This can't be right!? Wireing under sub-floor

[rubrage]

Took up the carpet as I am laying some wood flooring on my landing, I need to isolate the creaking and moving parts prior to laying the new solid wood tounge and groove. Discovered this <picture attached>. I had some work done a couple of years back to place wired smoke alarms in every room, It was a requirement as we had an attic conversion. So the workmen cut up the sub floor to get to the electrics below. That can't be right can it? that's like less than 10mm under the chipboard sub-floor. Could somebody advice please

 

[ruston]

No that is not right at all. It is amazing you did not damage them lifting the floor.
See that hole in the joist, that is where they should hav been but at a miumum of 50mm from the top or bottom. They do not look like smoke cables though ,unless they are 3core and earth.

What is that obstruction?

 

[Deleted account]

It looks like one twin and earth and one 3core and Earth to me.

What are the cables running over? Is it brick?

Is the circuit RCD protected?

 

[rubrage]

There are seven smoke alarms all linked and those grey cables go to the one in the living room possibly the last on the string. Don't want to fiddle too much the orange obstruction looks like a flat roofing tile?? Will this need to be corrected?

 

[ruston]

Yes, you will be advised to get those cable runs in the void out of harms way .
Why have they put a roofing tile there ?

 

[rubrage]

all the cables come from the attic conversion along with the smoke circuit cables down to a panel with trip switch next to my existing electrics for the rest of the house.

 

[ruston]

Is that board lifted at the stair head then?

 

[rubrage]

I have no idea?!! attached some further pictures. This work was done over 3 years ago, where do I stand in calling them back, Is there any legal rights? 3 years on? thing is I have an electrical certificate to sign it all off. I found another horror story last year. I have an airing cupboard with alot of items in which they cleared to run cables down to. they then put all the 'crap' back in. Covering their work! When I cleared it I found a real mess of cables : (

 

[rubrage]

I lifted the cut up section it's just outside a bedroom door

 

[ruston]

That is disgusting .
The gist of it is - if you know who put this in and it has been signed off, get them back to do it properly.

 

[rubrage]

even after 3 years or so?

 

[stevethesparks]

That looks like an rsj?

 

[ruston]

Yes you have legal redress to that Although the regs are not statutory they set the standards required by BC and the health and safety etc.
That is clearly bad workmanship , and is potentially dangerous.
Some schemes have an extended guarantee , in any event I would check with a solicitor on the statute of limitations .

 

[westward10]

Looks like they have tried to drill that joist several times before they succeeded hoping to fish the cables through then gave up,

 

[ruston]

That looks like an rsj?

Yes, the texture on my screen confused me lol.
Thatis what is will be.

 

[rubrage]

Cheers guys, I just wanted to lay some lovely wood flooring an I have uncovered a horror story!

 

[ruston]

You are welcome.

 

[rubrage]

Yes, the texture on my screen confused me lol.
Thatis what is will be.

So instead of going through the RSJ they went over it, the cables are sitting on top of the RSJ and Joist beside it sandwiched by the subfloor and 4 screws. Genius! Just left a message with the builder.

 

[Wilko]

Sorry to say, but no wonder it creaks, between the cables and the deep notching shown in that last pic ...

 

[Leesparkykent]

I wonder how many electricians go around with a mag drill on the van and know the calculations to be able to drill an RSJ

 

[Toneyz]

It is a RSJ a lot of new builds 2/3 beds this was installed at top of stairs sat on.

 

[ruston]

It is a RSJ a lot of new builds 2/3 beds this was installed at top of stairs sat on.

That is why I asked if it was at the stair head . I could not make the texture out for the sun lol.

 

[davesparks]

So instead of going through the RSJ they went over it, the cables are sitting on top of the RSJ and Joist beside it sandwiched by the subfloor and 4 screws. Genius! Just left a message with the builder.

Would you prefer it if they'd drilled a hole through the RSJ and weakened it?

 

[westward10]

Would you prefer it if they'd drilled a hole through the RSJ and weakened it?

Drill through the centre of the Web and it will not affect its strength at all.

 

[davesparks]

Drill through the centre of the Web and it will not affect its strength at all.

If you're qualified and insured to make that call then that's great, but I think I'll stick to getting something in writing from a structural engineer before I go ahead and drill an RSJ.

 

[stummish]

There must have been another route. Or wireless interlink is acceptable to lbc and regs. Find out who is their governing body and complain to them if you don't get anywhere from going direct to the electrician/builder.