SWA in drain permissable?

[dksanders]

Hi All,

I've been asked to get a supply for a car park PIR light across the car park entrance from the existing light. The only way across would be by running the SWA cable in a drain that runs across the driveway (see picture).

Is there any reason that I shouldn't do that? I can't think of any regulation of the top of my head that prohibits it.

TIA

 

[The Ghost]

Not deep enough?

 

[telectrix]

is the drain likely to be dug into with a spade?

 

[Ian1981]

A drain is for drainage and not for cable runs as far as I’m concerned.
It’s a bit rough I’d say as I don’t like the idea of water in contact and maybe covering the cable.
Also proximity to other services although not water pipes I wouldn’t do it.

 

[pirate]

Compacted debris will build up over time, and traffic will compress it into the SWA...sharp gravel, sand, general grit and debris...doesn't look like a great idea...
however, running it in a steel conduit?

 

[telectrix]

maybe run it in some heavy gauge plastic ducting.

 

[westward10]

That is not s drain it is a soak away plus that is not the only way across.

 

[The Ghost]

It looks like that drain is starting to break up anyway. The cement is cracking around it. Not a good future for the cable. Maybe use it and dig deeper than. But regs say 450mm don't they?

 

[Colin33]

I'd be tempted to break out the concrete one side of that drain, lay the swa in some plastic ducting, then concrete over. You may find that existing concrete breaks out really easily, and at least then the cable can be withdrawn/replaced easily in the future.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

why not just whack a pole in the ground and put a solar powered one on it? the council have been fitting them around here in the car parks and park and rides. give out a good amount of light too , the solar panel is not too large either.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - I wouldn't do it - I could reasonably foresee the gully needing cleaning out and or collapsing. And then there's the warning tape ...

 

[dksanders]

is the drain likely to be dug into with a spade?

Hardly

 

[dksanders]

A drain is for drainage and not for cable runs as far as I’m concerned.
It’s a bit rough I’d say as I don’t like the idea of water in contact and maybe covering the cable.
Also proximity to other services although not water pipes I wouldn’t do it.

There are no other services in the drain

 

[Ian1981]

There are no other services in the drain

I meant the drain is the service

 

[dksanders]

Hi - I wouldn't do it - I could reasonably foresee the gully needing cleaning out and or collapsing. And then there's the warning tape ...

isn't warning tape only required when the cable is buried? as the cable would be sat in the bottom of the concrete trench and protected by the cast covers, it's totally visible.