Loft Wiring

[rantoftheday]

I'm running lighting cables in a loft for new lights but the problem is that the insulation is the ancient type glass itchy wool and there aint a lot of room to move in loft

Would it be acceptable to drill holes through the joists in loft and feed the lighting T and E through rather than clipping with t and E clips?

Or do cables have to be clipped?

 

[DurhamSparky]

in the loft they can be clipped, shoved through joists or even just flung across the beams...!! although the latter seems to be the norm in some houses!

 

[rantoftheday]

but tidilly through joists would be acceptable?

 

[Robinson]

Cables Do not have to be clipped but you would need to ensure that your drilled holes comply with Approved Doc A (structure)
I believe it is for location Centre Line, 0.25 to 0.4 of span and maximum size of 0.25 x depth of joist. Holes in same joist 3 diameters apart.
You cannot cut holes or notches in roof rafters (but think there is area you can under certain circumstances).

Hope this helps

 

[DurhamSparky]

if you do cut holes or notches just say they were already there and you just ran your cables where pipes used to be!!

 

[Robinson]

Dont forget to consider the cable size your using if there is loft insulation on top, as the current carrying cap
of cables will be effect under these conditions

 

[mayfair]

Also affected will be your arms, ankles, eyes and any other part that the insulation can get into Barrier Cream a must.
l

Dont forget to consider the cable size your using if there is loft insulation on top, as the current carrying cap
of cables will be effect under these conditions

 

[Robinson]

Also affected will be your arms, ankles, eyes and any other part that the insulation can get into Barrier Cream a must.
l

GOOOSH yes i have a house hold dust allergy and a intolerable reaction to loft insul....i kINDA HAVE to go into loft like a nuclear reactor worker. Have been know to scare a client or two......ONE thing i tell ya the respirator..get a good one, because you WILL pay the price if you dont. maybe not now but you will...

 

[JamesBrownLive]

I'm running lighting cables in a loft for new lights but the problem is that the insulation is the ancient type glass itchy wool and there aint a lot of room to move in loft

Would it be acceptable to drill holes through the joists in loft and feed the lighting T and E through rather than clipping with t and E clips?

Or do cables have to be clipped?

Can I ask why you are so against clipping? Surely clipping the cable is preferable to having to drill lots of holes?

 

[telectrix]

or .............. clip cables to roof timbers above the crap ad drop in pvc tube to ceiling. not recommended for high lofts, but if, as you say, there's not much space above the itchy-poo, gets around the derating problem as well.

 

[Octopus]

Surely clipping has to be easier than drilling!

 

[telectrix]

i can't see the point of putting all this crap into a loft to save a few quid on gas and electric bills, then installing a 10.5MW shower and a 15GW cooking range, then struggling to get the ridiculously sized cable into enclosures designed for half the size.

 

[nickblake]

Im just trying to figue out why you want to drill holes like tel has said clip to the rafters , if you drill holes through ceiling joists the then you could be in the poo depending on the size of the joists in older houses they were 3 inch so how you going to get that 50mm from either surface dont forget they could board the loft , as for the itchy stuff , just one of those pleasures of being an electrician nice hot day spend it all in the loft ,should be banned simple as and use the stuff i installed in my house made from plastic recycled bottles no itch not coughing didnt need a mask either , well comfy too coud have nodded off on it

 

[nickblake]

i can't see the point of putting all this crap into a loft to save a few quid on gas and electric bills, then installing a 10.5MW shower and a 15GW cooking range, then struggling to get the ridiculously sized cable into enclosures designed for half the size.

its to keep the heat from escaping why else do we drill loads of holes for extract fans ,

 

[Des 56]

I would to be very reluctant to even consider notching or drilling holes in the beams in an attic space
They are there not to just have plasterboards pinned to them,but as part of the roof support structure