Safe Zones?

[whazza22]

Does anyone have a diagram or information on safe zones for running cables?

Im rewiring a house and can get access under the floorboards for the bathroom and one bedroom. However, the house has two steps on the landing to get to the other two bedrooms. I cannot go under the floorboards but could run through the bathroom wall about 300mm up from floor (due to bedroom being on higher level). The exisiting wiring is clipped along the skirting.

Would this be acceptable or is it against the regs?

 

[JUD]

Safe zones are in line (horizontally and vertically) with accessories, 150mm down from ceiling and 150mm in from the internal corner of two adjoining walls.

If the other side of a partition wall can be accessed by a door the safe zone extends to that side also.

Any cables run outside of these safe zones must be mechanically protected by earthed metallic conduit etc.

 

[whazza22]

Would galvanised steel capping be classed as mechanical protection?

Are you allowed to wire under the floor in a bathroom? (will be just inside door, not under bath)

 

[Amp David]

Would galvanised steel capping be classed as mechanical protection?

Are you allowed to wire under the floor in a bathroom? (will be just inside door, not under bath)

No and yes.

 

[JUD]

Would galvanised steel capping be classed as mechanical protection?
No. Capping is meant to protect cables from plasterer's trowell. Any mechanical protection needs to be earthed....SWA / Earthed metallic conduit etc.

Are you allowed to wire under the floor in a bathroom? (will be just inside door, not under bath)
Yes. No problem wiring under floor as long as any cables are ≥ 50mm below floor and above ceiling and clear of any pipes etc.

My GREEN

 

[sparkylad]

Would galvanised steel capping be classed as mechanical protection? Not for the purposes of reg 522.6.6 RCD protection would be required

Are you allowed to wire under the floor in a bathroom? (will be just inside door, not under bath)

.Yes as long as cables are deeper than 50mm or protected with safe plates if run in slots and under the floor under the bath is permitted.

sparkylad.

 

[whazza22]

Can notches still be cut out in joists or do they have to be drilled?

What about when your pulling cables in from one side of the room to the other, do you clip them or just leave them resting on ceiling?

The >50mm would mean that every other floorboard would need to be lifted. The whole house will be RCD protected

 

[sparkylad]

Notches are acceptable ,with safe plates and as long as they are within the required span areas of the joists and within the required joist depth to notch ratio [ building regs [ ]

Sparkylad.

 

[JUD]

The 50mm rule is only for cables passing through a joist or ceiling support where it could be damaged by fixings (screws/nails etc.)

See Reg 522.6.5 (page 100 BRB)