Regulations for Mains Wiring

[Martyparty]

Hi,

I’m hoping someone can signpost me to any regulations that exist for installation of mains wiring cable in a domestic setting. An electrician has installed a mains cable within 30mm of wall surface in almost the centre of a wall and I’m wondering if there are regulations against this installation as i’m concerned that about the safety of this work.

Many thanks

Marty

 

[Strima]

Does this feed an accessory such as light switch, socket outlet etc?

Safe zones

 

[Martyparty]

Does this feed an accessory such as light switch, socket outlet etc?

Safe zones

This is the mains Mains cable feeding the house. Sorry if I’m not explaining it well.

 

[Markyd]

Photo's would be good

 

[timhoward]

Does this relate to a property in Northern Ireland?

 

[Martyparty]

Does this relate to a property in Northern Ireland?

Yes

 

[Martyparty]

Photo's would be good

Photo's would be good

 

[Martyparty]

The arrow shows the mains cable.

 

[westward10]

Looks like an armoured cable which has suffered mechanical damage and is wrapped with tape. What else is running alongside it.

 

[Martyparty]

Looks like an armoured cable which has suffered mechanical damage and is wrapped with tape. What else is running alongside it.

I’m not sure to be honest. It’s only buried about 30mm deep in wall. Do you know if this is allowed in UK? Or considered within ‘best practice’?

 

[timhoward]

I'm wondering if you possibly have an outside cabinet with main fuse, meter, and switched fuse, and that cable runs from the switched fuse to an indoor consumer unit. Wild guess....but only way it's adding up in my mind right now given the cable type and that an electrician fitted it, not the suppler.
If that cable is your side of the meter it would be allowed to be installed like that as it is mechanically protected.
Understanding exactly where that cable is relative to your main main fuse, meter, and consumer unit is key to saying who is responsible for it.
(the cable on the right is more complicated, we can come to that later!)

 

[Markyd]

That just looks like a big no no to me...is there anything above or below on the wall

 

[SJD]

How about a photo of the whole wall, showing anything above or below the cable?

 

[westward10]

If that is a steel wire armoured cable and the armour is effectively earthed to satisfy ADS (Automatic Disconnection of Supply) then it is fine as it would not need to be installed in the so called safe/prescribed zones.

 

[westward10]

I'm wondering if you possibly have an outside cabinet with main fuse, meter, and switched fuse, and that cable runs from the switched fuse to an indoor consumer unit. Wild guess....but only way it's adding up in my mind right now given the cable type and that an electrician fitted it, not the suppler.
If that cable is your side of the meter it would be allowed to be installed like that as it is mechanically protected.
Understanding exactly where that cable is relative to your main main fuse, meter, and consumer unit is key to saying who is responsible for it.
(the cable on the right is more complicated, we can come to that later!)

Trying to work out if that is a cable or something else but it is damaged. I asked earlier but no confirmation.

 

[nicebutdim]

Trying to work out if that is a cable or something else but it is damaged. I asked earlier but no confirmation.

Looks very much like conduit, which would be expected for switch/socket drops over here. If it is conduit, it may be that the tails run in a safe zone. Alternatively it might contain the main earth.

OP stated that they aren't sure what it is.

 

[Yozza19]

It looks to me like a swa 6-10mm and a 20mm conduit swa is definitely damaged

 

[SJD]

It looks to me like a swa 6-10mm and a 20mm conduit swa is definitely damaged

I'm guessing the only reason the SWA and conduit is exposed is because someone has drilled/nailed/screwed into one or both of them, and something tripped or went bang?

 

[Martyparty]

I’m

I'm wondering if you possibly have an outside cabinet with main fuse, meter, and switched fuse, and that cable runs from the switched fuse to an indoor consumer unit. Wild guess....but only way it's adding up in my mind right now given the cable type and that an electrician fitted it, not the suppler.
If that cable is your side of the meter it would be allowed to be installed like that as it is mechanically protected.
Understanding exactly where that cable is relative to your main main fuse, meter, and consumer unit is key to saying who is responsible for it.
(the cable on the right is more complicated, we can come to that later!)

you’re 100% right in your first sentence.
This is at front hall of house and the main fuse and meter is on the opposite side of that wall. The consumer unit is in utility room at rear of house.
And there’s more to the story. I drilled a hole for a mirror, drilling into the mains cable(black in pic). What followed was a shower of sparks and complete power cut to home. After this an electrician replaced mains fuse and performed a short-term fix on the damaged cable to get the power back on. I’m now going to contact the builder but trying to figure out where I stand regarding building regulations. Home is a 5 year old new-build.

 

[Yozza19]

I’m

you’re 100% right in your first sentence.
This is at front hall of house and the main fuse and meter is on the opposite side of that wall. The consumer unit is in utility room at rear of house.
And there’s more to the story. I drilled a hole for a mirror, drilling into the mains cable(black in pic). What followed was a shower of sparks and complete power cut to home. After this an electrician replaced mains fuse and performed a short-term fix on the damaged cable to get the power back on. I’m now going to contact the builder but trying to figure out where I stand regarding building regulations. Home is a 5 year old new-build.

