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Electrical

Attaching Outdoor Wiring to a fence

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.35 PM

Hi, my neighbour has decided to put up half a dozen lights along his driveway and has run a length of indoor cable along the fence to power them. He has put the cable on my side and I am concerned about safety. Is it OK to use indoor wire outdoors and can it be attached to a fence that isn't very stable. If it’s not OK is there any specific rules I can show him to convince him its dangerous? Thanks. Thanks for the speedy answers, it was good of you to take the time - they were all very helpful. The NICEIC leaflet was particularly useful. Building control are going to take a look at it now. UPDATE FOR ANYBODY WHO IS HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. Had to go to the county court and sued my neighbor for trespass. The court found the wiring in my garden constituted trespass and that the wiring had flouted building regulations. The Judge ordered the wiring removed and awarded compensation.

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3 Answers

Browen Electrical Services

Rating: 5 out of 5

Sittingbourne

Hello, Twin and Earth cable can be used outdoors, provided it has mechanical protection, this is usually provided by running the cable through conduit. Fixing to a timber fence is not recommended as the fence will deteriorate over time, and certain timber treatments will affect the outer sheath and insulation of the cable which could expose the conductors. Please see the the following PDF guide to external installations which gives you the regulations that your neighbour needs to meet. https://dms.niceic.com/0000000169.pdf I would recommend that using an electrician registered on the Competent Person Scheme, would be the best way forward for your neighbour, to ensure the lights are correctly installed and most importantly safe for those on either side of the fence!

Answered26 February 2018

Anonymous user

Totally agree with both of the answers given before. Twin and Earth used externally has to be mechanically protected for two reasons. UV exposure will degrade the integrity of the insulation very quickly and to avoid damage to the cable. Armoured cable is the rule of thumb method to be used externally but not to a fence. This should be cleated to a solid structure ie brickwork, or buried underground

Answered27 February 2018

DEACON ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Rating: 5 out of 5

Grimsby

Should really be armoured cable, attached to a stable structure( not a wobbly fence) using cleats or buried. On his side of your property! Yes you can use twin and earth only in containment as if exposed the u/v degrades the cable so quick, I tend to always use armoured.

Answered26 February 2018