Cable Behind Skirting Boards?

[neil_ev]

Hi all,

just wandering what the view is on running a 2.5mm radial circuit behind a skirting board when it's fully protected by a new 17th ed. RCD protected CU.

thanks in advance

Neil

 

[trev]

How do you think cables get to sockets upstairs, or if it's a wooden floor downstairs?

 

[StuSpiers]

Do you mean running round the perimeter of the room behind the skirting or simply running up to the socket from floor level behind skirting.

I think one is fine

I think the other stinks.

 

[1shortcircuit]

My view is that this should not be done presuming you mean running the cable horizontally behind the skirting board to the next outlet. Behind the skirting board is NOT a designated safe zone and will be at risk of damage unless MECHANICALLY protected. RCD protection is ADDITIONAL protection only and should not be relied on as a sole method of protection.

:thumbsup

 

[malcolmsanford]

Do you mean as in zonal ....................... well as Trev said quite a lot of times cables come into sockets via skirting but that of course would be classed a zone due to the accessory.

Technically a skirting is not a zone

 

[wallyanker]

If its within 150mm from the floor, then its classed as a safe zone so cables can be run there.

 

[stef]

Yeah, we bought an ex-navy property, the installation is done in 20 mm steel conduit! Where would you find this nowadays?

 

[StuSpiers]

If its within 150mm from the floor, then its classed as a safe zone so cables can be run there.

That's incorrect.

 

[trev]

IMO the area below a socket is a zone and cables can be ran up from below floor level STRAIGHT up to the outlet. The skirting around the room whether or not it is within 150mm of floor level is not a safe zone as the wood butchers will need to come along and put pointy things in it to fix it. I would not therefore run cables around the perimiter of a room behind skirting boards.
Rough as a badger's arse(as we say in the frozen north)

 

[neil_ev]

If its within 150mm from the floor, then its classed as a safe zone so cables can be run there.

this is what i though but a lot of people are saying running horizontally behind a skiting board is not in a safe zone. i fail to see the difference.

 

[trev]

See my comment about wood butchers and their pointy things mate

 

[StuSpiers]

safe zones:

 

[Octopus]

If its within 150mm from the floor, then its classed as a safe zone so cables can be run there.

Me thinks you need to review safe zones because as far as I recall 150mm from the floor is not one of them.

 

[axel132132]

150mm from the floor is not a zone..

 

[axel132132]

Although i do have a quiery with this.. My brother is wanting skirting board lights.. (DONT ASK WHY! lol) but he has a solid floor.. Meaning im going to have to run cable from each light UP and DOWN and UP and DOWN to the ceiling and then to the light.. Thats alot of cable.. and alot of chasing!

Any way around this?

 

[wallyanker]

My appologies, I stand corrected, just assumed 150mm from any corner, ceiling and floor.

Sorry for mis-leading information. (slaps my own hand)

 

[StuSpiers]

Although i do have a quiery with this.. My brother is wanting skirting board lights.. (DONT ASK WHY! lol) but he has a solid floor.. Meaning im going to have to run cable from each light UP and DOWN and UP and DOWN to the ceiling and then to the light.. Thats alot of cable.. and alot of chasing!

Any way around this?

Skirting trunking - probably get some nice looking stuff nowadays.

 

[trev]

Post deleted. Forgt about skirting trunking

 

[neil_ev]

safe zones:

View attachment 13332

Thanks StuSpiers. Solved with 1 diagram. should have stopped being so lazy and just got my head into the regs. Lesson Learned.

 

[1shortcircuit]

Although i do have a quiery with this.. My brother is wanting skirting board lights.. (DONT ASK WHY! lol) but he has a solid floor.. Meaning im going to have to run cable from each light UP and DOWN and UP and DOWN to the ceiling and then to the light.. Thats alot of cable.. and alot of chasing!

Any way around this?

Stick an accessory (ie lights) in there and you have created a safe zone vertically and horizontally so no issue, also the skirting board lights are low voltage. You can even purchase specially designed/constructed skirting for this sole purpose, GOOGLE is your friend :thumbsup