Ask The Trades - Print Page

Ask The Trades
https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Trunking along ceiling https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1430731262 Message started by jazzyman on May 4^th, 2015, 10:21am

Title: Trunking along ceiling
Post by jazzyman on May 4^th, 2015, 10:21am

My local authority property is due to get rewired in the next few weeks, it's a one bedroom downstairs flat.

The local authority employ contractors to do the work and the practice of these contractors is to use plastic trunking on the light fittings for the downstairs properties, and it looks awful. They use trunking because it is quick and easy and they dont have to gain access to the upstairs property.

If this was a private property how would the contractors tackle this problem without using trunking and accessing the upstairs property? Perhaps I could persuade them before they carry out the work..

Title: Re: Trunking along ceiling
Post by thescruff on May 4^th, 2015, 10:51am

I expect they are working to a budget ( cheapest quote) so unless you pay the extra going rate (maybe £1000 plus) you get what they quoted for

Title: Re: Trunking along ceiling
Post by Lectrician on May 4^th, 2015, 11:54am

Fishing across ceilings can be time consuming, and can make a mess which needs making good.

You can't really expect to invade and lift floors in a flat above.

It is done for cost and speed. The housing authority will have OKed this method.

Could also be concrete ceilings, in which case there is little alternative.

Title: Re: Trunking along ceiling
Post by The_Trician on May 4^th, 2015, 12:35pm

If the property were private, I'd batten out the ceilings - I.E. Lower the ceilings by around 50mm and then re-plasterboard over to provide a cavity for concealing cables/pipework etc.

With the new AMD 3 of the wiring regs coming into force, I reckon the days of running plastic trunking/conduit across ceilings will be finished due to the requirement for fireproof containment of cables in escape routes. It may well be argued that if there is only one entrance/exit from your personal space to outside (1 bed flat) then it could quite possibly be argued that you need to be able to 'escape' from each room, thus no plastic conduit or trunking allowed across any of the ceilings.

Don't quote me on this though.

Title: Re: Trunking along ceiling
Post by Lectrician on May 4^th, 2015, 12:58pm

You would have to use metal P clips inside the trunking if on escape routes.

Battening ceiling down is OK, but you need to consider the 50mm rule for cables above a ceiling.

Donking holes in existing ceiling and then over boarding could be considered.