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DIY domestic wiring to outbuildings

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hello, I am new to the forums and would like to introduce myself. In the past I have undertaken a lot of domestic wiring as a DIYer. Most of this predated the Part P requirements. However, in 2013 I undertook a fairly major wiring project at my home that included two new consumer units and half a dozen or so circuits. I did this under building control and they arranged inspection and testing. I secured a full set of certificates to underpin my work. I am about to go through the same process to add in two outbuildings to my set up. I have submitted a building notice and am awaiting to hear from Building Control re appointment of a firm to undertake inspection and testing.

Whilst I gather most DIY work scares many of you you, worth pointing out that whilst I am not any form of electrical Engineer, I do have (from many years ago) a HND in Mechanical and Production Engineering and a B Eng (Hons) in Engineering Technology. Both of these included a significant element of electrical technology and electronics. I have also worked in engineering (aerospace) for much of of my early career and still work in a STEM environment. Further,  intend to do a short course on the latest regulations and may also undertake a C&G course on testing and inspection to possibly get to a point where I can register with one of the governing bodies.

I have come to this forum as I am designing my changes and preparing for the first fix. i have been seeking guidance on the internet and from the regulations themselves. I find the regulations open to many interpretations and the advice on many forums to be wildly different. I really want to get this installation right and will have many questions, most requiring practical experience that I simply do not have. I believe this forum will be able to guide me in the right direction when I need it.


My first question relates to burial of SWA. I had a digger in last week to put in a series of trenches for cables. I intend to do all of the external wiring in SWA and in an ideal world would have buried it at 600mm. However, I have places in the garden where it is not possible to get that deep. For an example, under one lawn I have an underground structure that limits the trench depth to 300mm. What would be a appropriate method for installing SWA at this depth? Do I need to add something to prevent a spade/fork penetrating the cable, if so, what would you recommend? I also need to watch my budget here so looking for cost effective views if possible.


There will be further questions. Thank you.


regards

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    There used to be a small water works about half a mile from where we live, it eventually became an industrial water supplier to factories near Queensferry (Flintshire) until the 1980's. Perhaps just as well it was industrial water, since feeding into it was the outfall from Wrexham - Bidston railway track drain. The site was eventually sold for housing, but prior to this a plot of land about half a mile towards Queensfarry was sold with outline planning consent. The owner of this site was not too keen on some valve gear sticking up out of the ground in what would be the frontage of his planned property.  I looked one day and it had gone.  Cut through and disposed of one of the valves between the water works and the factories. Luckily not in use.  Also running through the old waterworks site is a 27 inch asbestos-cement water main connecting a waterworks (potable water) to a distribution reservoir. Luckily the house builders manged to not put a JCB bucket through it!  For good measure, the other side of the hedge is the Shell Anglesea - Stanlow Refinery oil pipeline, now decommissioned for oil and in use for HP gas.

    Clive
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    There used to be a small water works about half a mile from where we live, it eventually became an industrial water supplier to factories near Queensferry (Flintshire) until the 1980's. Perhaps just as well it was industrial water, since feeding into it was the outfall from Wrexham - Bidston railway track drain. The site was eventually sold for housing, but prior to this a plot of land about half a mile towards Queensfarry was sold with outline planning consent. The owner of this site was not too keen on some valve gear sticking up out of the ground in what would be the frontage of his planned property.  I looked one day and it had gone.  Cut through and disposed of one of the valves between the water works and the factories. Luckily not in use.  Also running through the old waterworks site is a 27 inch asbestos-cement water main connecting a waterworks (potable water) to a distribution reservoir. Luckily the house builders manged to not put a JCB bucket through it!  For good measure, the other side of the hedge is the Shell Anglesea - Stanlow Refinery oil pipeline, now decommissioned for oil and in use for HP gas.

    Clive
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