Joining cable under floorboards

Graham Jones · 2010-10-22T11:55:32+00:00

Hello,My plan to add a socket to an existing ring circuit is turning out tobe a major worry for me. This really should be something a competentdiy-er could do. But in order to do it correctly, therefore followingthe regs, is turning into a nightmare.I will need to extend an existing ring, so initally I just thought ajunction box under the floorboards is the easiest way. But then I findthat junction boxes are not recommended for use in non-accessibleplaces. I would say that under floorboards is non-accessible. So Ifound that you could get maintenance free junction boxes. But thenafter doing some more reasearch it seems that whether these complywith the regs is debatable and who knows if these will do the test oftime. I don't really want to be the guinea pig!So now I would like to attempt the "proper" way of crimping and thenheat-sheiding. But as I have never done this I would like some adviceon how difficult this actually is. Is this easy to get right firsttime? Or is it somewhat of a skill that needs to be learned. I don'tmind buying the proper tools.All this leads me to wonder about the existing junction boxes in myhouse, all the lighting circuit is done with junction boxes, a fewother existing sockets also use junction boxes. Some are underfloorboards some are in the loft.Should I worry about these? Has anyone ever found a junction box whereone of the screws has worked loose. Maybe I should replace them all?The ones in the loft I can easily inspect and I would say these couldbe classed as accessible. Other people here must have junction boxesunder floorboards, do you inspect them regularly, say once every 10years?Thanks for any replies that might set my mind at ease! (very difficultactually)Graham

Oct 22, 2010 20 Replies

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Mike Clarke 15 years ago

I think the regs only require the cable to be supported, so a horizontal run lying on top of the ceiling below (or even on the ground under the floor) doesn't need to be clipped. Of course if the cable is in an accessible position then it's good practice to clip it so it doesn't get disturbed.

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Joining cable under floorboards

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