Vermin control in a new electrical Installation-Old large house

I just had a look for a photo, the first thing to consider is there is not any loft insulation lay across the ceiling, the whole loft is a warm space under the pitched thatch roof.


So the cables are lay across the back of the plaster board ceiling and joists completely exposed to view, all you have to do is enter the roof space and shine a torch about to inspect them, they are not within a a metre or so of the thatch at any point. So long as there is a regular inspection regime and vermin are kept at bay the risk is minimal.


Now on the other hand there is a 1970’s bungalow around the corner from here that has a low loft jamb packed with loft insulation concealing the cables and preventing full visual inspection, the loft insulation is riddled with holes where squirrels have been making themselves at home.


The twin and earth cable is far more of a risk in the 1970’s bungalow than the house with the thatched roof, but generally no one would worry about using twin and earth cable in a 1970’s bungalow.


Being a bit particular I replaced the grey PVC cables with white LSF twin and earth, so any one looking at it will know if it has been damaged since it was replaced rather than being a length of cable that didn’t get replaced.


Andy

I am still not getting this "satisfactory EICR" bit.

SECTION E. SUMMARY OF THE CONDITION OF THE INSTALLATION

General condition of the installation (in terms of electrical safety) ............................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Overall assessment of the installation in terms of its suitability for continued use

SATISFACTORY / UNSATISFACTORY* (Delete as appropriate)

*An unsatisfactory assessment indicates that dangerous (code C1) and/or potentially dangerous (code C2) conditions have been identified.

Yet another vote for MICC. It's still available, and while it may take 3x as long to install.. it is possible to completely seal the electrical connections. If you use BARE MI cable, it will remove the incentive for the little beasties to chew in the first place. They're after the sheathing and insulation material for nests. Copper doesn't qualify.

Or route the cables out of harms way and fill in all the holes you make in the fabric of the building.


You can get mice and other vermin in brand new houses if care isn’t taken building them.

Sparkingchip:

SECTION E. SUMMARY OF THE CONDITION OF THE INSTALLATION

General condition of the installation (in terms of electrical safety) ............................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Overall assessment of the installation in terms of its suitability for continued use

SATISFACTORY / UNSATISFACTORY* (Delete as appropriate)

*An unsatisfactory assessment indicates that dangerous (code C1) and/or potentially dangerous (code C2) conditions have been identified.

Okay, let us phrase this another way.  So the task below

The insurance company wanted a satisfactory EICR, because the first EICR that was issued said the installation had been chewed up by vermin hence it was unsatisfactory.

 

I completed an EICR stating that I had completely disconnected a electrical installation in a derelict house then a installation certificate for one double socket to supply a CCTV security system, because that’s what the insurance company wanted after several fires were started at the property.


Insurance companies are the originators and drivers of EICRs, it was insurance companies who originally set the required insulation test results, best give them what they want particularly if you are getting paid for it.


Last year I prepared three EICRs over several months for a housing association after the flat became empty three times due to the neighbours from hell as their policy is to obtain an EICR at each change of tenancy, one of which lasted four days; and yes I did prepopulate the paperwork leaving the test results to be confirmed onsite. They also have a no unsatisfactory EICR policy which means if you find a problem fix it, don’t write about it, as they cannot let a property with an electrical installation that is in an unsatisfactory condition. So that means I fixed all the issues before finalising the first of the three EICRs.


If the client wants a satisfactory EICR rather than an unsatisfactory EICR with several minor works certificates appended to it why argue?


Going back to the OP if you are installing soft cables in building voids then those voids need to be vermin free, so if the walls are dry lined with plaster board on dot and dabs then it should be done properly with solid dabs around the perimeter to stop mice running around behind it rather than having to enclose the cables in steel conduit. I worked on a housing site where the NHBC inspector made the plasterers go back through several houses and cut the plaster board out around the perimeter of the walls to fill it back in solidly because they hadn’t solid dabbed.


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.