RCD protection for cables above a plasterboard ceiling

[TJC1]

Are there an reg for cables being above a plasterboard ceiling?

Pricing a job to move a kitchen to the other end of the house. I thought about running a 16mm T&E to a submain board instead of running 4/5 circuits back.

The old kitchen ceiling ceiling is coming down and the rest would be ran in trunking to the new kitchen. So a mixture of above a ceiling/clipped direct/in trunking

I cant see a reg other than buried in a wall that would apply..... it wont pass through any bathrooms either

T

 

[Dustydazzler]

In near every case a cable run through the fabric of the house will be buried less than 50mm at some point in the run. (Unless fully surface wiring job)
But if 100% isn’t buried less than 50mm I don’t see the need for rcd protection.
But probably would anyway imo

 

[TJC1]

In near every case a cable run through the fabric of the house will be buried less than 50mm at some point in the run. (Unless fully surface wiring job)
But if 100% isn’t buried less than 50mm I don’t see the need for rcd protection.
But probably would anyway imo

Its true. But i dont want all 5/6 circuits at the new kitchen to be on one RCD and i cant wire it in swa

 

[TJC1]

And the way i read reg 522.6.202, 522.6.204. Its 50mm " in a wall "

 

[Flanders]

I would say as long as the cable is 50mm above the ceiling and 50mm below the floor above then no issue you need to look at the building regs for where you drill the holes in the beams.

 

[Flanders]

Google Image Result for http://professional-electrician.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-10-at-11.40.17.png - https://images.app.goo.gl/6ymRjuCMM6yPALEu7 here the drawing for drilling beams

 

[ImpededLoop]

It's 522.6.201 and 522.6.204 that give the answer.

As I read it, it's either 50mm in, or an earthed metallic covering that is required.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - would the new 16mm submain be a cable in a wall?

 

[Deleted account]

Does it have to be 16mm?

Can it be 10 mm SWA with cable calcs done etc...?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Does it have to be 16mm?

Can it be 10 mm SWA with cable calcs done etc...?

I was thinking just this , a 10mm swa fits nicely through a 25mm hole and bends round corners without too much issue

 

[davesparks]

Its true. But i dont want all 5/6 circuits at the new kitchen to be on one RCD and i cant wire it in swa

How big is this kitchen? Does it really need 5/6 new circuits?
And 16mm seems rather excessive to power just one room.

 

[TJC1]

Hi - would the new 16mm submain be a cable in a wall?

As my OP says. No

Above a plasterboard ceiling, clipped direct & in trunking on a wall

 

[davesparks]

As my OP says. No

Above a plasterboard ceiling, clipped direct & in trunking on a wall

16mm implies this is quite a big, high end kitchen with a lot of big appliances, you don't find many of them in the kind of house where surface trunking is normally acceptable.

 

[PaulusQS]

Sounds like your 16mm is going to be a distribution circuit and not buried in a wall. You can always protect your final circuits with an RCD or RCBOs so if it's just above a ceiling you should get away with it