SWA Depth

[homernumber1]

New to this forum but can anybody give me the exact depth that SWA Cable should be buried at only figure i can find in 7671 is 600mm but it also says its up to situation.So is it all down to interpretation.

 

[jeremy]

Yeah man!! You Dig?

 

[Des 56]

New to this forum but can anybody give me the exact depth that SWA Cable should be buried at only figure i can find in 7671 is 600mm but it also says its up to situation.So is it all down to interpretation.

Nope ...

 

[tbs1983]

I always thought it was below 450mm but might be wrong.

But id say good practice would be to go to at least 600, with a layer of sand around cable and of course the yellow cable tape higher up

 

[Guest111]

there are various factors governing the depth of a buried cable,such as wether the ground is likely to be disturbed or not in other words bury it deeper if going through a flower bed than under a concrete path for example,IIRC there isnt a specific depth for a cable you install yourself,common sense applies the regs on depth are I believe for utility cables.however all cables should be bedded in sand then filled with clean soil followed by a warning tape before finally filling in completely.

 

[homernumber1]

Brilliant thanks all for reply's this Forum works

 

[Geordie Spark]

Brilliant thanks all for reply's this Forum works

Some of the forum members do too.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Have a weekend away trip to the seaside with TB and dig his trench for him.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Have a weekend away trip to the seaside with TB and dig his trench for him.

Best not ..... I may find myself sharing the bottom of the trench with the cable - unless of course she decides to nick it & weigh it in.

 

[Engineer54]

Direct burying in general garden installations is fraught with dangers, actual Depth is only one of them. I would say 90% of garden installs have no sand bed, let alone around the cable. most will not have the floor of the trench free of sharp stone or other debris. Most wont have cable tape, and 99% won't have cable tile protection!! I also doubt if a sheath test is conducted either, as most newer electricians haven't been taught, know about, or know how to conduct a sheath test!! lol!!

So depth isn't the only aspect to be aware of, in the direct burial of SWA cables!!

 

[RmBo_0]

I'll admit I've never been taught a sheath test. How do you do one?

 

[Elmer BeFuddled]

I'll admit I've never been taught a sheath test. How do you do one?

Blow it up. If it burst, don't use it!!

However, domestic is a double dig depth so to ensure safety 2', or to be European 600mm. Anything else 3' or a metre. Learnt that when Jesus left Kilmarnock and I'll not change.

 

[Knobhead]

I'll admit I've never been taught a sheath test. How do you do one?

Disconnect both ends of the SWA from earth. IR test between the armours and a known earth, I used 500V for this. If it fails, then sorry the sheath is compromised and you’ll have to find out where. You can get cable bandage or self-amalgamating tape to make the repair. Leave it and water penetration will corrode the armours.

 

[telectrix]

tony, what reading would you consider to be a minimum for it not to fail?

 

[Knobhead]

As I’ve only done it on new cables (that I can remember) I would be looking for >500M Ώ. But you’ve got to allow for cable size and length and also allow for charging time as with any decent cable run.