SWA along a fence

[skippy2]

Can someone settle an argument please. Can you run SWA along a fence at a height clear of the ground supported at the relevant distances to the out building? Trenching is not an option due to sewer pipes and bt/ comms cables running across the garden.

 

[D Skelton]

Simple answer; Yes!

Just as long as the fence is of a suitable, stable and permanent construction.

 

[Manfredmann]

I wouldn't as most timber fences are so badly fitted you may find your SWA becomes load bearing after autumn.

 

[DNS1]

Simple answer; Yes!

Just as long as the fence is of a suitable, stable and permanent construction.

Agreed, as long as it's a permanent fixture.

Just use common sense when installing... if the fence is falling to bits, then re-think things, exactly the same as if you had to chase into a wall which was crumbling.

 

[skippy2]

Thanks guys

 

[D Skelton]

No worries, that's what the 'Thanks' button is for

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I wouldn't as most timber fences are so badly fitted you may find your SWA becomes load bearing after autumn.

read what damian has said at #2

 

[ruston]

No worries, that's what the 'Thanks' button is for

Like that you mean.:smile5:

 

[D Skelton]

No mate, like THAT!

 

[Hants-Spark]

Agree with most of the above, but is it your clients fence or the neighbours? What happens if they want to change it?

 

[ruston]

Agree with most of the above, but is it your clients fence or the neighbours? What happens if they want to change it?

It's a common sense call, design and ......................... all that.

 

[Manfredmann]

I agree that you can, I just don't if there is another option. I realise skippy has said that a trench is not do-able so there may not be an alternative, but I would want to be 100% that the fence is sound as the cable could be there for a very long time!

 

[Engineer54]

Not something i would do by choice, not with the crap panel fencing they sell at the likes of B&Q and Wickes etc. Those panels are so thin nowadays, you'll be lucky to sink a 1'' screw in them without seeing it come out the other side!! lol!!

 

[nadger]

Had a similar situation recently, customer was very concerned about trenching as he has "spent years getting the flower beds to this level" and neighbour wasn't keen on having swa fixed to his fence.

So I got 2x2 tantalised timber, cut into 3' posts and tapered at one end, we drove them into the ground tight to the gravel boards at exact centres of the fence posts (between the posts) and fixed decking boards side on at the same height as the fence panel bottom rail.

So unless your right up against them it appears to be fixed to the fence directly, however my method appeased both the customers worry a and that of his neighbour.

 

[7029 dave]

over head?

 

[Leckie]

Latest issue of Professional Electrician concurs Manfredmann. There is an article about wiring to outbuildings from ELESCA and it says that whilst BS7671 does not prohibit fixing to fences, good practice would be to fix to a wall or use a buried method.

 

[ruston]

Latest issue of Professional Electrician concurs Manfredmann. There is an article about wiring to outbuildings from ELESCA and it says that whilst BS7671 does not prohibit fixing to fences, good practice would be to fix to a wall or use a buried method.

But then there are fences and there are fences.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Latest issue of Professional Electrician concurs Manfredmann. There is an article about wiring to outbuildings from ELESCA and it says that whilst BS7671 does not prohibit fixing to fences, good practice would be to fix to a wall or use a buried method.

another this scam thinks....that scam thinks...

so i said so she said so i said so she said...

 

[D Skelton]

Exactly what I thought! I was going to post something along the same lines but then I thought I'd just start sounding like a broken record!

Since when has a corporate entity ever been an authority on anything electrical?!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Exactly what I thought! I was going to post something along the same lines but then I thought I'd just start sounding like a broken record!

Since when has a corporate entity ever been an authority on anything electrical?!

well i am a broken record....
the amount of times i have had to say `you dont need to be in a scam to do ECRs`...etc...lol

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Exactly what I thought! I was going to post something along the same lines but then I thought I'd just start sounding like a broken record!

Since when has a corporate entity ever been an authority on anything electrical?![/QUOTE]Damian....as long as the cash cometh in...
and the little sideshow from the other day will not count a jot...
so what? the boat came up against a bit more of a wave than the usual little ripples...
but the good ship Part pis has righted herself and plows on....

 

[Leckie]

another this scam thinks....that scam thinks...

so i said so she said so i said so she said...

So what's the problem here? Is advice from anybody not acceptable? Bit odd. Not fixing a cable to a fence if there is a wall or an alternative seems common sense to me, regardless who gives that advice. The average garden fence is a structure with a 5 - 10 year life span. In terms of an electrical installation, that is not the life of an electrical installation.

 

[brizospark]

Put SWAs along fences plenty of times. As long as it looks neat and is well cleated don't see a problem

 

[GLENNSPARK]

So what's the problem here? Is advice from anybody not acceptable? Bit odd. Not fixing a cable to a fence if there is a wall or an alternative seems common sense to me, regardless who gives that advice. The average garden fence is a structure with a 5 - 10 year life span. In terms of an electrical installation, that is not the life of an electrical installation.

read my other posts eh....

 

[Silly Sausage]

If the cable is securely fixed at both ends of the fence, it'll probably support the fence and extend its lifespan! :wink_smile:

 

[EastAnglian]

If you are concerned about the longevity of the fence then just add a note to the EIC to that effect. That way you have advised the client in a professional way which goes on record.

 

[Leckie]

If you fixed a cable on a dodgy fence and then noted that on an EIC that would not excuse you from liability, it would confirm that you had carried out a potentially dangerous job.

 

[EastAnglian]

I was trying to respond to the observation that a cable installed on a good fence today may (probably will) outlive the fence itself.

I would agree that installing on a fence which is dodgy at the time would be poor practice.

 

[brizospark]

If the fence eventually needs replacing uncleat then cleat to new fence. What's the problem here. ??

 

[Leckie]

If the fence eventually needs replacing uncleat then cleat to new fence. What's the problem here. ??

Well say it fell down and strained the cable and the cpc was broken off. No earth, so dangerous.