Lead cables

[Tony Way]

When's the last time someone came across lead cable as a still functioning part of a lighting circuit?
Mine was Friday!!

 

[kevyn]

It is rife in sw Scotland. In my old job we rewired 5 houses in the same street one after the other. All lead no vir or anything else. There will still be some houses with lead aswell

 

[Engineer54]

I am going to a job this morning which has lead sheathed cable and cotton cloth covered wires. It also has a new 17th edition CU. I thought with wiring this old it should be condemned and replaced. It might be 60 to 100 years old. Am I to assume if it is working fine and testing fine it should be left?

It is in an old tenement in Glasgow with beautiful plaster cornices and ceiling roses. The customer bought the flat two months ago and if it is to be rewired ( lighting only) the mess will be horrendous for them.

I would assume that whoever installed the CU would have left a test cert. but somehow I doubt it, as I think the new board was simply to make things look ok for selling.

If the tails of Lead and/or TRS are in good condition and not heat damaged (usually by encased or batten holder incandescent lighting fittings, or overloading of socket outlets etc), and it's IR tests are proved good, it means that the wiring hasn't been stressed over it's long life, and will probably be good for another 30 odd years if it remains unstressed and free from heat damage..

Controversial it maybe, but if these cable's are still in good condition, then they will remain electrically sound!! lol!!!

 

[Elmer BeFuddled]

Not came across lead, but found VIR on either side of a chimney breast when doing an EICR last week forming part of the downstairs ring.

Oh, and all test results were sound.

 

[vini]

There is no requirement under building regs in Scotland to do anything about 100 year old cables. What was said to me was to look in the IEE regs. The wiring does not conform to the 17th edition regs as cables have been run on top of door frames on the surface and are located within door frames as are some switches. The insulation in the some of the switches is frayed.

However if 100 year old cables conformed to 17th edition wiring regs and tested fine, would it really be ok just to leave them?

 

[Engineer54]

There is no requirement under building regs in Scotland to do anything about 100 year old cables. What was said to me was to look in the IEE regs. The wiring does not conform to the 17th edition regs as cables have been run on top of door frames on the surface and are located within door frames as are some switches. The insulation in the some of the switches is frayed.

However if 100 year old cables conformed to 17th edition wiring regs and tested fine, would it really be ok just to leave them?

Your the electrician, ...it's your call, and the householder's of course!!

 

[vini]

Your the electrician, ...it's your call, and the householder's of course!!

In this case they do not conform. I was posing a hypothetical question. I think if it were me and the cables complied while testing within the parameters of the IEE regs I would leave them.

 

[Engineer54]

In this case they do not conform. I was posing a hypothetical question. I think if it were me and the cables complied while testing within the parameters of the IEE regs I would leave them.

I was replying to your question (in bold type) it also depends on what you mean by ''conformed'' . The wiring type probably wouldn't now, but if the cable run is sound throughout , no signs of degradation of the bared insulated cores and passes all the stipulated electrical tests, then as far as i would be concerned the cable is sound, and suitable to be left in service until the next EICR is performed on the installation....

 

[Knobhead]

vini have a look at http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...ectrical-regulations/23233-history-cable.html

 

[somersetsparks]

There is no requirement under building regs in Scotland to do anything about 100 year old cables. What was said to me was to look in the IEE regs. The wiring does not conform to the 17th edition regs as cables have been run on top of door frames on the surface and are located within door frames as are some switches. The insulation in the some of the switches is frayed.

However if 100 year old cables conformed to 17th edition wiring regs and tested fine, would it really be ok just to leave them?

I would say a surface lead cable down a doorframe would comply? I wouldn't do it now but common practise years ago, I would think lead was better then pvc for the job!

 

[Knobhead]

About 20 years back we sent some VIR cables for testing at BASEC. The cable was 50 years old then. The report came back with the bottom line “good for another 50 years”.
In the right conditions cable will last for ever.

As for the instalation method, it was acceptable at the time so it's no reason to condem it.