Browse Forums Heating, Cooling & Insulation 1 Dec 26, 2019 1:42 pm I'm renovating an older home and just trying to find some information on the standards/best practice of putting fibreglass insulation around electrical cables in wall cavities. I've had an electrician do some work previously and he didn't have any problem with power cables inside conduit surrounded by insulation (specifically 3 runs of 2.5mm in 25mm flexible pvc conduit). Some of the things I read though questions whether this should be done. I'm also specifically interested in how to deal with this for mains power lead in cables. Do I have to leave that stud cavity bay uninsulated? If I need to run these cables through an already insulated cavity will this be an issue? Any advice appreciated Re: Fibreglass Insulation Around Electrical Cables 2Dec 27, 2019 3:34 pm Thermal insulation around cables has an impact on the current carying capacity of the cable whether it is partially surrounded or totally surrounded. There is a table in AS3000 that gives the amount of current a cable is able to carry depending on the installation method and then that is what determines the size of circuit breaker to install on that circuit. Be aware that when cables totally surrounded in insulation are installed in that manner it can have a huge impact on the load the cable is able to carry. Re: Fibreglass Insulation Around Electrical Cables 3Dec 28, 2019 7:33 pm 99.9% of houses with insulation has it stuffed in however it fits. 99.9% of electricians don’t get paid enough to carefully wire the house so that there is enough flex in the cable to move it behind the insulation. 99.9% of home owners don’t want to pay double so the electrician can run conduit throughout the house. Re: Fibreglass Insulation Around Electrical Cables 4Dec 28, 2019 8:31 pm Berek 99.9% of houses with insulation has it stuffed in however it fits. 99.9% of electricians don’t get paid enough to carefully wire the house so that there is enough flex in the cable to move it behind the insulation. 99.9% of home owners don’t want to pay double so the electrician can run conduit throughout the house. Re: Fibreglass Insulation Around Electrical Cables 6Dec 29, 2019 10:53 pm I stand corrected. Under “Health and safety tips” it says... Electrical wiring must be appropriately sized or it may overheat when covered by insulation. Have it inspected by a licensed electrician. You’re on the right track, wire brush in a grinder then a zinc rich epoxy primer then a top coat of some sort, like a waterproofing membrane. Raising the concrete would… 1 7035 Thanks splashers, that makes sense. The waterproofing guy used this Davco product, I will raise the issue with builder and hopefully get resolved with him - if not… 2 12897 |