Cable in Plastic trunking

[markadams]

I am due to start a house rewiring job in the new year, due to the customer having the house fully decorated it needs to be done using plastic trunking.

They have had a couple of other quotes that have said that the trunking must be run from the ceiling in a straight line to the socket (which would be a metre or two from the corner of the wall)

I was planning on running the trunking in the corner and then along the top of the skirting to the socket, I cant find anything in the regs or on-site guide to say I can't do this.

Can anyone see any problems with this?

Mark.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Surley you can run it where u want, it's in trunking!

 

[TJ Anderson]

Use MT2 (25x16) and do vertical drops like the others have quoted. There is nothing in the regs against your suggestion but it is more effort really. Got to say though, poor planning on customers part getting it all decorated and then going for a rewire.

 

[markadams]

Leesparkykent,

That is what I said, but BOTH sparkies are insisting that it is not allowed. I have not spoken to them but I have done many jobs for the customer and I trust what they have told me I have also seen the quotes. I really don't understand why they would talk themselves out of a job, especially as they were cheaper than me.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Sounds a bit odd, but IMO running along the skirting would look 10x better

 

[micknew]

Come back Glenn lol.

 

[mache]

Use MT2 (25x16) and do vertical drops like the others have quoted. There is nothing in the regs against your suggestion but it is more effort really. Got to say though, poor planning on customers part getting it all decorated and then going for a rewire.

Absolutely agree with the comment regarding poor planning. Putting that aside, if you just offer what others are doing without really considering the clients aesthetics after completion then your hardly showing yourself to be a step ahead of the competition. Meet the clients needs and they will pay for the additional effort involved and more importantly you have a higher chance of referrals.
My thoughts anyway
Martin

 

[uksparks]

Sounds a bit odd, but IMO running along the skirting would look 10x better

It would look 100x better if chased in to the wall.

 

[micknew]

Not really surprised at this thread due to the lack of training/qualifications nowadays.

 

[Leesparkykent]

It would look 100x better if chased in to the wall.

Absolutely, but by the looks of it the doughnut customer has already decorated. I went to quote a rewire on a 7bed house A few weeks ago that the customer had kicked the original electrician off the job. It was obvious what he had done was a complete shambles from just a visual inspection. Any way to cut a long story short the customer had the whole house carpeted inbetween kicking the original electrician off the job and getting me round to quote. I told the customer the new carpets would need lifting etc and she looked at me like I just took a crap in her kettle! Lol and said she didn't want that. I couldn't be arsed with all the hassle in the end so didnt even bother getting involved with the job.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

If anyone had the cheek to run a plastic trunking straight down the middle of my wall I'd tell them to rip it out and do the job properly....




...in galv.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Leesparkykent,

That is what I said, but BOTH sparkies are insisting that it is not allowed. I have not spoken to them but I have done many jobs for the customer and I trust what they have told me I have also seen the quotes. I really don't understand why they would talk themselves out of a job, especially as they were cheaper than me.

Back to your question, short answer is the two other {*cough*} sparkles are talking cobblers. Trunking can be run pretty much anywhere. The cable isn't hidden. It's in trunking.

I was was going to say you should know that if you're rewiring a house but I won't.....

And the second part of your question, "can any one see problems" - well that's been answered by others, summarised as

"trunking looks rubbish"

hope that helps.

 

[Plonker 3]

I am due to start a house rewiring job in the new year, due to the customer having the house fully decorated it needs to be done using plastic trunking.

They have had a couple of other quotes that have said that the trunking must be run from the ceiling in a straight line to the socket (which would be a metre or two from the corner of the wall)

I was planning on running the trunking in the corner and then along the top of the skirting to the socket, I cant find anything in the regs or on-site guide to say I can't do this.

Can anyone see any problems with this?

Mark.

Why not check your OSG and BGB and see what it see says about routing cables?

 

[telectrix]

if it has to be in ntrunking, i'd run as you say, down the corner and along skirting but instead of plastic trunking, use some decorative coving about 2" for the drops. then they can paint to blend in.

 

[Rockingit]

Remember also that if you can guarantee 100% encasement throughout then you can also wire it in singles.

 

[kingeri]

What a cringeworthy job though, the only times I use trunking is on Local Authority jobs where it is specified, and in cupboards, cellars etc. where nobody cares what it looks like.

 

[andyelectric]

Leesparkykent,

That is what I said, but BOTH sparkies are insisting that it is not allowed. I have not spoken to them but I have done many jobs for the customer and I trust what they have told me I have also seen the quotes. I really don't understand why they would talk themselves out of a job, especially as they were cheaper than me.

Mark. Have a little think about the reason why buried cables are run in zones with rcd protection. Then have a little think about what you are going to to. With your new reasoning, combined with the fact that the 2 'sparkies' may well be inexperienced you should now understand why you cannot find anything in the bgb to to stop you.

 

[trev]

How about getting the customer to contact these clowns and ask which regulation your plan would contravene. A quid says they'll not find one

 

[telectrix]

i'll raise you quid and bet a tenner. :ack2:

 

[davesparks]

RIP common sense!

