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Vermin control in a new electrical Installation-Old large house

Billy Boy
Hi 

I would like to know if anyone has had the experience to install an electrical installation designed for Vermin control, ie rats, mice, Glis Glis,  etc

We are looking to take on a large house refurb in the country and part of the design spec is to carry out an installation that will protect against Vermin.

So would we be looking at a twin and earth system, or a complete screwed conduit system?

to be clear it is an old house with large old joists so a conduit system would be very hard and expensive.

Is there a risk assessment for such installations? and is there a wiring spec or IET guidance?


Thanks in advance


Billy


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    Sparkingchip:




    Chris Pearson:




    Sparkingchip:

    If the old house is being totally renovated then there should not be a vermin problem upon completion of the work, if it’s a partial renovation then cables need to be routed and installed appropriately to avoid vermin damage.




    There won't a vermin problem in the sense that the electrical installation will be brand new, but how do you keep them out in future?



    In the same way you improve the thermal efficiency of the house, fill the holes in behind the consumer unit etc. It will also reduce the risk of fire spreading within the property .




    Sparkingchip:

    Regards the original topic.


    If you are going to install steel conduit you are going to have to take up all the timber floors to notch the joists, you cannot pull steel conduit in without doing so, rather than doing that the client may as well pay someone to tske up the floor boards around the perimeter of the building and point around the joist ends as well as filling any open brickwork joists to prevent vermin accessing the floor voids as well as stopping draught and fire stopping. The clients money will be better spent on pointing than conduit.


    Having said that there aren't many properties that are totally vermin proof, the little sods have been in my own roof at different times and chewed some Christmas decorations amongst other thing, but I don't get paranoid about it, which is a good job as a bit back I left the patio doors open and a mouse ran past me as I set on the settee them a few days later a squirrel did exactly the same thing. 


    As I suggested above. Multiple notches won't work and even with 8" joists, you would struggle to put in 25 mm conduit.


    And is there a change of mind about rat-proofing? I just don't believe that it is possible in an old large house. Some years ago, I was painting my soffits and I even had to replace an eroded brick where squirrels had been entering. As a matter of course I replaced some guttering. When I went up aloft in the cherry-picker the following day, the critters had chewed out a great big chunk in their attempt to get in again.


    Don't even mention foxes and above all, badgers! ? ? 


    Note to Lisa - why no badger 'emoji'?
Reply
  • 0

    Sparkingchip:




    Chris Pearson:




    Sparkingchip:

    If the old house is being totally renovated then there should not be a vermin problem upon completion of the work, if it’s a partial renovation then cables need to be routed and installed appropriately to avoid vermin damage.




    There won't a vermin problem in the sense that the electrical installation will be brand new, but how do you keep them out in future?



    In the same way you improve the thermal efficiency of the house, fill the holes in behind the consumer unit etc. It will also reduce the risk of fire spreading within the property .




    Sparkingchip:

    Regards the original topic.


    If you are going to install steel conduit you are going to have to take up all the timber floors to notch the joists, you cannot pull steel conduit in without doing so, rather than doing that the client may as well pay someone to tske up the floor boards around the perimeter of the building and point around the joist ends as well as filling any open brickwork joists to prevent vermin accessing the floor voids as well as stopping draught and fire stopping. The clients money will be better spent on pointing than conduit.


    Having said that there aren't many properties that are totally vermin proof, the little sods have been in my own roof at different times and chewed some Christmas decorations amongst other thing, but I don't get paranoid about it, which is a good job as a bit back I left the patio doors open and a mouse ran past me as I set on the settee them a few days later a squirrel did exactly the same thing. 


    As I suggested above. Multiple notches won't work and even with 8" joists, you would struggle to put in 25 mm conduit.


    And is there a change of mind about rat-proofing? I just don't believe that it is possible in an old large house. Some years ago, I was painting my soffits and I even had to replace an eroded brick where squirrels had been entering. As a matter of course I replaced some guttering. When I went up aloft in the cherry-picker the following day, the critters had chewed out a great big chunk in their attempt to get in again.


    Don't even mention foxes and above all, badgers! ? ? 


    Note to Lisa - why no badger 'emoji'?
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