If metre is directly behind I would suggest cable is within a zone

 

[brianmoooore]

When considering if where you want to drill is in a 'safe one', always consider BOTH sides of the wall.

 

[timhoward]

And there’s more to the story. I drilled a hole for a mirror, drilling into the mains cable(black in pic).

I feel your pain. Over the years I've suddenly heard gas and suddenly felt mains water. Never managed to drill into a cable. Let's see what next week brings...

 

[nicebutdim]

When considering if where you want to drill is in a 'safe one', always consider BOTH sides of the wall.

We still don't know if the conduit is serving something on that side of the wall.

 

[Electrics]

I’m

you’re 100% right in your first sentence.
This is at front hall of house and the main fuse and meter is on the opposite side of that wall. The consumer unit is in utility room at rear of house.
And there’s more to the story. I drilled a hole for a mirror, drilling into the mains cable(black in pic). What followed was a shower of sparks and complete power cut to home. After this an electrician replaced mains fuse and performed a short-term fix on the damaged cable to get the power back on. I’m now going to contact the builder but trying to figure out where I stand regarding building regulations. Home is a 5 year old new-build.

That's your problem.

SWA is mechanically protected so not sure how this stands in the regs and whether it still needs to be in a zone but putting it in the wall like that is imo just shoddy.

 

[Martyparty]

We still don't know if the conduit is serving something on that side of the wall.

If I understand correctly… there’s a socket lower down the wall.

 

[brianmoooore]

If I understand correctly… there’s a socket lower down the wall.

IF the above is true, then the OP drilled a hole i a safe zone, and the problem is entirely his fault.

 

[Martyparty]

IF the above is true, then the OP drilled a hole i a safe zone, and the problem is entirely his fault.

Yikes… not what I was hoping to hear but thanks for input.

 

[nicebutdim]

If I understand correctly… there’s a socket lower down the wall.

See the link about safe zones in the first reply. Unfortunate situation, but it is indeed acceptable to have this cable where it is.

 

[Martyparty]

How about a photo of the whole wall, showing anything above or below the cable?

 

[brianmoooore]

There was a DIY bit on a TV show a couple of days ago where they drilled a hole in a wall. The chosen spot was close to, but not quite in a safe zone, but no mention was made of them at all. Would help if the £experts" publicised their existence and position.

 

[Martyparty]

See the link about safe zones in the first reply. Unfortunate situation, but it is indeed acceptable to have this cable where it is.

Even if the socket does not line up with the position of the mains cable? See pic posted above.

 

[Martyparty]

See the link about safe zones in the first reply. Unfortunate situation, but it is indeed acceptable to have this cable where it is.

 

[nicebutdim]

Even if the socket does not line up with the position of the mains cable? See pic posted above.

Others have mentioned mechanical protection, but I'd wondered if it also fell within a designated safe zone. It's certainly not an ideal situation for you, but I'm not sufficiently well versed on regulations to give an empirical answer.

 

[Martyparty]

Even if the socket does not line up with the position of the mains cable? See pic posted abov

Others have mentioned mechanical protection, but I'd wondered if it also fell within a designated safe zone. It's certainly not an ideal situation for you, but I'm not sufficiently well versed on regulations to give an empirical answer.

Thanks for your info nonetheless! ?

 

[SJD]

I'm wondering what is in the adjacent conduit, possibly the socket cabling, or possibly something else like earth/bonding cables (with the socket cable then a bit further to the right)? If the conduit is for the socket cable, then perhaps the original intent was to have the socket designate a safe zone above, and for whatever reason they didn't line up. Personally I can't see it would have been too difficult to keep the cables above the socket so there is more of a hint there could be something in the wall.

 

[brianmoooore]

Difficult to tell from the pic. whether the cables are within the vertical limits of the sides of the socket or not, but it's always a good idea to proceed with extreme caution if you have to drill within an inch or so of a safe zone, especially when you are well above the fitting.

 

[Martyparty]

Difficult to tell from the pic. whether the cables are within the vertical limits of the sides of the socket or not, but it's always a good idea to proceed with extreme caution if you have to drill within an inch or so of a safe zone, especially when you are well above the fitting.

The cable is 5-6 inches to the left of the left side of the socket.

 

[brianmoooore]

The cable is 5-6 inches to the left of the left side of the socket.

If that is so, then you didn't drill in a safe zone (but should have considered the other side of the wall), but SWA doesn't need to be in a safe zone, so that just makes it an unfortunate accident.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

@Martyparty , unfortunately for you, the cable you drilled into is probably compliant with regs. The 'safe zones' don't have to apply to cables with an earthed metallic covering. We think this is steel wired armoured cable, which would have an earthed metallic covering. Regulations 522.6.202 and 522.6.204 apply

 

[brianmoooore]

@Martyparty , unfortunately for you, the cable you drilled into is probably compliant with regs. The 'safe zones' don't have to apply to cables with an earthed metallic covering. We think this is steel wired armoured cable, which would have an earthed metallic covering. Regulations 522.6.202 and 522.6.204 apply

As above. Installed within the regs.
Poor practice though, especially since fixing the cable a few inches to the right would have put it in a safe zone.