Storm Glands.

I agree, I would be far happier using the standard CW SWA glands.

Using a hand brush as a plastering tool is novel.

However, look at part 2, fault finding. 

Legh

Humm, I wonder if he did find a 100mA S-type RCBO for the garage submain, or noticed last sentence of 542.1.3.3.  … ah the perils of installing first and thinking about the design later. Maybe he didn't want a brass gland into a steel CU after all.

Very strange that the faults caused by “someone” tugging the cables back towards the CU and catching the capping weren't noticed by the householder previously.

   - Andy.

Legh Richardson: 
 

I agree, I would be far happier using the standard CW SWA glands.

Using a hand brush as a plastering tool is novel.

However, look at part 2, fault finding. 

Legh

The fault finding video made me dizzy as they ran about so much.

Why use metal capping for the short run from the ceiling to the consumer unit just below anyway?

So Watson, who did the violent pulling of the damaged cables? I think we should be told.

Z.

AJJewsbury: 
 

Humm, I wonder if he did find a 100mA S-type RCBO for the garage submain, or noticed last sentence of 542.1.3.3.  … ah the perils of installing first and thinking about the design later. Maybe he didn't want a brass gland into a steel CU after all.

Very strange that the faults caused by “someone” tugging the cables back towards the CU and catching the capping weren't noticed by the householder previously.

   - Andy.

It was a split load consumer unit. The circuits to the right were not R.C.D. protected in the old board. And the damaging of the earthing conductor would cause no problems, even if it did earth up the metal capping. If a T.&E. cable from the right was partially damaged and the fault resistance was high to the metal capping an M.C.B. would not operate. Fortunately the wall was dry so could not become dangerously live.

Would we have found the problems, and further investigated,  as the insulation resistance was about 2M Ohms so complied?

Z.

It was a split load consumer unit. The circuits to the right were not R.C.D. protected in the old board. 

Indeed - and the faulty circuit was for sockets - so more than likely on the RCD side even on a “16th Ed” board. A large G/Y had also been snagged onto the capping, so providing a reasonably low earth fault path. I still think it seems implausible that the fault was pre-existing but didn't give any problems for the householder.

    - Andy.

Why use metal capping for the short run from the ceiling to the consumer unit just below anyway?

‘twas standard practice back in the 1980s - when houses were plastered with two coats of wet plaster (rather than being dot-and-dabbed with plasterboard). Anywhere cables could have damaged by a plasterer’s trowel (which usually had razor sharp edges if the plasterer was any good) and the damage hidden under the plaster, capping went on, no matter how short a run. I don't think electricians used to trust plasterers much in those days.

(It was often quicker to nail on one bit of capping than clip several cables individually too)

  - Andy.

We moved away from metal capping and used plastic oval conduit held to the wall using conduit crampets to reduce the possibility of nicking the PVC sheath./s. 

Legh 

Legh Richardson: 
 

We moved away from metal capping and used plastic oval conduit held to the wall using conduit crampets to reduce the possibility of nicking the PVC sheath./s. 

Legh 

LOL. Legh will understand this.

Back in the 80’s when I was a subbie carpenter on new housing sites the two Steve’s were working for Big Bert as labour only subbies.

To hold the window boards in place we were using fixings that looked like Meccano screwdrivers with a thread on the end of them, these were screwed into the back of the window boards  and fixed to the wall with galvanised steel fencing staples, then the dryliners were supposed to put a dab of adhesive over them when they stuck the plasterboards to the wall.

The guy I was subbing to supplied and the fixings and was outraged because the two Steve’s were dipping into the big box of fencing staples taking them to clip the meter tails and main earth conductors to the walls behind the dry lining.

He was venting his rage whilst we had a cup of tea, I told him I had already cussed them for nicking the staples and also for bringing meter tails up the wall behind the dry lining without any indication of where they were right where we were go to be fixing the hand rails up the side of the stairs.

When Big Bert retired the two Steve’s took the contracts on and built it up to being one of the top fifty electrical contractors in the country, no longer doing the work onsite themselves ?

Legh Richardson: 
 

We moved away from metal capping and used plastic oval conduit held to the wall using conduit crampets to reduce the possibility of nicking the PVC sheath./s. 

Legh 

It is easier to pull through a new cable if needed with plastic oval conduit, compared to using metal capping where one side of  the cable is against a rough surface.

Z.

AJJewsbury: 
 

It was a split load consumer unit. The circuits to the right were not R.C.D. protected in the old board. 

Indeed - and the faulty circuit was for sockets - so more than likely on the RCD side even on a “16th Ed” board. A large G/Y had also been snagged onto the capping, so providing a reasonably low earth fault path. I still think it seems implausible that the fault was pre-existing but didn't give any problems for the householder.

    - Andy.

You are building a strong case Andy that the video producing sparks was responsible for the cable pulling and damage, or his side kick who has now left.

Z.