Jointing cable in wall to be filled and wiring zones

[Tauruselec]

Hi all. This is my first post on here so hopefully some of you will be able to suggest something other than my ideas. Worked as a spark for 19 years but mainly commercial so you guys will have better ways of doing domestic.
here's the question. Ive got a job in a Big detatched victorian house moving some sockets around. Sockets are mounted on skirting wired up via floor which is newly laid parque style and fancy coving so no chasing up or lifting floors. Customer does not want any blanking plates etc. Is it permissable to use either staggerd inline connectors/through crimps and heatshrink.
Customers has new board all RCBO circuits fitted during recent kitchen renovation.

new sockets will go on adjacent wall but will need to chase up a bit and across to new location. Again not ideal but does the RCBO cover as addition protection as not specifically in a wiring zone as original socket will be removed?

Hopefully I've made some sense.
thanks in advance all

 

[timhoward]

Hi and welcome
The alarm bells are
-sockets in skirting: cable could be very old. I'd inspect a good number and do IR tests before committing to anything
-kitchen fitted: kitchen fitters wiring is famous. The glimmer of hope is "all RCBO board" which suggests someone who knows something was involved
-newly laid: shows customer isn't at all practically minded and will expect miracles

Regarding zones, you are are either in a zone or have to use one of the methods in 522.6.204 which isn't going to be fun.
The RCBO doesn't avoid that unfortunately.
Is dropping down from the floor above an option as you could maybe start again then with a new circuit?

I have been astonishingly lucky with the super-rod chain and magnet thing in the past and managed to get a cable right under a room with parque flooring with minimal evidence remaining. I'm well aware it wasn't properly supported underneath but there wasn't much else I could do. A cheap remote camera to look under the floor void might pay for itself on this job.

Best of luck - this sounds painful and I hope you are getting good money for it!

 

[Tauruselec]

Hi and welcome
The alarm bells are
-sockets in skirting: cable could be very old. I'd inspect a good number and do IR tests before committing to anything
-kitchen fitted: kitchen fitters wiring is famous. The glimmer of hope is "all RCBO board" which suggests someone who knows something was involved
-newly laid: shows customer isn't at all practically minded and will expect miracles

Regarding zones, you are are either in a zone or have to use one of the methods in 522.6.204 which isn't going to be fun.
The RCBO doesn't avoid that unfortunately.
Is dropping down from the floor above an option as you could maybe start again then with a new circuit?

I have been astonishingly lucky with the super-rod chain and magnet thing in the past and managed to get a cable right under a room with parque flooring with minimal evidence remaining. I'm well aware it wasn't properly supported underneath but there wasn't much else I could do. A cheap remote camera to look under the floor void might pay for itself on this job.

Best of luck - this sounds painful and I hope you are getting good money for it!

Hi and welcome
The alarm bells are
-sockets in skirting: cable could be very old. I'd inspect a good number and do IR tests before committing to anything
-kitchen fitted: kitchen fitters wiring is famous. The glimmer of hope is "all RCBO board" which suggests someone who knows something was involved
-newly laid: shows customer isn't at all practically minded and will expect miracles

Regarding zones, you are are either in a zone or have to use one of the methods in 522.6.204 which isn't going to be fun.
The RCBO doesn't avoid that unfortunately.
Is dropping down from the floor above an option as you could maybe start again then with a new circuit?

I have been astonishingly lucky with the super-rod chain and magnet thing in the past and managed to get a cable right under a room with parque flooring with minimal evidence remaining. I'm well aware it wasn't properly supported underneath but there wasn't much else I could do. A cheap remote camera to look under the floor void might pay for itself on this job.

Best of luck - this sounds painful and I hope you are getting good money for it!

Thanks for the reply!

yeah it's a bit of a pain. New circuit would be too invasive. I may suggest leaving the current sockets in place that way if I wire up and across I will be within a zone created by the socket still on the skirting correct?

they could be hard work, they have money but as you said have high expectations. Why renovate a room after laying new flooring

 

[Dustydazzler]

When doing jobs like this ( I do a lot of awkward jobs other sparks can't be arsed to get involved with ) Leave the existing sockets where they are and take your new cables up / across by fishing / rodding / long drilling at angles etc.
Try to stay as close to the zones as possible , and I really do avoid jointing cables withing walls unless it is the very last resort.
What really gets my goat on these jobs is when I spend all day trying to hide cables for extra sockets and when I have been back to the house say a month later I see the old Plumber has run surface pipe work around the room. So its okay for wet plumber to do all surface pipes but not for us to run surface conduit,

 

[timhoward]

I may suggest leaving the current sockets in place that way if I wire up and across I will be within a zone created by the socket still on the skirting correct?

I like that idea more than creating a joint. Maybe show them a brass / chrome socket to replace the one in the skirting. Yes, straight up above it is fine and then you can turn 90 degrees if required to a socket.

 

[Tauruselec]

Brilliant thanks mate, appreciate the advice

 

[Tauruselec]

When doing jobs like this ( I do a lot of awkward jobs other sparks can't be arsed to get involved with ) Leave the existing sockets where they are and take your new cables up / across by fishing / rodding / long drilling at angles etc.
Try to stay as close to the zones as possible , and I really do avoid jointing cables withing walls unless it is the very last resort.
What really gets my goat on these jobs is when I spend all day trying to hide cables for extra sockets and when I have been back to the house say a month later I see the old Plumber has run surface pipe work around the room. So its okay for wet plumber to do all surface pipes but not for us to run surface conduit,

Your banking on there, I suggested where they wanted an additional ds/o on the skirting to put some mini trunking on the skirting. It would be hidden by table and sofa and there's heating pipes and surface plastic boxes but nope apparently that will look garbage next to all the other surface stuff so chase it in!!

 

[timhoward]

Your banking on there, I suggested where they wanted an additional ds/o on the skirting to put some mini trunking on the skirting. It would be hidden by table and sofa and there's heating pipes and surface plastic boxes but nope apparently that will look garbage next to all the other surface stuff so chase it in!!

Final throw of the dice - show them D-Line semi-circular trunking. It is much nicer on the eye. I even skimmed over and lightly sanded it once to make it look like it was part of the original plaster cornice in a national trust property.

 

[Tauruselec]

Final throw of the dice - show them D-Line semi-circular trunking. It is much nicer on the eye. I even skimmed over and lightly sanded it once to make it look like it was part of the original plaster cornice in a national trust property.

View attachment 108373

Nice, good idea that mate. Like you said much nicer on the eye

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Is it permissable to use either staggerd inline connectors/through crimps and heatshrink.

Buried in the wall, no. Requires a complete assembly complying with BS5733 MF which will incorporate strain relief etc. Note that most insulated crimps are not suitable for solid conductors.