Wiring under skirting board

[ObviousDecoy]

Hi,

I had what I thought was a licensed electrician extend electrics from an outlet to the opposite wall for lights in a wardrobe I'm having installed. The wardrobe builder requested a fixed spur on the wall and the cable to to be run under the floor boards.

However, the electrician ran the wire under the skirting board which are removed as I'm having a floor installed.

I was concerned and researched a bit on safe zones which said you aren't supposed to put wiring behind or under skirting boards. However he insists because the wire is behind a 3A breaker that safe zones don't apply.

Can anyone tell me if that is legal or not?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Cables should not be hidden behind skirting boards unless they are 50mm deep or in earthed metal conduit

 

[Rockingit]

Your 'electrician' is talking bull hooks. Reg 522.6 covers this extensively as also does Section 10 of Building Regulations Part A. It doesn't matter if said cable is carrying a 1000A or 100mA, it's a cable and it has to adhere to safe zones.

NB.... this is of course assuming that the cable in question doesn't qualify as SELV or PELV to 522.6.204 (which for a socket or fused spur outlet it won't).

 

[timhoward]

I think the electrician has got it into their head that an accessory connected to an FCU isn't subject to the wiring regs.
They are probably erroneously thinking of it in the same terms as a socket and plug, and telling themselves that anything downstream of the socket isn't my problem.
It's not the first time I've heard someone say this.

 

[LastManOnline]

Cables should not be hidden behind skirting boards unless they are 50mm deep or in earthed metal conduit

Is it not the case that cables in metal conduit is the ONLY acceptable means of installing them when behind a skirting board?

 

[Rockingit]

Is it not the case that cables in metal conduit is the ONLY acceptable means of installing them when behind a skirting board?

I think the skirting board bit is a red herring as far as regs is concerned, simply that a cable needs to be in zone

 

[brianmoooore]

Use 6 x 2 (not ex.) for the skirting board, then it's OK.

 

[cliffed]

If it’s Rcd protected should be ok, designated zone would also be in line with the accessories.
Seen loads of power points in skirting & skirting dado

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Perhaps the Spur has been located in the skirting next to the socket which is also in the skirting, so all cable is actually in a safe zone.
Just playing devils advocate, all highly unlikely, but possible.
I can't think of any justification for the silly reason the electrician gave though.

 

[DPG]

If it’s Rcd protected should be ok, designated zone would also be in line with the accessories.
Seen loads of power points in skirting & skirting dado

I can't imagine the new sockets will be fitted in the skirting board!

 

[cliffed]

I can't imagine the new sockets will be fitted in the skirting board!

Seen them in older houses…but yea these days not that common.
Designated zones maybe compromised, with sockets above, but common sense prevails, the important thing is that they will be Rcd protected

 

[DPG]

Seen them in older houses…but yea these days not that common.
Designated zones maybe compromised, with sockets above, but common sense prevails, the important thing is that they will be Rcd protected

Really? So you would wire behind skirtings if an RCD was fitted?

 

[timhoward]

My paraphrase:

522.6.202 A cable installed in a wall or partition at a depth of less than 50 mm from a surface of the wall or partition shall:

(i) be in the safe wiring zones
(ii) be in metal containment, be mechanically protected, or be SELV/PELV

If you do (i) and not (ii) you need an RCD.
If you don't do (i) you need to do (ii)

And then the debate about what mechanically protected means starts....and in my view a skirting board isn't adequate!

 

[cliffed]

My paraphrase:

522.6.202 A cable installed in a wall or partition at a depth of less than 50 mm from a surface of the wall or partition shall:

(i) be in the safe wiring zones
(ii) be in metal containment, be mechanically protected, or be SELV/PELV

If you do (i) and not (ii) you need an RCD.
If you don't do (i) you need to do (ii)

And then the debate about what mechanically protected means starts....and in my view a skirting board isn't adequate!

Agree but with a Rcd it’s compliant

 

[cliffed]

Really? So you would wire behind skirtings if an RCD was fitted?

Ideally no, but if that’s the only option there’s no reason why not

 

[DPG]

Ideally no, but if that’s the only option there’s no reason why not

But its against the regs

 

[cliffed]

But its against the regs

Because of the zoning?

 

[DPG]

Because of the zoning?

Yes

 

[cliffed]

Yes

Ok agree.., but if the sockets were in the Zone ie: in the skirting that would be ok, it would be no different from installing skirting dado.
Obviously the sparky will have to decide the best method to hide his cabling.

 

[DPG]

Ok agree.., but if the sockets were in the Zone ie: in the skirting that would be ok, it would be no different from installing skirting dado.
Obviously the sparky will have to decide the best method to hide his cabling.

Yes if in zones. But as I said, I can't imagine these new sockets will be fitted in the skirtingboard.

 

[Rockingit]

One word here...... four hundred and fifty (OK, that's 4....)

 

[brianmoooore]

Even before 450, you couldn't fit sockets on the average skirting, because of the bend radius of the cable coming out of the plug.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I have only come across sockets in skirting board on older properties with that really tall skirting boards

 

[brianmoooore]

Does a 1G or 2G blanking plate create a safe zone?
Does it have to have wiring or even a box behind it?

 

[ObviousDecoy]

Thanks for all your replies. The floor was being installed the next day and he could have easily cut through the chipboard under the carpet. I also specifically said under the floor and had him come the day before the floor was installed. The outlet is not on the skirting board. I had another few days of work for him but I'm not going to use him anymore.

The good news is that since a wardrobe is being installed in this corner I can simply not put the skirting board back up for two of the three walls so it's clearly visible. The fused spur should keep tradesmen reasonably safe but I'm pretty upset as I wanted to do things properly.

 

[littlespark]

Does a 1G or 2G blanking plate create a safe zone?
Does it have to have wiring or even a box behind it?

It needs to be obvious to other people that it would be a zone, so any socket, switch, spur, blanking plate as a reference.

Behind a skirting board is against regs.
There’s no way a kitchen fitter, for example would expect to find cables there and attack the skirting with a multi tool or something.

There is no reason not to go under the floor if it’s an easy board lift

 

[LastManOnline]

Behind a skirting board is against regs.

Unless installed in metal conduit

 

[LastManOnline]

Does a 1G or 2G blanking plate create a safe zone?
Does it have to have wiring or even a box behind it?

I often created safe zones by installing a wired socket. Not to sure about a blank plate on its own. In practice would work but strictly speaking does, nt qualify in my view

 

[DPG]

I often created safe zones by installing a wired socket. Not to sure about a blank plate on its own. In practice would work but strictly speaking does, nt qualify in my view

I agree. Anyone looking behind the cover plate would see no cables and probably not realise it was there to indicate a zone.

 

[brianmoooore]

I agree. Anyone looking behind the cover plate would see no cables and probably not realise it was there to indicate a zone.

You could write a warning message on the inside of the blanking plate!

 

[pc1966]

I have only come across sockets in skirting board on older properties with that really tall skirting boards

It is very common in old properties, mostly as they have lath & plaster walls that are utter s*** to try and fix anything in to.

And work done long before building regs said otherwise.

 

[miamia]

I'm not an electrician, but it's essential to ensure that electrical work is done safely and meets the necessary regulations. While I can't provide a definitive answer, it's a good idea to consult a qualified electrician or local authorities to determine whether the wiring behind the skirting board complies with safety codes.

 

[DPG]

I'm not an electrician, but it's essential to ensure that electrical work is done safely and meets the necessary regulations. While I can't provide a definitive answer, it's a good idea to consult a qualified electrician or local authorities to determine whether the wiring behind the skirting board complies with safety codes.

AI generated?