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I agree ideally the cables should have independent support along their length.I didn’t know quinetic did dimmer switches I will look into that. Last time I checked them out they were just normal switches. Thanks for the update.
With regards to the dropping cable issues I thought the introduction of metal fixings was to prevent exiting homeowners and subsequently firemen from becoming entangled in cables. Apparently I was informed on my 18th that two firemen have died as a direct result of this.
I’m just wondering how any electrician is meant to provide such a fixing when in the above situation. In a house you can route cables through existing holes or notches in timbers. This apartment plasterboard ceiling is fitting into metal framing that’s then fixed to the reinforced concrete above. To adequately support the cable so it’s not dropping and putting strain anywhere would require multiple holes to be cut out so something like linian clips could be installed (subject to any structural engineers reports).
What should be a straight forward job of moving a light switch suddenly turns into a much more significant job to meet regs.
I have no doubt there are other people out there who would just pull the cable through and not worry about it. My work is usually house based so I haven’t experienced this situation before so I was wondering what other more experienced people do in this situation.
Maybe I’m just overthinking the situation. But the regs are the regs.
Many thanks for your ideas and responses though. I appreciate it.
However, as I stated previously, a normal 12mm plasterboard ceiling is inherently fire rated for at least 30 minutes. And such a plasterboard ceiling is more than capable of supporting the weight of a few twin and earth cables indefinitely.