Downlights/Spots replaced with pendant - is cable OK?

[ydrol]

Hi my dining room is two rooms knocked into one. About 20ft by 10ft.

I recently had an electrician replace 6 rather ugly down-lights (R80 spots) with two pendants at each end, as I plan to rent the house at some point in the future, and this would be more practical and economical arrangement.

Anyway, The electricians had to run new cables (spurs?) to the pendant locations, I was happy with the work but my mate said that he thinks the cable is too flush to the ceiling.

Note that I am getting a plasterer to skim the ceiling flat in the near future to give it a modern look. The electrician was aware of this.

What do you think , should the cables have been recessed more?

 

[telectrix]

the better option would have been to drill through the joists > 50mm above ceiling. however, that would entail either cutting several large holes in the ceiling or lifting a few floorboards in the room above.

 

[davesparks]

That is a bodge, it would be far more normal to run cables through holes in the joists and not chip little bits of ceiling out. Normally this is done by lifting floors above, but if you are having the ceiling skimmed anyway then hols can be cut in the ceiling and the work done from below.

 

[telectrix]

personally. i can't see a problem. it's no worse than switch drops in the wall .

 

[slingshot2000]

That is a bodge, it would be far more normal to run cables through holes in the joists and not chip little bits of ceiling out. Normally this is done by lifting floors above, but if you are having the ceiling skimmed anyway then hols can be cut in the ceiling and the work done from below.

That is exactly how I have one it in the past, knowing the ceiling is going to be skimmed anyway hat does it matter if you have a few extra holes to repair? I have cut 6inch holes I the past to allow a angle drill in and made sure the joist are drilled 50m from the ceiling.
A clients husband once walked in as I was finishing pulling cables through holes this size and said; " Blimey, what size down-lights has she asked for?"

 

[DPG]

Out of interest, is the circuit protected by an RCD? Daz

 

[davesparks]

That is exactly how I have one it in the past, knowing the ceiling is going to be skimmed anyway hat does it matter if you have a few extra holes to repair? I have cut 6inch holes I the past to allow a angle drill in and made sure the joist are drilled 50m from the ceiling.
A clients husband once walked in as I was finishing pulling cables through holes this size and said; " Blimey, what size down-lights has she asked for?"

I just cut one long strip out of the ceiling along the length of the room, then screw it back up to the joists when finished,

 

[ydrol]

Out of interest, is the circuit protected by an RCD? Daz

Yup new metal fuse box installed at the same time with two RCD's built in.

 

[slingshot2000]

Yes, have done that on occasions, too.

 

[telectrix]

it's not as if some div. is going to screw a spoon rack through the cable, is it? that would mean another part pee.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Tricky one as safe zones don't make any mention of ceilings however the guidance is that cables installed above ceilings should be a minimum of 50mm above the ceiling surface to prevent damage. I agree with davesparks....it's a lazy bodge.
Lets hope the end user doesn't hang Christmas decs with drawing pins like someone I know does....might be their last Christmas.

 

[amlu]

looks like artex to me, may have asbestos in it so be careful if you want to do any big holes. better left alone in my opinion, just dont bang any nails into that ceiling...

 

[ydrol]

Yes, I'm trying to get the age of the Artex checked, but I suspect it is around 2000.
Good point about the Crimbo decorations! I'll get a statement from electrician as he has not issued certificate yet, but will make sure that is mentioned on any tenancy agreement if it's not changed.

 

[YoungBart]

In my opinion that's a terrible job, Fair enough if the ceiling was being studded off and lowered, It might not be against any regs but it just screams laziness,
OP was it possible to get floorboards up above?

 

[davesparks]

In my opinion that's a terrible job, Fair enough if the ceiling was being studded off and lowered, It might not be against any regs but it just screams laziness,
OP was it possible to get floorboards up above?

With the ceiling being plastered anyway I'd not normally consider the floorboards above, just make holes in the ceiling. Unless of course there's a loft above

 

[yellowvanman]

There is no safe zone in ceilings or floors! Could have used BS8436 cable.

 

[telectrix]

or SWA.:willy_nilly:

 

[DPG]

Cables above ceilings wouldn't normally get damaged because they are normally just draped on top and they would be pushed out of the way by a drawing pin or nail. These ones are up against the joists and so cannot move. I don't like it, and wouldn't want it like that in my house or in one I was renting out. Now is the time to get it right - as Davesparks says above, the ceiling is being plastered anyway, so nice and easy. Daz

 

[YoungBart]

With the ceiling being plastered anyway I'd not normally consider the floorboards above, just make holes in the ceiling. Unless of course there's a loft above

Would agree with that, either way I don't like the way this has been done.

 

[telectrix]

i done it like that once. brand new house. artex ceiling and laminate floor above. no way was the customer going to accept 4" holes in the ceiling. ( i did notch the joists though, so it would require a nail longer tha 1" to reach the cable).