metal plate in wall about 500mm from floor

[dangwynne]

I've just started cutting out my walls ready for my house to be rewired. I've marked out the areas for the electric sockets with their base at 450mm however when I've started to drill into the walls I've found a horizontal metal plate about 50mm high about 500mm from the floor which seems to run around every room both down and upstairs. Anyone got any ideas what this is? I'm guessing its maybe housing for wires or pipes. I guess ill need to place my sockets higher up the wall to avoid this as its about an inch into the wall and my socket housing needs to be deeper than that. Also, if it is for electrical wires can I use it or is that now against regs to have the wires running horizontally?

 

[trev]

Maybe some old form of trunking? What sort of place is it? I've seen some wierd containment stuff in blocks of flats with solid concrete walls

 

[johnboy6083]

I've just started cutting out my walls ready for my house to be rewired. I've marked out the areas for the electric sockets with their base at 450mm however when I've started to drill into the walls I've found a horizontal metal plate about 50mm high about 500mm from the floor which seems to run around every room both down and upstairs. Anyone got any ideas what this is? I'm guessing its maybe housing for wires or pipes. I guess ill need to place my sockets higher up the wall to avoid this as its about an inch into the wall and my socket housing needs to be deeper than that. Also, if it is for electrical wires can I use it or is that now against regs to have the wires running horizontally?

Im notmeaning to be condascending mate, but if your not aware of safe zones when running cabvles, then i doubt that you have the knowledge or experience to rewire your house safely, and to the current regulations. It is important that it is done to both the current Wirinmg regulations and the building regs. Failure to do so coule land you in hot water, and prosecution.

 

[needasparks]

Hi Dan, Welcome to the site. may be best to tell us your story first, there are a lot of other info needed about what you are doing and where before anybody can give you a correct answer. And possibly guide you round the hoops you have to jump or as said you walk a tight rope.

You mention 450mm but also rewiring. That measurement is only reg for new build so why choose that height.

 

[dangwynne]

Hi thanks for the quick responses. No I'm not an electrician and have no intentions of rewiring the house myself, I simply want to get some of the labour done myself before I get a certified electrician in to run the wires and connect everything up.

The house is a 1930's 3 bed semi detached.

Would I not need to apply with current regs in order to get the rewired certified?

 

[needasparks]

Would I not need to apply with current regs in order to get the rewired certified?

No, you will still need to comply to part P of the building regs I was only stating the height only applies to new build.
your electrician should be guiding you on what is required if they are doing the wiring.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Hi thanks for the quick responses. No I'm not an electrician and have no intentions of rewiring the house myself, I simply want to get some of the labour done myself before I get a certified electrician in to run the wires and connect everything up.

The house is a 1930's 3 bed semi detached.

Would I not need to apply with current regs in order to get the rewired certified?

YES

Are the steel bits the remnants (or still functional) parts of an air flow heating system? I've seen some weird nonsense in houses where this used to exist but had been ....well ....disconnected and a sensible boiler-rey type heating system fitted but there was a vast amount of the house still taken up with useless steel vents. What a load of codswallop. Would rather platt fog

 

[johnboy6083]

Hi thanks for the quick responses. No I'm not an electrician and have no intentions of rewiring the house myself, I simply want to get some of the labour done myself before I get a certified electrician in to run the wires and connect everything up.

The house is a 1930's 3 bed semi detached.

Would I not need to apply with current regs in order to get the rewired certified?

yes you will mate. I apologise, but from your post, it sounded like you had no idea, and were about to start rewiring yourself.

If i were you, i would apoint an electrician now, and have him/her assist you with marking up for the runs ect. They can then leave you to do all the chasing and drilling ect. this way, there will be less mistakes, which will end up costing you money, as it will take the spark longer to sort out.
Good luck

 

[dangwynne]

Cheers for the help, I already have a spark bit he's gone on holiday for a week. He's told me all about where to put the sockets and how to do the chasing but he obviously couldn't predict there would be this obstacle at the exact height that my sockets would go! So should I just put the sockets higher up the wall?

 

[johnboy6083]

i would install them at any height you are happy with, as long as they are not likely to be damaged.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Cheers for the help, I already have a spark bit he's gone on holiday for a week. He's told me all about where to put the sockets and how to do the chasing but he obviously couldn't predict there would be this obstacle at the exact height that my sockets would go! So should I just put the sockets higher up the wall?

Yes.

Put them higher rather than lower. You'll thank yourself in times to come when your knees & back are knackered & you have trouble stooping down like I & the rest of the old timers do !!!