Published: 15 June 2010
Category: Q&A
Our Voltimum Experts answer your questions on a daily basis in our Technical Expertise area. This one, regarding domestic stud walls and insulation surrounding wiring, is answered by the ECA:
Question: There are conflicting reports regarding encasement of wiring in insulation-particularly in stud walls. Is it allowable to surround electrical wiring in domestic house walls with insulation - both traditional fibreglass and, in particular, the new expanding foam insulations?
Answer: Wherever practicable, cables should be fixed in a position such that they will not be covered with thermal insulation. But it is permissible to install cables covered with thermal insulation.
Where cables are surrounded by insulation, the current-carrying capacity of those cables might have to be down-rated according to the appropriate reference method given in Table 4A2 of the Wiring Regulations (BS7671:2008).
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