electrical cable & ch pipes in same skirting

bobbin2

Hello, just asking for some advice regarding running electrical wire cabling (in trunking) close to central heating pipes. Is there a minimum distance that there should be between these? They run together for 2.5 meters and there is about 1.5cm between the the pipes and trunking. Also there are some sections where the cables are not in trunking due to ...is this ok?

Also wanting to encase the whole lot in some skirting? Any advise regarding this...just have some concerns with the pipes getting hot in the skirting and whether it is safe.

MANY THANKS for your advice in advance!

Owain_Moneysaver

It is not permitted to run electric cables in or behind skirting, whether in trunking or not. Specific skirting trunking is available but it is surface mounted, not concealed behind a timber skirting.

The cables will have to be derated to account for the higher ambient temperature and may have to be replaced with high temperature cables.

bobbin2

Thank you Owain.

What do you suggest we do? The walls and floor are concrete so chasing into the wall would be a lot of work. Is that usual practice though. When we bought the place there was already electrical cables encased in trunking along the skirting boards. Is this considered ok if they are not hidden?

Owain_Moneysaver

Put the pipes in the walls, sleeve them, and plaster over them. Then use surface mounting skirting trunking for the cables.

macman

The whole point is for it not to be hidden-then you can't drill/nail into it unknowingly.

Leif

bobbin2 wrote: »

Thank you Owain.

What do you suggest we do? The walls and floor are concrete so chasing into the wall would be a lot of work. Is that usual practice though. When we bought the place there was already electrical cables encased in trunking along the skirting boards. Is this considered ok if they are not hidden?

I think the rule about no pipes or cables behind ordinary skirting board is because someone could decide to replacing the skirting, and use nails to stick it on, with obvious consequences. You can also put a nail through a pipe or cable in a wall, but there are regulations to reduce the danger, and make it easier to guess where they could be.