Transmigration

[muckychimney]

Hello all newb here, just looking for some help..... qualified spark before anyone asks.....

Back when I was an apprentice 20 years ago we were told never to run pvc cable with polystyrene....transmigration of polymers resulting in pvc breaking down.

Heres the senario now family member bought a park home in 2001, I recently went into her loft as she is now infirm to get some stuff out for her, horrified to see pvc cables laid directly on polystyrene sheet and actually melting into the polystrene !

Complained straight away to company concerned with the building of the park home, they sent out a sparks to do a periodic and he failed it on the said problem, they said they would send report to us, now got report and they have said that because regulation 522.5.3 is a 17th edition regulation then our complaint isnt justified, can someone tell me what regulation it would have come under in the 16th edition ?

We even have it in writing from the cable manufacturer that pvc cable they manufacture it should not come into contact with polystyrene.

They're just trying to get out of a large claim as there are about 15 others on this particular home site all with the same problem.

 

[Wotsit]

We even have it in writing from the cable manufacturer that pvc cable they manufacture it should not come into contact with polystyrene.

Surely this is enough.

 

[muckychimney]

Surely this is enough.

I wish it was but the company insist that the installation is correct, even though their own sparks admitted it was wrong, looks like it might be a bit of a take to court job.

Typical rewire of a 2 bed bungalow £3500 - £4000 ? x 15 = a lot of dosh so thats why house builder is reluctant to admit they are wrong.

Thats why ive asked on here for pre 17th ed reg so I can quote that back at them along with a notice before action.

 

[Andy Smith]

Hello all newb here, just looking for some help..... qualified spark before anyone asks.....

Back when I was an apprentice 20 years ago we were told never to run pvc cable with polystyrene....transmigration of polymers resulting in pvc breaking down.

Heres the senario now family member bought a park home in 2001, I recently went into her loft as she is now infirm to get some stuff out for her, horrified to see pvc cables laid directly on polystyrene sheet and actually melting into the polystrene !

Complained straight away to company concerned with the building of the park home, they sent out a sparks to do a periodic and he failed it on the said problem, they said they would send report to us, now got report and they have said that because regulation 522.5.3 is a 17th edition regulation then our complaint isnt justified, can someone tell me what regulation it would have come under in the 16th edition ?

We even have it in writing from the cable manufacturer that pvc cable they manufacture it should not come into contact with polystyrene.

They're just trying to get out of a large claim as there are about 15 others on this particular home site all with the same problem.

Think common sense would tell people not to do it. As you say the polystyrene is melting already. Best of luck with this one

 

[scouse007]

If the cable manufacturer specifies that the cable should not be laid directly upon polystyrene then that will be sufficient in a court of law.
What you need to find out is when thay were originally wired and if the warning was applicable then.
15th/16th/17th are basically a guideline only.
If manufacturers are specifying for instance what you quote then sparks and companies etc have to follow these. If a fault occurs because these reccommendations are ignored then the company hasn't got a leg to stand on.

 

[Andy Smith]

If the cable manufacturer specifies that the cable should not be laid directly upon polystyrene then that will be sufficient in a court of law.
What you need to find out is when thay were originally wired and if the warning was applicable then.
15th/16th/17th are basically a guideline only.
If manufacturers are specifying for instance what you quote then sparks and companies etc have to follow these. If a fault occurs because these reccommendations are ignored then the company hasn't got a leg to stand on.

Hi Scouse welcome along

 

[scouse007]

Hi Andy
Not bad here is it

 

[bazza2541]

16th edition. Top of page 95. 522-05-01
Where the pressence of corrosive or poluting substances is likely to give rise to corrosion or deterioration, parts of the wiring system likely to be affected shall be suitable protected or manufavtured from materials resistant to such substances.

 

[Spudnik]

Can the cables be put in PVC trunking?

Or is the cable already damaged?

 

[muckychimney]

Can the cables be put in PVC trunking?

Or is the cable already damaged?

Cable already degrading, sticky to touch they are imo either going to have to rewire or replaice the affected cables