining room is two rooms knocked into one. About 20ft by 10ft.

I recently had an electrician replace 6 rather ugly down-lights (R80 spots) with two pendants at each end, as I plan to rent the house at some point in the future, and this would be more practical and economical arrangement.

Anyway, The electricians had to run new cables (spurs?) to the pendant locations, I was happy with the work but my mate said that he thinks the cable is too flush to the ceiling.

Note that I am getting a plasterer to skim the ceiling flat in the near future to give it a modern look. The electrician was aware of this.

What do you think , should the cables have been recessed more?

 

[yellowvanman]

There is no safe zone in ceilings or floors! Could have used BS8436 cable.

 

[telectrix]

or SWA.:willy_nilly:

 

[DPG]

Cables above ceilings wouldn't normally get damaged because they are normally just draped on top and they would be pushed out of the way by a drawing pin or nail. These ones are up against the joists and so cannot move. I don't like it, and wouldn't want it like that in my house or in one I was renting out. Now is the time to get it right - as Davesparks says above, the ceiling is being plastered anyway, so nice and easy. Daz

 

[YoungBart]

With the ceiling being plastered anyway I'd not normally consider the floorboards above, just make holes in the ceiling. Unless of course there's a loft above

Would agree with that, either way I don't like the way this has been done.

 

[telectrix]

i done it like that once. brand new house. artex ceiling and laminate floor above. no way was the customer going to accept 4" holes in the ceiling. ( i did notch the joists though, so it would require a nail longer tha 1" to reach the cable).

 

[slingshot2000]

i done it like that once. brand new house. artex ceiling and laminate floor above. no way was the customer going to accept 4" holes in the ceiling. ( i did notch the joists though, so it would require a nail longer tha 1" to reach the cable).[/QUOTE

Notching the bottom of the joist? I am sure Building Regs would love that !

 

[ydrol]

looks like artex to me, may have asbestos in it so be careful if you want to do any big holes. better left alone in my opinion, just dont bang any nails into that ceiling...

It looks like the Artex circles around the holes where the R80 spots were, so I'm guessing this is from the 90s.

 

[StevieTee]

Who exactly is your "mate"?

By any chance are they another one of these specialist all round multi trade folk?....

 

[ydrol]

Who exactly is your "mate"?

By any chance are they another one of these specialist all round multi trade folk?....

He is a social friend, and has no electricians qualifications, visiting -er- 'socially', saw the wiring and commented, and was going to run it by one of his electrician contacts for an opinion, instead I posted in a couple of electricians forums. Is that ok with you?

 

[Midwest]

Yes, I'm trying to get the age of the Artex checked, but I suspect it is around 2000.

Good point about the asbestos. Depends on where you get your information, asbestos is said to be used in textured decorative coatings, up to the mid 80's. But other advice says it may or may not have been used after 2000. The only way to be sure, is to have it tested. It's not just the tradesperson who can contaminated by cutting, drilling etc, but the remaining dust particles can contaminate the householder.

Think we are all guilty. Problem is it's a secret killer.

PS Not the first time this issue has been raised on this forum, but we do tend to put it to one side.

 

[hightower]

Lazy maybe, but as tel says early, how is this any worse than a switch drop?

 

[Delboybully]

Lazy maybe, but as tel says early, how is this any worse than a switch drop?

Because safe zones tell you the cable may be there. No safe zones in ceilings. My opinion is that if there are no safe zones in ceilings then there is nowhere where you can run cables like this. All cables >50mm from bottom of ceiling for me.

Also what happens at christmas with decorations with held up with drawing pins.

 

[ydrol]

Electrician came back today and sorted it FOC. One of the new holes slightly impinges on the Joist. but tapers away from it.
I think I can live with that.
Many thanks for your responses