Andy Hall wrote in message . ..
On 31 Mar 2005 00:56:09 -0800, (markzoom)
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote in message . ..
On 30 Mar 2005 15:39:00 -0800, (markzoom)
wrote:

Are there any practical reasons why wiring should not be run behind skirting boards?
Mark


Fixings for the skirting board and that it is contrary to Wiring
Regulations. The latter doesn't mean that you *can't* put wiring
behind skirtings but when there is a wiring inspection (e.g as the
place changes hands) then it will fail.... This would be tearful.

Ah OK, thanks.
Fortunately the place is in a free country that doesn't give a toss
about wussy wiring regulations and that doesn't have raids by a wiring
Gestapo.

Ah well.... they probably have bigger issues in that case. Are they a
banana exporter by any chance :-)


As for nails, one would think there'd be more chance of them
hitting wiring in walls than in skirting boards (where pictures don't
hang).
Mark

I'm certainly no advocate of regulation for its own sake, and in
general believe that governments are far too intrusive in the freedom
of individuals, especially our current regime.

One reason why I am getting a place abroad.


That said, in the area of wiring, the UK has some of the best
considered standards in the world. Although they are called
regulations, until January of this year they had no force in law (in
England at least) and are a British Standard. In other words, based
in general on sound engineering principles and practical
considerations.

In relation to positioning of wiring, there are several rules and the
main ones are to avoid damage to cable resulting in possible
electrocution or fire.

That is what I considered, since I intend to run the wires IN the
skirting board/box, not behind it. There would be no reason for
someone to put nails/screws in the ply part of the box. The only thing
someone might consider is screwing a rubber doorstop to it, something
which I can pre-empt.


So the rule for a room if you want to run cables hidden is that you
can:

- run them at a depth of more than 50mm so that they are out of harm's
way

- install serious metal covers over them to prevent screws and nails
penetrating

- run the cables in a defined way. For this, you can route cables
horizontally or vertically from a socket or switch or in a band 150mm
wide from the corner of a room or top of a wall, but not up from a
floor.

Hence, behind skirting boards is out. The reasons for this are
obvious and practical. If you are talking about hanging things on
the wall, you avoid areas horizontal or vertical to sockets and
switches or close to corners.

I'd say that almost no-one worries about the position of sockets when
they hang a picture and I can't see regulations becoming so anal
(though I may be wrong) that you wouldn't be allowed to hang pictures
above your sockets.


Skirting boards are typically fitted on top of plaster using nails or
screws. If there are cables buried beneath the plaster, the
implications are pretty obvious.

Fair point, but it would be a box with the wires running IN the
"board", not behind it.


The other obvious point in this is that while you might know where
cables run, a later occupier of the property may not, so the standards
bear that in mind as well.

If you prefer to think of this as wussy regulations then fine, but
this particular issue seems like common sense to me.

I don't really think gouging grooves deeper than 50 mm in structural
walls is exactly common sense though (particularly in an earthquake
zone).
Mark K.