metal capping not needed according to 17th

[trev]

capping is pointless really, but is something most electricians like myself like to do.

We do? Really?

 

[electroyd]

We do? Really?

well its all about good practice isnt it. not saying theres anything wrong with cable clips.
I guess it depends on whos patching up and making good.
I will continue using it, its up to you guys and girls what you do

 

[trev]

Imho it's good practice to keep all chases as slim as possible. To me it's pointless widening a potential 15mm chase for the sake of a pointless bit of capping when there's not a chance in hell of a plasterer's float going anywhere near your cable, bare walls are usually dot and dabbed round my neck of the woods so it's pointless there too, there are alternatives in a commercial setting too.
I just don't like the stuff. If specced I'll happily put it in but I avoid it where ever I can

 

[davesparks]

The way I was taught is to use plastic capping on new walls and oval conduit in chases in existing walls.
There is no sense in cutting chases wider than they need to be just to put capping in, yet I've seen so many people do this.

When we finally got a chasing machine we would cut 24mm wide chases and use 25mm oval, with the aid of a bit of tile batten it would tap into the chase an wedge tight with no need for any further fixing. It made the whole process pretty quick.

 

[TJ Anderson]

The way I was taught is to use plastic capping on new walls and oval conduit in chases in existing walls.

I was taught exactly the same, the only thing I clip only for is for dot and dab plasterboard.

 

[Tidy Max]

How do you guys fix the oval conduit to the wall? I have never used it and tend to use capping on jobs where i don't know the plasterer and when working along side a couple of plasterers i know locally then as Trev said, i prefer and they prefer a small neat chase!

 

[trev]

Jam it in mate, a wall chaser helps a lot but you need very efficient dust removal.

 

[Anthony S]

I've had the makita chaser and hoover a few years now and its still spot on.

 

[davesparks]

How do you guys fix the oval conduit to the wall? I have never used it and tend to use capping on jobs where i don't know the plasterer and when working along side a couple of plasterers i know locally then as Trev said, i prefer and they prefer a small neat chase!

Either a chase slightly narrower than the conduit and put a black on the conduit then give the block a good tap, or a couple of capping nails either side of the pipe, or for the narrower oval then a 2.5mm T&E clip or two works.

 

[Tidy Max]

Interesting, how much is a length of oval then and what sizes does it come in? Might buy some tomorrow and give it a try.
Middleton Electrical Services has never needed to rewire a drop but you never know it may happen at some point so i think i may give these oval shenanigans a whirl!

 

[davesparks]

13, 16, 20 and 25mm wide are the usual sizes, as for price I couldn't say off the top of my head

 

[Marvo]

I don't do domestic work so it's not a big deal but I've never seen oval conduit, I don't think it's available locally. Is it fairly new in the UK or has it been around a while?

 

[davesparks]

It's been around longer than capping has, once upon a time it was made of steel but now it's plastic

 

[tomspark93]

Interesting to see how others do it. We go to the effort of drilling, plugging and fixing the oval to the wall with galvanised steel band on new builds and existing properties

 

[davesparks]

Interesting to see how others do it. We go to the effort of drilling, plugging and fixing the oval to the wall with galvanised steel band on. Ew builds and existing.

Sod that for a lark, I'm in this game to make money!

 

[123]

This side of the pond its 20mm conduit that's generally used, chased into the wall of course. You'd get some strange looks if you turned up with capping or just clipped them into the track.

 

[123]

Interesting to see how others do it. We go to the effort of drilling, plugging and fixing the oval to the wall with galvanised steel band on new builds and existing properties

Either wedge it in or a little bit of bonding will do the trick in a hell of a lot less time

 

[electroyd]

Interesting to see how others do it. We go to the effort of drilling, plugging and fixing the oval to the wall with galvanised steel band on. Ew builds and existing.

i guess others work as tight to the regs as possible to save time and money. if you dont fit capping and use clips its a massive time saving as well as a cash saving of not buying the stuff,
its understandable.
my working practice includes pointless waste of time capping

 

[davesparks]

i guess others work as tight to the regs as possible to save time and money. if you dont fit capping and use clips its a massive time saving as well as a cash saving of not buying the stuff,
its understandable.
my working practice includes pointless waste of time capping

I've found oval conduit to be quicker than clipping in to chases. I use capping on new/unplastered walls.

There's no sense using capping in chases as you have to make the chases so much wider.

 

[tomspark93]

Clipping on existing houses is so hit and miss. the gobbo is either to hard to take a clip or so soft the cable just flops out and don't get me start with thermo****e blocks.

 

[electroyd]

I've found oval conduit to be quicker than clipping in to chases. I use capping on new/unplastered walls.

There's no sense using capping in chases as you have to make the chases so much wider.

yes it does make sense and as you put it, if the chase is nice and tight to the cables then damage is unlikely.
its quite funny how people like me get set in there ways. I also screw and plug it lol

 

[telectrix]

the makers of oval tube also make the clips to fix it with. 1 plug& screw per clip then snap the tube in. sssiimplesss.

 

[TJ Anderson]

the makers of oval tube also make the clips to fix it with. 1 plug& screw per clip then snap the tube in. sssiimplesss.

I've seen them for sale but not used them as thought they may hold it off the wall and have to chase deeper. How have you found them to be? I have always used 1 1/2 x 8 screws and reds plugs or sometimes clout nails to hold it back on edges before plastering.

 

[Guest125]

So what are you saying? That you're trolling again?

Absolutely not. I struggle with the trolling/joking difference. Sometimes texts do not come across as meant.

Really no harm meant to anyone and I hope I have made that clear by removing my comment and apologising.

 

[7029 dave]

Never used metal capping, false economy, it does not provide mechanical protection.

 

[GMES]

Yeah it's never going to stop a nail when this is what's used to secure it in the 1st place, I think a lot of newbies forget that small detail!!

 

[R G]

I also have never used it , what use is it , cables have to be run in prescribed zones , pvc oval capping is what I use, see no use for it myself...

 

[123]

Pit is not meant to, right?

So what's the point in it other than to waste dollars on it?

 

[davesparks]

So what's the point in it other than to waste dollars on it?

The point of capping is to stop cables being damaged by the plasterers when they spread their muck around.

 

[R G]

One thing I have noticed when I have seen it is the very sharp edges on the ends of the capping , not good , when I noticed it already in place I had to bend the edge outwards and tape the edge up , I would and never have used it ...