Hi
Anyone know where I can get hollow skirting boards. I need to run some cable and seemed a good idea if I can put it in a some hollow skirting boards. So far, none of the diy sheds websites say they do such a thing
Thanks
Scott
Try a decent electrical wholesaler. They should stock this sort of thing
An alternative is to make some up from either plank & moulding or skirting & standoff strips
NT
I thought running unprotected cables behind (oer "within", for that matter) skirting boards was a big no-no?
David
It's not as convenient as running them under the floor - it's less destructive to decor when servicing is needed.
Mary
It is.
If you were thinking of using this to run mains power cables, it would be as well to think again because this would be in contravention to the Wiring Regulations (BS7671), and in many cases, by implication the Building Regulations.
While I'm by no means a fan of regulation and bureaucracy, and in practice there would be little chance of being found out, there are potential problems if you sell the house (an electrical inspection would flag it immediately) and there is a safety issue.
In respect of cables hidden from view (e.g. buried in plaster), the Wiring Regulations provide three different approaches:
- Cable to be > 50mm below the surface
- Cable protected with sturdy earthed metal cover
- Cable run in a space up to 150mm from the corner of a room or the top of a wall, or cable run vertically or horizontally from a wiring accessory (e.g. switch or socket).
Note that the third approach excludes the equivalent 150mm space next to a floor, which is what you are considering. The reason for it is that skirting boards are traditionally nailed to blocks in the wall or an equivalent and cables are not expected to be there.
On the other hand, if you are running very low voltage cables or signal cables (e.g. TV or hifi etc.) or if you want to ignore the wiring regulations, then a way to obtain slotted skirting would be to buy standard stuff and then use a router to cut a slot in the back.
Skirting trunking is common in flats with solid floors I think. I discovered that the hard way when I screwed a telephone socket to a plastic version...
Now that *would* be dangerous. At least trunking can't normally be mistaken for anything else.
You can buy purpose made skirting trunking, though not very attractive, from an electrical wholesaler. Running mains cables horizontally behind normal skirting is not permitted by the regs.
Only because John Prescott is so thick he'd screw through it !
AWEM
Not if your floors are concrete.
Adam
To do this 'legally', you either need to use trunking designed for the purpose which would look rather out of place in a house, or protect the cable with conduit etc behind the skirting. The regs people think you're likely to drill holes in skirting to hang pictures up.
Apparently some are being dense today. Since its not in one of the zones where unprotected wiring is permitted obviously sheet steel would need to be put in the groove to cover the wires. I dont see anything espectially difficult about that, unless I'm missing something.
NT
Obviously. Hardly worth mentioning really :-)
. I dont see anything
I didnt think the concept of these zones or the use of capping would be a novel idea to people.
NT
Earth?
Hole, screw, same as any other metalwork that needs earthing.
Maybe I should have added add dont put the skirting with wiring in the pool.
NT
Yeah - I know, I was just pointing out that it needs to be earthed metal. I'm replacing all my skirting boards, and putting a wiring void behind them - I'm unsure if I will put a skin of steel in - but there is 2" of kingspan in there, so it's less of a concern. Hmm. I wonder if earthed kingspan would count :)
It doesn't need to be earthed if it's substantial enough to "prevent penetration of the cable by nails, screws or the like." Otherwise you can can used earthed steel conduit or one of the prescribed cable types with earthed armouring or screening, etc. [see Reg. 522-06-06].
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