Switched Live Sleeving

Nearlyold

Just bought a 1970's built house "in need of refurbishment" - actually its not too bad mostly updating and undoing various bodges by the previous owner(s).
Going to change all the sockets, light switches and ceiling roses as they're either damaged, discoloured, covered in paint or in some cases the light fittings are wired badly with loose exposed brass connectors separately wrapped in single layers of parcel tape and shoved up into the ceiling void.
Obviously everything is in the old colours Red, Black and Solid Green - when it comes to sleeving the switched live black wires in the wall switches and at the ceiling roses (there is none at all at the moment) should I use Brown or Red sleeving? I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

Grizzlebeard

I don't know if there are specific rules but I doubt it matters.
Following simple logic, using red will correspond with the existing wiring colours and won't confuse anyone, but using brown would suggest adding blue sleeving to all the neutral wires as well for consistency.

My old switched black live wires have no indication at all.

(Thinking of starting a conspiracy theory that it's Liberal Party policy is to legislate for rainbow sleeving on any wire that could swing either way. )

grumbler

Generally, you don't need any sleeves unless too much insulation was removed and you want to cover exposed copper. In this case IMO it's better to use brown.

EssexExile

I've always used red but lots of people don't bother.

Jeepers_Creepers

Use the same colour as the existing cable - in this case red.

fenwick458

the simple answer is, see what you can buy. can you still buy red sleeving....? no probably not 
ah well better use brown sleeving then

grumbler

Well, in fact you can - very easily

Risteard

grumbler said:

Generally, you don't need any sleeves unless too much insulation was removed and you want to cover exposed copper. In this case IMO it's better to use brown.

This is not correct. Sleeving is not rated as insulation. Furthermore, it is a requirement of the Wiring Regulations that line (phase) conductors be correctly identified by colour, which for a single phase circuit must be brown (previously red). In this country we use twin brown for switch drops (and previously twin red). It's a poor practice in my opinion how England uses brown and blue for these.

grumbler

I misread the post and thought it was twin red and earth cable - in which case I don't think brown sleeve is necessary.

Regarding the insulation, I think sleeve is still better than no insulation at all, especially if  just a small part of insulation is missing.

fenwick458

grumbler said:

I misread the post and thought it was twin red and earth cable - in which case I don't think brown sleeve is necessary.

Regarding the insulation, I think sleeve is still better than no insulation at all, especially if  just a small part of insulation is missing.

I think you have still misunderstood, red or brown sleeving is used with twin and earth there the black or blue core is used as a switched live.
by the book answer, it should be brown as per the EU colours harmonisation rule that's been happening since 2005 ish
apparently, you can still buy red sleeving (who knew) so you can use that if you want
you could also use a single wrap of yellow insulation tape, seems to be very common where I am, at the end of the day it does the job...

grumbler

Why yellow?

As a side note, you can even buy 'Old Wiring Colours' 'Brand New Old Stock cut straight from the drum' cables on ebay, although I don't understand why would anybody pay £2 for 1m of 1mm2 3-core cable (+ delivery).