House rewired - find cables were run just under floorboards

[Lewis123]

Hello,


A few years ago I had my house rewired and received a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate from the installer. I've recently had to raise some floorboards and now see that the installer in many cases ran cables through notches in the joists and these cables are not protected from nails that might be hammered through the floorboards. I believe this is against wiring regulations. Also some cables run in notches side-by-side with hot central heating pipes which doesn't seem safe to me. I have only just discovered this and I haven't yet contacted the installer. Can anyone advise me about the sort of remedial work I should be asking for?


Thanks,


Lewis

 

[D80]

To the OP - why have you got the floorboards up?

 

[sjm]

Where did this idea of notches "in the centre of the floorboard" come from??
Cables passing through a joist must be 50mm from the surface or protected from penetration by the use of a plate, as others have said, be in earthed steel conduit or have an earthed metallic covering.

 

[telectrix]

many years ago, before my time, even, cables were singles, run it wooden channel, notched into the joints. the wood channelling would be installed by a carpenter ( now known as wood butchers), so he would know where not to nail. at the time, the only form of central heating was an overcoat, so no problems with plumbers either.

 

[Lewis123]

Thanks for useful replies. To answer one, the rewiring was done about six years ago. And to answer an earlier one, I'm not looking for ammunition, I'm just trying to get an idea of what it's reasonable to expect which is why I asked this forum before taking the matter up with the installer.

Lewis

 

[mickys86]

Let us know the outcome please

 

[Darkwood]

The notches may be existing and utilised for the rewire, this maintains the integrity of the joist as it may not be possible to re-drill holes without compromising the structural integrity of the joist.... as said above; you need to discuss this with installer for his reasoning.

 

[Amp David]

I've just first fixed a rewire and reused the existing notches. Had to, floor joists are only just over 3 inches deep! All notches are positioned in the middle of the super wide floor boards and as all ceilings had been dropped, there was no way i was lifting boards to plate over the notches.

Went back a day or 2 later and my plumber friend needed to get his heating, cold and hot feeds around the house, so guess what, 4 lots off 25mm holes drilled no more then 20mm apart to get his pipes through.

What is that all about. TBH i've given up wasting time worrying over little things like this, more important things to be getting on with.

 

[mozzo]

The installer would have the answers for doing the work the way he has but on another note people are generally looking to go for the cheaper price for an installation and installers are bringing prices down to get the work. How many people out there make a choice based on quality of work and professionalism and are prepared to pay more to get a high standard of finish that will usually take more time and cost more in materials. Not saying this example is due to a cheap install but these are the problems that are out there that is contributing to work not being done to code. Half the problems you see people requesting help on sites like rated people is probably down to cheap installs, wrong materials and erection methods etc as a result of going for cheap price. As I say how many people go for quality which generally = more money as the first choice

 

[Amp David]

Hardly anyone nowadays

 

[cbw]

WHY on earth would you want to drill a hole next to a perfectly good notch???

Always reuse existing holes/notches

And am I old fashoined with the notches in first 25%, holes in the next 50% and then notches in the last 25% again, with restrictions on the very edges and center???