Ready to hire?
Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a jobNeed some tips or advice?
Ask a questionElectrical
Laying electric cable maybe years in advance
Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.32 PM
I'm hoping to develop the far end of my garden in the years to come, and want to have power for a decent shed/workshop and (if things go well !) maybe a heated pool. I'm digging a drainage trench now and wonder whether I could save the cost of digging by laying the electric cable now. Could I still get the required building regs / certification by the electrician in future if I lay the cable now ??
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
3 Answers
Hector's Electricts Ltd
Rating: 5 out of 5
I would recommend you lay Steel Wired Armoured (SWA) cable. The 17th wiring regulations say "522.8.10 - Except where installed in a conduit or duct which provides equivalent protection against mechanical damage, cable buried in the ground shall incorporate an earthed armour or metal sheath or both, suitable for use as a protective conductor. The location of buried cables shall be marked by cable covers or a suitable marker tape. Buried conduits and ducts should be suitably identified. Buried cables, conduits and ducts shall be at sufficient depth to avoid being damaged by any reasonably foreseeable disturbance of the ground.". 'Sufficient depth' is a bit of a loose end, the agricultural standard is 60cm so you wouldn't be wrong if you went that deep. Get your local electrician to visit and suggest the correct cable cross sectional area for your project. I hope that helps
Answered23 May 2016
1
DEACON ELECTRICAL SERVICES
Rating: 5 out of 5
The short answer is yes, get an electrician in to advise you on possible routes, expected loading, a few calculations for size of cable, he could then terminate the cable both ends test it and issue you with a suitable certificate. Also this would be notifiable to building control.
Answered23 May 2016
0
Those Electricians
Rating: 5 out of 5
How about laying in suitably sized conduit fitted with a rope 'pull-through'? That way you can fit the cable at the same time as the building work.
Answered29 May 2016
0