Passing cables through backboxes

[Crosswire]

Am in a situation where the customer wants all accessories aligned vertically, so as to be pleasing to the eye.

In order to do this, and also make sure that the cables are run in the safe zones, I would have to run the cables for a socket through the backbox of a fan isolater located directly above it.

Is there any Reg against doing this?

Cheers!

 

[telectrix]

can you not go behind the fan backbox. only reason i see wrong with going through the back box is if the cable running through is in a different circuit to the fan isolator.

 

[Richard]

I'v always just gone around the box in question. I appreiciate that on the corners of the box, you are technically not in the safe zone, but in reallity what are you supposed to do? What about marking the back box to show the position of cables?

 

[Crosswire]

Cant go behind as is a solid brick wall, and don't want to damage cables screwing back box on top of cables.

They are on different circuits, but are the same phase, so no 400v present

 

[lamb]

Options:

1, Do the drop in steel conduit, SWA or flexishield and stay out of the safe zone of fan switch
2, Do both drops in a zone 150mm from internal corner and then horizontally to each accessory
3, Do at least one of the drops from the reverse side of the wall
4, Do the drops deeper than 50mm recessed into the wall if structure allows and avoid safe zone

 

[telectrix]

my only concern is that if the fan circuit were isolated for maintenance, there would still be 230v within it's isolator enclosure.

 

[BillyTheSparks]

Are you keeping the edges of the boxes inline with each other?
If so then why not come out of the socket backbox to one side, so that the cables will run to one side of the single back box of the fan isolator. ( I'm thinking of a 2gang socket). I'm not saying come out of the side of the socket backbox

 

[Lou7]

run the cables around the fan box.

 

[somersetsparks]

Well, not sure if its right but if you were using t+e, personally I wouldn't worry as long as the outer sheath of the T+e is not broken.
T+E is ok clipped to a wall so I can't see a problem with it really, I would then put a 2-circuits present label in the back boxes.
If it was singles then it would be a big no-no!
All IMO sure some will disagree!

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Just run the cables through the back box.
What's the big deal?

 

[Crosswire]

Thanks for the replies guys, thought it would be ok, just wanted to check

 

[Spudnik]

I would also run them through, however, there is a reg somewhere that kinda explains that you should not do this.

It is not written in a way that says it directly, so it will take some time to find.

 

[Crosswire]

If you do find it, please let me know

Cheers!

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Ditto.

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Thrice ditto. I'm not aware of any regulation precluding the suggested through T+E cable, provided the cables within the accessory are at the same voltage and phase, otherwise segregation might be necessary (512.2). Through wiring of luminaires is restricted however (559.6.2).