Wiring Incident..

littlerose12345

Hi All,

We have recently had our house rewired and also re-plastered.

We are now fitting radiators and have accidently drilled a hole into one of the mains cables (which runs the length of the wall). Luckily the second fix isn't complete yet and so the wiring wasn't connected yet.

Just wondering if you would know what the best solution would be in terms of fixing this with minimum disruption to the plaster work?

Obviously we will be getting the electrician back (haven't spoken to him as yet) but just wondered what he would suggest?

Thanks

olias

Is the wire 'plastered' in, or does it run through a hollow stud wall.

If a hollow stud wall, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem to pull through a new cable.

If the wire is 'plastered' into a solid wall, then the easiest and least disruptive way would be to dig out the plaster in a small patch around the damaged wire (say, 5" round), then cut the cable and re-join it using an appropriate junction box. Then patch plaster the whole lot back under the surface.

That is how I would DIY it anyway. Your electrician may have another method.

Olias

littlerose12345

Thanks for your reply.

Are you able to plaster over a junction box or does it need to be exposed?

Money_Grabber13579

Surely you're not allowed to DIY electrical work anymore? I thought you needed a Part P certificate to allow you to do this?

littlerose12345

Yes, we will be getting our electrician to do the work. He still needs to do the second fix and sign off anyway.

I was just posting to see what he would likely to suggest.

Phil_L_2

Make a repair with a socket.

MX5huggy

The wire should be in conduit if it is not then the install does not meet regs anyway. If it is in conduit it can be swapped out.

mcjordi

Part P is working with electrics in bathrooms iirc

zax47

MX5huggy wrote: »

The wire should be in conduit if it is not then the install does not meet regs anyway. If it is in conduit it can be swapped out.

Cobblers! Want to quote me a regulation no. and page no. in the "big red book" for that? According to the current 17th Edition IEE wiring regs, BS7671:2008 (the "big red book"), if it doesn't have "mechanical protection" (which could be by running it in conduit) or buried at least 50mm in the wall, then it must be protected by an RCD - but it is wrong to say it MUST be in conduit.

Littlerose & Olias, any connection using a junction box or screw connection is classed as non-permanent and must be accessible under the current wiring regs, so that isn't a repair option. Either he will replace the damaged cable entirely (I would), or use a permanent jointing method such as crimping, which does not need to be accessible and can be plastered over. How it was fixed in the first place will determine how much damage/repair is needed to the wall/plaster.

Mcjordi, Part P of the Building Regulations covers many different aspects of electrical work by "competent" and "non-competent" people and what works are notifiable or non-notifiable to either a Part P registration scheme by a professional or your Local Authority Building Control dept by a DIYer. It defines "special locations" such as bathrooms and kitchens but is not limited to them.

Moneygrabber, This is a handy guide to what you can and cannot do as a DIYer before calling in an electrician (like me);

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/diy-electrical-work-and-the-law-t6296.html

mcjordi

well zax47 im not a plumber or electrician so cheers

im a forensically trained scienctist by trade

deano72_2

3 things sparky could do...
1,best way is to replace the cable
2,assuming it is your power (ring circuit) circuit then you could make it into an extra socket,but might look out off place
3,could cut a back box into the wall,rejoint damaged cable & put a blank plate which therefore make it accessable