Duct For Control/Data Cables on my Own Land (UK)

[aesmith]

Welcome to ElectriciansForums.net - The American Electrical Advice Forum
Head straight to the main forums to chat by click here:   American Electrical Advice Forum

Hi,
I need to run a duct from our garage, under the (gravel) drive to the house. Specifically this is for a monitoring sensor needed for our planned solar install, but while doing this I'll also run two or maybe three Ethernet Cat5e cables. So nothing above 48V.

Are there any regulatory requirements on type and colour of duct needed, mimimum burial depth etc? The supplier has all sorts comments about it being a legal requirement to use the correct rated and colour duct. But for example is it acceptable to use the sort of duct required for mains power, and if I do then would that oblige me to lay it at depth required for mains service?

This is the sort I was looking at ..

32/40mm Class 3 Electric Cable Black Ducting Coil (50m)

50m 32/40mm black ducting coil for electricity cables in Class 3 applications. With coupler and draw cord.

store.jdpipes.co.uk

Any comments welcome, thanks.

 

[Rockingit]

There are modern conventions for colours - yellow = gas, blue = water, purple = comms etc but what you're suggesting in your post is absolutely fine for the job, crack on! One thing that you'll want to consider is that if you're laying under gravel then you'll need to trench it into the subsoil underneath to a reasonable depth, ideally lined with some sand and pea shingle otherwise you'll run the risk of crushing it as the gravel moves on top.

 

[James]

I buried some swa and 20mm flex conduit under 6 inch of gravel where we walk in and out of the back door.
being my house and late and lazy, I decided to just lay it on top of an old brick path that sits under the gravel.
within 2 days, the gravel movement from walking over it made them both float to the surface.
after a week of nagging from the boss i secured it down to the brick work.