European wiring

[Carlosfandango]

The house we currently rent was built by a polish company using polish workers and materials. Basically it's a kit house that's sent over. The build quality is excellent but tonight I discovered a leak so had to take off a socket. The wiring is all in European type cable which looks like flex with solid cores. The cpc looks to be the same csa as the lives. The socket backboxes are round plastic with 2 side by side to make a double ( everyone follow?) The db has a SELECT sticker and has been signed off by a contractor. What's everyone's take on this as I have the option to buy the house next year. Obviously it wouldn't be a problem to change the backboxes to metal or fastfix. Would this make any difference to the value and should it be pointed out to who ever comes to value the house (the lower the better for me). The house was built in 2008. Just looking for other people's opinions really.

 

[Carlosfandango]

All I was really looking for was people's opinions on the non UK wiring. I guess it's as good as ours, just different!!

 

[DPG]

I would have thought the back boxes were not being used as the manufacturer intended, which would make it incorrect. Not sure about wiring. Someone will comment soon I'm sure. I would have thought if the houses (complete with electrics etc.) were being imported into this country then they would have to meet UK standards/regs etc. You would hope so anyway. Daz

 

[Rockingit]

Honestly, I think you're all being a tad over-dramatic with this. Just because something is a bit different doesn't make it wrong or dangerous. Who cares what shape or size a backbox is so long as it's doing the job of safely holding the plate on the wall? Want to wire me up using a thicker cpc?? Great! I've now got a lower R1R2.

And so on.

I think some of you need to blow the dust off your passports and realise that there's a whole big world of alternatives out there.

 

[Knobhead]

There’s a simple solution to this, don’t buy the bloody house!

Dear god, what a load of claptrap.

 

[Carlosfandango]

There’s a simple solution to this, don’t buy the bloody house!

Dear god, what a load of claptrap.

Thanks for your input!
Was just looking for some advice on something I'd never come across!!

 

[micknew]

There’s a simple solution to this, don’t buy the bloody house!

Dear god, what a load of claptrap.

Too many DIYers hoping to save money by not employing professional's unfortunately.

 

[Carlosfandango]

Too many DIYers hoping to save money by not employing professional's unfortunately.

What's that got to do with anything??

 

[davesparks]

Too many DIYers hoping to save money by not employing professional's unfortunately.

Eh? The houses have been built abroad and then shipped here as modular units to be put together, how is that DIYers not employing pro's?

I think bodgeing 2 back boxes together sounds a bit suspicious if it doesn't actually form the enclosure properly.
But questioning the use of European cable in Europe is a bit of a non-starter really.

 

[bigdavs83]

When you say it's like flex but solid cores is it FP200?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Imagine the cores of T+E, all the same gauge and with green/yellow insulation on the CPC, in a round PVC sheath. Or as the OP says, like flex but with solid cores. Bog standard in mainland Europe, personally I rather like it.

 

[Engineer54]

Most of the European round plastic back boxes i've come across, usually have claw grips to catch/dig in to the side of the boxes rather than machine screw fixings, which are fine when new, but fail miserably after removing the faceplate a couple of times. Socket face plates are not unknown to become loose and pull out of the back boxes too, if the plug top is a tight fit into the receptacle. As for the type of wiring, if anything the round 3 core cable is superior to the UK's T&E as they generally come with all cores being of the the same CSA....

 

[ElectroChem]

I'm curious now, is it required to have an enclosed back box for socket outlets in Britain? Here in Australia domestic GPOs are generally just screwed to a bracket to hold on the wall, they'd only be shrouded/boxed if externally mounted or in proximity to other services.

 

[mydigitalhome]

Back box forms part of the noise and fire protection of a wall. Thus it is important that a snug fit is maintained and the integrity of the building is not compromised.

 

[shanky887614]

Back box forms part of the noise and fire protection of a wall. Thus it is important that a snug fit is maintained and the integrity of the building is not compromised.

then how come they are covered in holes in backboxes?

its the accessory that creates the fire barrier

 

[Adam W]

I don't see the problem with the cable - in the past, houses have been wired in singles in conduit, and even MI.