Terminating SWA - but not straight into the box - clever ideas?

[Rockingit]

Hi all,

I've got a new build project just confirmed today, and already hit the first head-scratcher.

It's a timber frame building (or will be!) and the main incoming to the house is via SWA from an adjacent pump room which is acting as a central hub for various sub-mains and where the income position is.

Problem is, where the architect wants the CU in the house to go, it's very tight to a corner / small wall and the width of the stud isn't great. What I can foresee is that the bend radius on the SWA is going to be such that we end up with a horrible non-hidden, very industrial looking joint. The site manager is fairly keen to try to bring the cable up inside the stud, fair enough, but that leaves me with having to do a double 90deg bend over about 200mm of space - and we all know that with 25/3 swa that aint' gonna happen. So, I'm wondering about finding a way of terminating it INSIDE the stud, just so that it's the single ends and not the armour coming into the CU. BUT - I still have to bond onto the armour somehow to complete the earthing, AND make it 100% maintenance free to satisfy regs.

Anyone seen any clever clamps / flexi conduit / good ideas??

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Make off the SWA into conduit, a conduit box, an adaptable box or some trunking.

 

[trev]

You could always get the site manager to talk to the architect about moving the CU.

 

[Rockingit]

D'oh!! Of course!! Cheers Spin. I'll put a section of steel box trunking up inside the stud, and terminate the whole lot near the floor, inside the wall. Offers a solution to the problem of the bend, mechanical protection and maintenance free, all in one. You must be charging a fortune mate, help like that. :biggrin5:

 

[Marvo]

Yeah, I'm kinda with Trev on this, I wouldn't let the architect start making ridiculous demands, they should know better and they're probably just taking a chance. If you can find a way to do it satisfactorily then just get the architect to issue you with a variation order for any extra costs involved, otherwise tell them to get knotted.

 

[Rockingit]

I'm happy with the CU position where it is, it makes sense for the rest of the install. Otherwise you end up needing to put isolators by the first entry door anyway and still have the same problem.

An architect 'know better'?? Since when did THAT happen??

 

[Marvo]

Lol, it's difficult to tell if they are stupid or just acting stupid sometimes but either way don't let them stomp all over you at your expense. I usually make it quite plain that anything is possible if they bring their cheque book with them but don't expect to make a job twice as complicate as it needs to be if they're not prepared to foot the extras bill.

 

[mogga]

architects are the biggest pains in the bum "Cant you make the fire points anything but red?" Pillocks the lot of them when it comes to electrics

 

[Engineer54]

The better architects do have an understanding of a buildings services, but they will generally be involved with the bigger projects in this world, and not in domestic or light commercial works. The worst architects, are those that are employed by local authorities, mainly because they failed miserably out there in the real world!! ...lol!!

Many of the RIBA architects will have during there 7 year training, gained at least level 3 or 4 electrical/mechanical training. It's the Civil engineers that have always been a pain in the design of structures, never leaving enough building services space, for the amount of building services equipment that is needed, especially in above ceiling spaces.

 

[Rockingit]

Come to think of it, I DID have to point out that I'm not going to be able to install 60min GU10's in only a six inch joist space........ (LED's on order....)