Plaster come away over conduit

Le_Kirk

grumbler said:

Homer_home said:

Well done for finding that , however how long has that plastic conduit been there for?

We don't know. It's a possibility that it's some doggy work done pretty recently. And I've seen metal conduits in very old houses that builders stopped using long time ago and started using steel capping instead.

Just for your info , even metal conduit won't stop a drill bit , or a screw or even a nail

Who said "stop"? With a masonry drill bit you'll really struggle to drill through steel. And even with a very sharp HSS or carbon steel bits you'll feel the steel and stop drilling unless you are a complete idiot. Especially if it's just few millimetres below the surface.

That's what you get when you use a poodle plasterer!

fenwick458

grumbler said:

fenwick458 said:

the reason for metal/plastic capping is to prevent the cables being damaged by the plastering trowel.
capping does not do anything to protect it from nails or screws. 

Any reliable confirmation of this?
50mm (!) minimum to protect from the trowel? 

you can wait for someone to confirm before you believe me if you like.
not sure what the 50mm minimum to protect from the trowel is about?? 

Homer_home

grumbler said:

Homer_home said:

Well done for finding that , however how long has that plastic conduit been there for?

We don't know. It's a possibility that it's some dodgy work done pretty recently. And I've seen metal conduits in very old houses that builders stopped using long time ago and started using steel capping instead.

Just for your info , even metal conduit won't stop a drill bit , or a screw or even a nail

Who said "stop"? With a masonry drill bit you'll really struggle to drill through steel. And even with a very sharp HSS or carbon steel bits you'll feel the steel and stop drilling unless you are a complete idiot. Especially if it's just few millimetres below the surface.

Not everybody is DIY savvy and knows what they have hit and wether to stop or not 

Homer_home

fenwick458 said:

getting off topic this, but the reason for metal/plastic capping is to prevent the cables being damaged by the plastering trowel.
capping does not do anything to protect it from nails or screws. 

Exactly 

UncleZen

All the conduits in the house are plastic, property built in 1987 and in most cases there is about 2mm of plaster over the conduit. Many have vertical cracks present from sockets for example. Its the same throughout the estate.

grumbler

fenwick458 said:

you can wait for someone to confirm before you believe me if you like.
not sure what the 50mm minimum to protect from the trowel is about?? 

So far I don't see any real confirmation. Just urban myths that all forums are full off.

Re 50mm -

grumbler said:

...

"All electrical cables should be set into the walls at a minimum depth of 50mm if they are not mechanically protected. If it isn't possible to chase the walls to that depth then the cables should be set deep enough so that metal capping can cover them and allow for plaster to cover that.

..."

This information is just from some forum (Answered 14th May 2014), so I am not saying that it's correct.

Yes, this, possibly, is an urban myth too, but at least it makes some sense to me - unlike protecting the cable from a plastering trowel.

Homer_home

grumbler said:

fenwick458 said:

you can wait for someone to confirm before you believe me if you like.
not sure what the 50mm minimum to protect from the trowel is about?? 

So far I don't see any real confirmation. Just urban myths that all forums are full off.

Re 50mm -

grumbler said:

...

"All electrical cables should be set into the walls at a minimum depth of 50mm if they are not mechanically protected. If it isn't possible to chase the walls to that depth then the cables should be set deep enough so that metal capping can cover them and allow for plaster to cover that.

..."

This information is just from some forum (Answered 14th May 2014), so I am not saying that it's correct.

Yes, this, possibly, is an urban myth too, but at least it makes some sense to me - unlike protecting the cable from a plastering trowel.

Everything I have quoted is correct, all part of the wiring regs 

Whether you choose to believe it or not is irrevelant and doesn't change the fact it is correct 

grumbler

Homer_home said:

Everything I have quoted is correct, all part of the wiring regs

I don't see any quotations marks, but the ONLY bit that can be a part of the regulations is that "Plastic is acceptable". I have to admit, this is true, but it seems that no cover at all to is acceptable too.

rob7475

My understanding was that in 'safe' zones (vertical and horizontal line from any socket), there is no requirement to protect any cables as you shouldn't fix to the wall in these areas due to the possibility of cable runs.

Risteard

Cables do not have to be 2" deep - that will destroy the structural integrity of the wall in many circumstances. The requirement now is that if they are not, and not otherwise protected (e.g. earthed metallic conduit; SWA etc.) then an RCD with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30mA must be used and cables must be run within prescribed zones. This new Regulation came in in 2008. So there is much hyperbole and nonsense written on this thread. PVC conduit is fine.