NYY Buried Cable - Legit job?

[OsramMyers]

Hi, Ive had a NAPIT qualified electrician out to install a new feed to the garage along with a new consumer unit in there. Its a short distance of around 6m and the cable he used was a 16mm NYY cable, it has been directly buried around 300mm depth with yellow warning tape, It goes under a few paving slabs but mostly its a graveled area.

Is this installation totally 100% in accordance with current building regulations/standards?

When he came to quote I asked for armored cable, he even specced SWA in the written quote but on the day I noticed it was this NYY cable. He said its all OK and he has passed the Part P certificate onto my local authority. When I questioned him after the job he said its easier to use and bend and things have changed over the years and this cable is fine to use in the installation. He said there is no price difference too.

What are people's thughts?

 

[pc1966]

Another no vote from me, sorry. There has been a misunderstanding of the Regulations to think unarmored cable is suitable for direct burial.

Also it is often not clear from the cable suppliers that this is the case, for example here it has no mentioned of the BS wiring regs:

IEC60502-1 VDE 0276-603 NYY-J CABLE

NYY-J Cable is a non armoured mains cable that can be installed indoors where there is little chance of mechanical damage. It can be installed in open air, underground, in water and also in brickwork and concrete with the exception of shaken, vibrated or compressed concrete. IEC60502-1 VDE...

www.superlecdirect.com

"NYY-J Cable is a non armoured mains cable that can be installed indoors where there is little chance of mechanical damage. It can be installed in open air, underground, in water and also in brickwork and concrete with the exception of shaken, vibrated or compressed concrete."

Where has here they say the cable is suitable for direct burial in many cases, but point out the BS regs don't allow it without additional physical protection:

NYY-J & NYY-O Cable | Eland Cables

View Eland Cables' comprehensive range of NYY-J and NYY-O European fixed installation PVC cables. Technical support, fast quote and fast delivery.

www.elandcables.com

"These are widely used European power and control cables designed for fixed wiring installation with a voltage rating of 600/1000V. They can be safely deployed in most applications where mechanical stresses are not anticipated – indoors, outdoors, direct burial underground, in concrete, or submerged in water. When NYY cables are required to comply with the UK wiring regulations BS7671 for burial in the ground, they require installation in a conduit or duct to provide protection against mechanical damage. They are not suitable for installation in concrete which is shaken, vibrated or compressed."

The armour of SWA is not just for mechanical protection. In the event of a cable penetration accident with a spade, pick, mechanical digger, etc, it serves to short out the supply and cause it to disconnect on the over-current protection (supply fuse or MCB). Often such sub-mains do not have RCD protection as it is down-stream in the garage CU, etc, making that a very important point.

 

[IAmSparkytus!]

It's a 'no' from me if there's no mechanical protection, unfortunately.

Think the OP was hoping for nothing but good news though if they've been given advice against what has been done and isn't going to do anything with it. Would have been better off not asking and sticking with ignorance is bliss! ?

 

[littlespark]

Give him a chance to report the guy!

It was late last night that the 100% confirmation that this is wrong, and most people sleep overnight.

He may give the electrician one more chance to put right (all correspondences in writing!) before going to NAPIT.

 

[DPG]

Give him a chance to report the guy!

It was late last night that the 100% confirmation that this is wrong, and most people sleep overnight.

He may give the electrician one more chance to put right (all correspondences in writing!) before going to NAPIT.

I know what you mean, but also read post 8.

 

[littlespark]

Yes. I read #8, and no reply from him since then, even though there was plenty input from the forum.

I’m hoping he is thinking about it, and will confront the spark ASAP.

I just don’t think we should assume he’s ignoring us just because he hasn’t replied from 7pm yesterday. You never know, he might have a life that doesn’t involve sitting on a forum all night.

All I’m saying is wait a few days. ?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I've been thinking of playing devils advocate and trying to come up with reasons why it may possibly be ok.... but I can't think of any.

It needs to have mechanical protection in order to comply with BS7671.

Chances are it may be fine under slabs and gravel, but that's not really the point. It's a bit like saying it'll probably be fine if you drive around without a seatbelt, probably will be, but you wouldn't do it for various reasons.

I feel uncomfortable judging about someone who I have never met, and only hearing one side of the story. We may be missing something. @OsramMyers I would ask for a copy of his complaints procedure which is mandatory to have for a registered electrician. I would then follow that procedure. As part of that process you could ask him to change the cable. If he again says it's ok to use you can then quote regulation 522.8.10 (from BS7671) which clearly shows it is not acceptable in its present state.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Yes. I read #8, and no reply from him since then, even though there was plenty input from the forum.

I’m hoping he is thinking about it, and will confront the spark ASAP.

I just don’t think we should assume he’s ignoring us just because he hasn’t replied from 7pm yesterday. You never know, he might have a life that doesn’t involve sitting on a forum all night.

All I’m saying is wait a few days. ?

Eh? ?

 

[OsramMyers]

Update -

Thank you for all the replies. I have dropped an email just a moment ago to NAPIT via their website and will await their response.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Update -

Thank you for all the replies. I have dropped an email just a moment ago to NAPIT via their website and will await their response.

When you hear back from them @OsramMyers , could you let us know their reply please? We like updates ?.

 

[OsramMyers]

Update:

Spoke to NAPIT on the phone and the installation is fine. Because its 300mm deep and its a tough cable its OK. Bit shocked really.

I've asked the electrician to replace it all with SWA anyway as outlined in the quote.

 

[DPG]

Update:

Spoke to NAPIT on the phone and the installation is fine. Because its 300mm deep and its a tough cable its OK. Bit shocked really.

I've asked the electrician to replace it all with SWA anyway as outlined in the quote.

Strange, NAPIT seem to be over cautious on certain other things.

Good that the sparky is going to come back to correct things though. Thanks for the update.

 

[westward10]

I would like to say I am surprised but I am not they are totally incorrect with their comments.

 

[DPG]

I would like to say I am surprised but I am not they are totally incorrect with their comments.

It's OK Westy, 'it's a tough cable', so it'll be fine! Scary that a recognised body gives this advice out.

 

[telectrix]

probably be fine for 40 years but it's non-compliant with BS7671.

 

[brianmoooore]

300mm isn't my idea of a 'safe depth'.