Insulating a stud wall with existing cabling

[kingamajick]

I'm currently renovating a my new home which is a late Victorian house, and I've plaster off a couple of stud walls in my office. With in the room, there are currently (The house was rewired around 7 years ago).

• 1 Run of 1.5mm T + E for the lighting Circuit (running from floor to ceiling ~2.7m run)
• 1. Run of 1.5mm for the light switch
• 2 sockets with 2.5mm T + E at 45cm height

I'm wanting to add some sound insulation to these walls, but I understand this will derate the cable which is installed. What is the correct method to deal with it, it leaving some spacing around the wires (if so how much?) or using conduit the correct approach here?

 

[SJD]

The 1.5mm2 T&E for lighting / switch is likely to be very adequately rated even buried in insulation for a typical house.

The socket circuit may be a concern, depends what the wiring is (part of a ring with 2 cables to each socket, or a spur) and the circuit (32A ring final, or 16A / 20A radial). Simplest option is to just leave out some insulation around the cables, if that doesn't compromise the soundproofing.

 

[LastManOnline]

The 1.5mm2 T&E for lighting / switch is likely to be very adequately rated even buried in insulation for a typical house.

The socket circuit may be a concern, depends what the wiring is (part of a ring with 2 cables to each socket, or a spur) and the circuit (32A ring final, or 16A / 20A radial). Simplest option is to just leave out some insulation around the cables, if that doesn't compromise the soundproofing.

As above. I would add that you may find it helpful to check what house circuit the sockets in question are on? It may very well be that if the circuit concerned is controlling bedroom sockets rather than kitchen sockets than in practice it will be lightly loaded. If your CU is, nt labelled just plug a radio in to the sockets in question and switch off mcbs one at a time until radio stops. Ditto the other sockets. Label your CU accordingly.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - if I’ve understood correctly your Electrician needs to run the power circuit cable in accord with Method 102# from Table 4A2 of BS7671 for that part of the circuit. That should be possible with the wall opened.