Dave Matthews wrote:
"Brian G" wrote in message
...

Hi Dave,

To answer the question, yes it is 'normal' to notch the top of the joist

for

pipes and cables and it's usually done because it's easier than trying to
drill a series of holes through the centre of the joists for each pipe and
cable



Well that was the odd thing - there is a set of electrical cables that
run close to and parallel to the pipes but they have been fed through holes
cut through the centres of all the joists. The new cable I was putting in
required us to drill a new series of holes through the joists but it was a
doddle to do - about five minutes to drill five holes!

Were these new holes precisely square to the joist, and were they all at
identical points between these 5 joists (ie. you could look through from
one end to the other without any deviation or blockage etc).

I'm guessing that the gas and water pipes were installed first by one
contractor and then another contractor was brought in to do the electrics
who decided to do his part of the job properly!

Feeing 2.5mm T&E through holes in joists isn't difficult, whereas
feeding 3m of copper pipe though holes is. Unless you start bending it
to get it through the first hole, it's pretty much impossible I think.
And, once you've bent it for the first hole, the remainder holes then
get a problem. Drilling holes through each joist such that it is square
to the joist (and not running up/downhill) and at the same position as
the hole in the previous joists is a pain. Notching however is much
easier for pipes.

D