UK Is this wiring in the attic with insulation okay?

[amp3rsand]

Hi, I have a guy working in my attic. I have been getting bad vibes off him for the last few days and things that are starting to raise red flags.

So, I went into the attic to just have a quick look at what he is doing. (I have zero experience with electrical installation but what I saw looked a little bit worrying to me.

When I look at this I worry that the wires right next to the bare insulation material might be a fire risk? Should it be routed through conduit? Again, I have no experience of what is 'code' - but I don't want to burn this house down either!!

Are my concerns warranted or am I being a bit over worrisome?

Thanks in advance.7

 

[Lister1987]

Hi, I have a guy working in my attic. I have been getting bad vibes off him for the last few days and things that are starting to raise red flags.

So, I went into the attic to just have a quick look at what he is doing. (I have zero experience with electrical installation but what I saw looked a little bit worrying to me.

When I look at this I worry that the wires right next to the bare insulation material might be a fire risk? Should it be routed through conduit? Again, I have no experience of what is 'code' - but I don't want to burn this house down either!!

Are my concerns warranted or am I being a bit over worrisome?

Thanks in advance.View attachment 562217

It's not tidy by any stretch but T&E is double insulated so providing the cable isn't nicked then it should be fine. You wouldn't run T&E in conduit due to the rigidity of the cable, you'd use singles

My concern would be that it's not secured to joists and as such could pose an entrapment risk of there was a fire and the ceiling came in.

 

[pirate]

Being picky, and with nothing else to do at this time in the morning, I'd say it's insulated and sheathed...but apart from that it's RAF!
Imagine glancing back at that as you close the attic hatch and thinking "Good job that!"
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the problem...

 

[cliffed]

It's not tidy by any stretch but T&E is double insulated so providing the cable isn't nicked then it should be fine. You wouldn't run T&E in conduit due to the rigidity of the cable, you'd use singles

My concern would be that it's not secured to joists and as such could pose an entrapment risk of there was a fire and the ceiling came in.

Good point that about T&E in conduit,please tell all consultants.
Most of the new build especially Schools are now basket/tray,in moderation,then 25mm conduit in walls to just above false ceiling.cabled in lsoh T&E, my opinion is also this type of cabling just not suitable for purpose.

 

[MJPD29]

It's untidy. Otherwise there is nothing wrong with it realistically. Putting it in overkill in your attic is overkill and I have never seen it done.

 

[FatAlan]

What have you actually employed him to do?

 

[ruston]

I think I might be worried about what looks to be an unsupported plastic overflow pipe.
Even if it is metal it could do with being secured .
If you look closely the cables are clipped.

 

[telectrix]

I think I might be worried about what looks to be an unsupported plastic overflow pipe.
Even if it is metal it could do with being secured .
If you look closely the cables are clipped.

clipped to be walked on. terrible work. all cables should have been routed to the eaves, then brought along appropriate joist/s to their final destinations.

 

[ruston]

clipped to be walked on. terrible work. all cables should have been routed to the eaves, then brought along appropriate joist/s to their final destinations.

Yes it's untidy and a messy job . Not uncommon now sadly.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Typical attic wiring , nice trip hazard and inevitably will get trampled all over or buried under a load of junk

 

[123]

Is this a property in the UK? The cable doesn't look like T&E to me, lots of yellow flat and light red flat cable

 

[freddo]

Is this a property in the UK? The cable doesn't look like T&E to me, lots of yellow flat and light red flat cable

I did think this didn't look like UK cables, the clips look like staples more a USA thing than anything we have here.

 

[Dustydazzler]

yellow flat cable is a give away that it is romex , which is very common in America / Canada

metal staples are also very common in america / canada

untidy work and throwing cables in the attic with wreckless abandon is a world wide phenomenon

 

[Dave OCD]

I can remember many times clipping cables in uninsulated loft spaces and you'd make it nice and neat, almost like surface clipping on show. You'd end up with very sore aching knees but also satisfaction that a good job had been done. These days it's just thrown in,another source of annoyance.
But on the other hand an old boy that I used to work with told me a tale of rewiring houses in mining areas of Yorkshire where the lofts could have an inch of black filthy sooty dust sitting above the ceilings, apparently they'd get all the upstairs lighting cables to every switch and light in as fast as possible with the ends coming through the loft down to floor level. They'd then sit on the landing and connect it all into an 'RB4' type JB then throw the whole assembly back up into the loft. So roughness isn't a new thing by any means.