Can plastic trunking be used in a commercial kitchen

[Maxvoltelectrics]

Doing some work in a commercial restaurant/kitchen the builders had already boarded and plastered the walls meaning my only viable route is to use trunking high level to get cables to the points in need do I need to use metal conduit or trunking or can plastic be used some trunking will be in the seating area and toilet not much of it will actually be in the main kitchen area itself
Also the floor has be tiled and the client wants some appliances in the middle of the kitchen can I run some kind of trunking on the floor and use metal sockets under the appliances

 

[Vortigern]

Personally I have always used 25mm white conduit for all such installations. Trunking is just not greaseproof.

 

[Maxvoltelectrics]

Personally I have always used 25mm white conduit for all such installations. Trunking is just not greaseproof.

Can I use plastic then and if you watched the video would you use trunking in the seating areas and bathrooms

 

[nicebutdim]

Can I use plastic then and if you watched the video would you use trunking in the seating areas and bathrooms

Is there a reason why you think the material might be unsuitable?

 

[oscar21]

I know this won't help with the job but why are so many builders insistent on plastering etc before services have gone in. We were at a job the other day that has had a fire upstairs only, as they wasn't touching downstairs really they decided to put a new chipboard floor down all upstairs. I turn up and say great, what about the burnt wires in the floor void that we have to replace, the builders looked all confused and said but I thought it was just the lights you would have to do.

Now they have to repair/replace the downstairs ceilings as well. I don't get it, its not like its their first rodeo.

 

[DefyG]

can I run some kind of trunking on the floor and use metal sockets under the appliances

Not really, in a commercial kitchen it would be considered dangerous and a trip hazard.
Can you drop from ceiling instead?

 

[Vortigern]

Conduit all the way for me. Can't quite see why you would resort to trunking? Maybe marshalling cables at supply etc. but apart from that, no not at all if I could help it.

 

[Vortigern]

Unless, maybe dado trunking in some circs. Like customer sockets and ethernet etc

 

[davesparks]

Plastic can be used, metal can be used, surface cabling can also be used, it is up to the person designing the install to establish what is required and what is best suited.

In a restaurant you are likely to need a different approach in the public areas to that in the non-public/working areas.

 

[MDJ]

the builders had already boarded and plastered the walls

I don't doubt it, builders are brain dead idiots, you can use whatever containment you feel suits the room and conditions in the room, personally I would prefer conduit to trunking but trunking does get used a lot in all types of installations, sometimes ugly but still okay to use.

 

[littlespark]

Just to throw a spanner in the works……

Trunking is clean lines, whereas conduit introduces many nooks and crannies that are going to get dirty.


Who was it that was so unorganised that finishing walls came before running services in the plans?

If it’s all empty partition walls, you might be able to run trunking high level and drop down inside the wall to hide some of the cables.

 

[nicebutdim]

'Trunking' covers a lot of ground. Some is cheap with poorly fitting lid and gaps in which grease is likely to accumulate. Not sure if the OP has in mind some cheap mini trunking to hold a single cable - especially given the mention of running it across a floor (seriously?), but I'd be inclined to look at something robust carrying all circuits at high level, with individual circuits piped from it and nothing on the floor to present a trip hazard.

 

[ipf]

Conduit all the way for me. Can't quite see why you would resort to trunking? Maybe marshalling cables at supply etc. but apart from that, no not at all if I could help it.

Depends what you're supplying. I wouldn't be feeding a few 3 phase appliances and various socket outlets totally via conduit.

 

[Vortigern]

I wouldn't be feeding a few 3 phase appliances and various socket outlets

As a matter of interest/curiosity can you expand on that a bit? i.e. why etc.
I think tables for trunking/conduit capacity would rule out putting two or more 3ph items and other sockets in the same conduit. I would consider separate circuits for individual 3ph appliances. Of course you could use SWA direct to the appliance in this instance.

 

[LewisM]

I'd run a perimeter trunking high level then drop down in conduit with the U clip saddle to minimise need for cleaning the univolt maxi trunking is very good firm lid that won't let ---- get in

 

[ipf]

As a matter of interest/curiosity can you expand on that a bit? i.e. why etc.
I think tables for trunking/conduit capacity would rule out putting two or more 3ph items and other sockets in the same conduit. I would consider separate circuits for individual 3ph appliances. Of course you could use SWA direct to the appliance in this instance.

I can’t really see what you’re point is.
Well, DB at one end of 15x15m kitchen. Are you going to install umpteen conduits directly from that board to each appliance (and socket) or run one trunking around allowing for short lengths of conduit or isolation devices fixed to and fed via it?

 

[nicebutdim]

OP hasn't mentioned what type of ceiling this kitchen has. Might be a better option up there... or not.

 

[James]

I have fitted lovely stainless steel trunking in the past, looks great and you get no corrosion from steam or wash down etc.
Finish it off with stainless conduit down to the fittings.

Only problem is it is not cheep and will wear out a few hole saws whilst installing the drops!

 

[nicebutdim]

I have fitted lovely stainless steel trunking in the past, looks great and you get no corrosion from steam or wash down etc.
Finish it off with stainless conduit down to the fittings.

Only problem is it is not cheep and will wear out a few hole saws whilst installing the drops!

Never worked with, or even seen, SS trunking. A belly full of SS tray and conduit though. I find that standard bi-metal holesaws (of decent quality) are adequate for cutting even heavier SS enclosures - plenty of pressure and very low speed.

 

[James]

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