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wiring next to plumbing pipes

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:16 pm
by andy_mars
I've got an old extended house with an internal wall approx 0.5m thick.

I've committed to moving a radiator and need to go through this wall with a pair of 15mm copper pipes. However, once I've started to remove skirting etc I've discovered that someone has already used the route I was planning on to pass a pair of ring main wires through.

I can get some clearance between the two, but is there any minimum distance I should maintain between them, or any special precautions I should take ?

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:43 pm
by sparx
Hi Andy,
Ideal min. dist. is 50mm(2") however as not always poss. the main thing is to get some heat insulation between them as wiring must be down graded for current carrying capacity if run at elevated temps.
Can you use short lengths of plastic 'H20'-'Hep-pipe' as it gives of less heat than CU. Also to comply with bldg regs sleeve over pipes with next size up CU. pipe which should help as you can then infill with plaster etc. between pipe sleeve & cables,
regards SPARX