Rewire using covings and skirtings?

[RefurbBrainFry]

Morning everyone
Is it possible to do a domestic rewire by running cables inside skirting voids or behind covings and then chasing up/down? . I have a furnished flat with floors that I could do with protecting as much as possible. I could do without them being cut/lifted as much as normal. What do you reckon?
Thank you and merry Christmas!!!
PS not touching this myself, just trying to choose my finishes etc and wondering whether to check out covings/skirtings for costing. Have real electricians coming to quote in Jan.

 

[timhoward]

Generally speaking skirting = no, coving = yes, due to prescribed cable zones. That is a simplification of the regs, your electrician can explain further.
(Do a google image search for "cable zones" )

 

[Dustydazzler]

I really don't like cables run behind skirting boards , if you are in a real pinch you could run a cable behind a skirting as a last resort but as for a whole rewire NO WAY

Behind decorative coving / molding then I don't see an issue as such if you cap your new cable to the walls at high level then cove over them. Not how I would do it but it isn't a terrible option

 

[RefurbBrainFry]

Thank you guys. Off to research cable zones!! Much appreciated!

 

[buzzlightyear]

Have real electricians coming to quote in Jan

woo hoo ,real ones i did not know they existed normally I get the fairy one to do my work.

 

[loz2754]

You can buy skirting boards specially designed to conceal wiring inside the skirting.

 

[brianmoooore]

You can buy skirting boards specially designed to conceal wiring inside the skirting.

This opens up a debate as to whether it's concealed wiring, or surface mounted wiring in fancy trunking. You can put wiring in trunking where you like, but concealed is confined to safe zones.

 

[LastManOnline]

This opens up a debate as to whether it's concealed wiring, or surface mounted wiring in fancy trunking.

. It's allowable (over here at least). That said I have never seen it in a domestic installation. But I personally would, nt hesitate to use it if circumstances required it and there is realistically no other option..

 

[RefurbBrainFry]

I did wonder if it worked as an alternative form of trunking because in my various years as an adult, I’ve never once felt the need to hammer into or cut into a skirting or a coving.. walls however, all the time! It seemed a logical suggestion to me but I don’t want to deliberately cut corners (ho ho!). Just trying to find a practical way of delivering a job!

 

[westward10]

Skirting trunking would be deemed containment like any other form of trunking. Lashing it behind existing skirting boards is totally different.