Running cables with loft insulation.

[YTSOxford]

Hi guys,

Just wondering how the rest of you are running cables in the loft space - as I am seeing more and more lofts with the double layer of insulation (as the government is recommending) .

So clipping to the cieling timbers still means the cable is burried under insulation.

And don't want to lay over top incase they use the loft for storage and cables get damaged.

Cheers lads.

 

[sparks1234]

With great difficulty if the insulation is already there, but if you are there before the insulation goes in then clipped as normal to the joists.
They have made it difficult for the sparky as moving that stuff is horrible

 

[chris gray]

With great difficulty if the insulation is already there, but if you are there before the insulation goes in then clipped as normal to the joists.
They have made it difficult for the sparky as moving that stuff is horrible

tell me about it, im the little lad so get the loft and under the floor jobs.
i try and gather it all up and out of the way before i crack on then put it back after - never looks like it did

 

[Sanke]

Could you nail batten to the underside of the rafters and then clip the cable to this ?

 

[chris gray]

Could you nail batten to the underside of the rafters and then clip the cable to this ?

its hard enough getting the right amount of cable out of my boss never mind timber battens

 

[Markc]

We clip higher up on the trusses. Like the underside of the roof felt and up and over the ridge. I’ve seen gutter laid on top of the insulation and the cables laid in that but it seemed a bit OTT. Mr NIC was happy with our solution to the problem but didn’t see a major issue with lighting cables under the insulation. I think the bigger issue is insulation in the floor voids as this is where the majority of cables are. We clip higher up the joist as our thinking is the insulation is pushed up from below so there is more of a chance of an air gap at the top. We still drill centre of joist so not really any way out of it.

As far as I’m a wear a loft is now not deemed as a storage area any more due to the amount of insulation but try telling that to a new home owner!

 

[ezzzekiel]

put it back after - never looks like it did

lol i know always ends up looking a heap of mess

 

[Des 56]

Hi guys,

Just wondering how the rest of you are running cables in the loft space - as I am seeing more and more lofts with the double layer of insulation (as the government is recommending) .

So clipping to the cieling timbers still means the cable is burried under insulation.

And don't want to lay over top incase they use the loft for storage and cables get damaged.

Cheers lads.

Dont worry too much about it,advise I have read and listened to seems to consider
the type of insulation used in lofts having little thermal effect on cables

The people who shove the stuff over our existing cables are not particularly bothered and they are supposed to know of these things

 

[steamboatwilly]

Yeah, tricky area and it'll happen more and more because loft insulation is such a heavily subsidised improvement presently. As Des says the instalers just roll the stuff out with zero regard - it seems - for cable and spotlight installation.

If you're worried you can always up-rate the cable or down-rate the MCB.