Boarding attic, wires over joists, advice needed.

[Pete999]

Hi Pete - I hope you are well .
The minimum depth for unprotected cable should still be 50mm below the surface, but you’re right the strength of the beam needs consideration, which would likely be on a scale of ok to oh dear .

Yes Mate I'm fine Ta you OK?

 

[pc1966]

A quick search for "safe plate" brings up a range of metal plates you would use to help protect any cables below. I'm not sure quite how much nailing they would take, but at the very least they would show up well on a metal detector if anyone was being diligent before hammering stuff down:

Niglon SAFE PLATE 50 X 100MM - SP3

Niglon SP3 Safe Plate - 50 x 100mm

www.superlecdirect.com

Safe Plate

• Galvanised plate• Used to protect plumbing and electric wiring against random nailing into timber• Quick and easy to install• Width x length

www.toolstation.com

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/sabrefix-protecta-safe-plate-galvanised-90mm-x-45mm-20-pack/30038

 

[radiohead]

The safe plates I've used are of thick metal and would prevent nail penetration, however I think the important point here is that the OP should not be advised to notch or drill roof timbers under any circumstances. A safe plate would involve notching.

 

[pc1966]

The safe plates I've used are of thick metal and would prevent nail penetration, however I think the important point here is that the OP should not be advised to notch or drill roof timbers under any circumstances. A safe plate would involve notching.

I assumed a safe plate over thin packing material (say 12mm or 19mm thick wood, enough to gap the cables) instead of raising it by the (50mm - floor thickness) ~30mm otherwise needed?
[automerge]1587979567[/automerge]
I agree that they should not notch the beams!

 

[jdinduntocher]

I recently did my attic which had 16 mm conduit running over the joists I used 38x19mm roofing batons and put them on top of existing joists leaving a gap where the conduit crossed a joist this saves you trying to reroute cables and just screw them in place.It may be more expensive but it will save loads of time jd

 

[Wilko]

Yes Mate I'm fine Ta you OK?

Ok but slowly getting crazier and poorer, ha.

 

[Pete999]

Ok but slowly getting crazier and poorer, ha.

Being retired these past 6+ years I thought isolation would be a doddle, not so sure now, slowly getting stir crazy

 

[ruston]

Good luck Pete, just keep chipping away. A man of your miles will get the better of this.

 

[Pete999]

Good luck Pete, just keep chipping away. A man of your miles will get the better of this.

Hope so !

 

[robd]

The metal safe plates are for joists which are the wood that downstairs ceiling is screwed to from below and upstairs floor is sat on from above. These are not the same as roof trusses which I have always been taught not to cut or drill. I would just stand the boards off the trusses i.e. lift them up to create the space. You can either counter batten with 2x1 or something or buy some of the little stands you can get