Thermal insulation in floor void

rryles · Jan 13, 2011

Rewiring a 60s house. Loft has 270mm of insulation. Ground floor is solid. First floor is going to have wet underfloor heating installed so will have insulation stuffed into the void. Joists are 200mm deep. Seems I will have to run a fair few cables in the first floor. Am I correct in thinking this will be reference method 101? Also, it might be possible to avoid the insulation by using the safe zone at the top of the walls. I know that's to the regs, but I worry that it isn't what Joe Blogs with his drill would expect. Damage to decoration isn't really an issue.

rryles · Jan 14, 2011

No one with anything to say?

marky sparky · Jan 14, 2011

i have same problem with my customer he loves his insulation

rryles said:
Rewiring a 60s house. Loft has 270mm of insulation. Ground floor is solid. First floor is going to have wet underfloor heating installed so will have insulation stuffed into the void. Joists are 200mm deep. Seems I will have to run a fair few cables in the first floor. Am I correct in thinking this will be reference method 101? Also, it might be possible to avoid the insulation by using the safe zone at the top of the walls. I know that's to the regs, but I worry that it isn't what Joe Blogs with his drill would expect. Damage to decoration isn't really an issue.

rryles · Jan 17, 2011

So am I correct about the reference method?

Do other people use the "safe zone" at the top of walls?

malcolmsanford · Jan 17, 2011

It is regarded as safe as the circuit will be RCD protected.
I'm afraid I'm old school and both that method and the"V" in the wall method to me is quite inanne. How many home owners know where safe zones are, but a good majority will sort of take note that if there is a socket or switch there, there is a good chance cables might be running to it, espicially vertically.

So no the safe zone 150mm from ceiling would really be a last resort thing, but that is just IMO