SWA fire rated fixings

In the past, if appearance is important, (only on one occasion to be honest but it's relevant!) I've used non punched steel banding (actually steel strapping from a pack of brick that was on site!) and fitted it round the cable inside a regular cleat, simply whack a pilot hole through and screw in as normal*


*using fire rated masonry fixings, dewalt wall dogs in my case.


Ended up being invisible, but if the installation ever gets involved in a fire, the steel banding should last.


If my description is difficult... think of a self made p-clip inside the conventional cleat.

I do like that idea I had thought about around a cleat but then figured if that melted it would allow cable to droop

My understanding of the regulations (which is likely to be flawed but this is the forum on which to find out what the flaw is, after all!) is that some deformation would be acceptable (indeed unavoidable)... after all the building's on fire... it's collapse of the cabling to the point where it may impede movement that's to be avoided. So deforming and becoming all S shaped is fine, provided none of the loops are capable of trapping someone, whether it be an escaping occupant or a member of the rescue services (the fire Brigade being the most usual victims ?)


Hence the seemingly common advice with clipped direct wiring to use one of the relatively expensive metal clips for every [some small number] of normal plastic clips

Agreed - every other couple of clips should be fine.

If they want it to look really neat, then factor the extra cost of 100% usage of fire clips into your quote.

Apply the 3 'F's 'Function First and Foremost'. If it looks pretty once you have finished then you have a bonus!