 

[Welchyboy1]

From what you have said so far, if i was on your shoes i would leave the other two 'sparkies' to it

sounds like a 'walk away job' to me

i couldnt bring myself to stick mt2 all over a newly decorated house, with the owners consent or not, either way it will look naff

 

[7029 dave]

Ahh, mini turk house bashing dream.

 

[Leesparkykent]

If that's what the customer wants and is happy with the trunking, as long as priced properly I wouldn't have any objections doing the job. Ive done bundles of trunking rewires mainly housing association and you can do a good job with a bit of planning for routes etc. saying that I personally wouldn't do my own house in trunking. But as the saying goes you can't polish a turd lol.

 

[Guest125]

No one seems to have mentioned that you should not be putting sockets striaght on top of the skirtings anyway. All sockets and switches etc should be installed at a height of between 450-1200mm.

 

[trev]

No one seems to have mentioned that you should not be putting sockets striaght on top of the skirtings anyway. All sockets and switches etc should be installed at a height of between 450-1200mm.

On a rewire? Really?
Mate, you're in a hole. Stop digging

 

[Leesparkykent]

It's a rewire, so the sockets and switches shouldn't be installed at a height worse than the original state.

 

[Risteard]

It's a rewire, so the sockets and switches shouldn't be installed at a height worse than the original state.

Although the Wiring Regs do require that they are at a height which will not damage the flex in the plug!

 

[Guest125]

On a rewire? Really?
Mate, you're in a hole. Stop digging

Yes really. The problem is people like to pick and choose the regs they follow. This is not only a elec reg but a building reg also. I know it is never followed domestically this is why the domestic sparks out there are not thought of to well in the commercial world. It is as clear as daybthat if you put socket outbof that range you are not installing to the regs. Agreed? If you disagree please quote a reg to me.

 

[Guest125]

It's a rewire, so the sockets and switches shouldn't be installed at a height worse than the original state.

I am sorry but that is madness. 'Well it was a 2.5mm main earth bond before I re-wired so as long as we don't go worse we are fine'. When doing a re-wire you should be bringing the whole installation up to current standards.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Although the Wiring Regs do require that they are at a height which will not damage the flex in the plug!

Agreed, but installing the sockets on top of a skirting board on a surface box ( at a height of no worse than the original installation) I would say has covered this.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I am sorry but that is madness. 'Well it was a 2.5mm main earth bond before I re-wired so as long as we don't go worse we are fine'. When doing a re-wire you should be bringing the whole installation up to current standards.

We are talking about socket heights not main earthing!

 

[trev]

Yes really. The problem is people like to pick and choose the regs they follow. This is not only a elec reg but a building reg also. I know it is never followed domestically this is why the domestic sparks out there are not thought of to well in the commercial world. It is as clear as daybthat if you put socket outbof that range you are not installing to the regs. Agreed? If you disagree please quote a reg to me.

On a domestic rewire the wishes of the home owner trumps that buiding reg. It has been discussed on here at great length. It is followed extensively on new builds, and rightly so and that is because the end user of the property is usually unknown.

 

[andyelectric]

Yes really. The problem is people like to pick and choose the regs they follow. This is not only a elec reg but a building reg also. I know it is never followed domestically this is why the domestic sparks out there are not thought of to well in the commercial world. It is as clear as daybthat if you put socket outbof that range you are not installing to the regs. Agreed? If you disagree please quote a reg to me.

Obviously you are on a wind up. There can surely be no other explanation. Only question is 'are you a current member in disguise?'

 

[Guest125]

We are talking about socket heights not main earthing!

I know but my point was you can't approach it like that. The full installation should be done to current standards.

 

[Guest125]

On a domestic rewire the wishes of the home owner trumps that buiding reg. It has been discussed on here at great length. It is followed extensively on new builds, and rightly so and that is because the end user of the property is usually unknown.

Listen I do think it is a stupid reg but my point still stands. It is ridiculous but it is a reg mate. We should not pick and choose what we follow because it is unpopular. Show me a reg that says we can install to what is existing and I will apologise and go away.

 

[Guest125]

Obviously you are on a wind up. There can surely be no other explanation. Only question is 'are you a current member in disguise?'

I don't have a clue what that means.

 

[uksparks]

I care too much about my reputation and standard of work, so if someone wanted it in conduit / trunking on the surface, I would just say no and walk away, I wouldn't want to be associated with it.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I know but my point was you can't approach it like that. The full installation should be done to current standards.

Of course you can approach it like this, with regards to socket and switch heights it's a rewire! New builds etc,obviously you adhere to the 450-1200mm heights.

 

[uksparks]

On a rewire? Really?
Mate, you're in a hole. Stop digging

Well I would generally, well not insist they put them at the new height, but strongly encourage them to come into line. I do believe its only guidance when considering a rewire though.

It's a rewire, so the sockets and switches shouldn't be installed at a height worse than the original state.

That's how I was trying to phrase it, but in reality there's not a chance I would put the sockets back on the skirting, its just a nonsense.

 

[trev]

Listen I do think it is a stupid reg but my point still stands. It is ridiculous but it is a reg mate. We should not pick and choose what we follow because it is unpopular. Show me a reg that says we can install to what is existing and I will apologise and go away.

"Approved document M recommends that in new dwellings only switches and socket outlets for lighting and other equipment should be between 450 and 1200 mm from finished floor level"
Straight from approved doc P mate.