Main service cables hidden

If those cables are the supply tails then IMO that would be regarded as unsafe.

!. they are covered and inaccessible to inspection

2. out of any practicable zoning

3. no reasonable overload/short circuit/earth fault protection

well, if it was done before 1988 or so when all this zones malarky came in, it might have been compliant That is academic, as now you have uncovered them they cannot simply be re-covered. But as they are on the DNO side of the meter, if I understand you right, then you cannot simply disconnect and reroute them, and depending how it is fed, there is a risk that neither can the DNO without turning part of the street off.

They would be OK visible, or more than 4 inches deep, or behind something un-drillable, but with modern power tools this third option may not be as easy as it was 20 years ago. metal trunking looks a bit industrial but reminds folk there is wiring within.

A not quite compliant but safer thing to do would be to cover the opening with something that indicated cables within - "caution cables beneath this wooden panel " type thing.

Mike.

Thanks Mike.

The extension was definitely way before 1988. 

Yes correct, they are DNO side of meter.

So this is a bit of a headache. Other than adding a label as you suggest, can you think of any other options?

Could I try and channel the brick a bit, the. Add a 5mm thick steel plate over it to prevent any drilling?

Alternatively, could I cut out enough brick so I can pull through the DNO fuses  and meter with out disconnecting them, and mount them and the CU on that side of the wall. But would that then be against DNO rules?

And final alternative, could try and fit the DNO cables in UPVC trucking? 

They need mechanical protection if being reburied. A 5mm steel plate would help. Otherwise they need to be covered by something visible which says it contains live cables. Some plastic trunking mounted on the surface in order to be visible should suffice.Do not cut into brick to bury the trunking by plastering over it - you'd be no better off.

A nice piece of wood to cover them and a nice warning notice would do.

Z.

Obviously you can't do anything in the way of RCD or earthed covering protection - not upstream of the DNO's fuse. Mechanical protection is very dubious in these days of nail guns etc.. I agree the best bet is either to leave it uncovered or cover it is such a way that it's obvious that there's something there - perhaps the lid from a large adaptable box or similar. It can be painted to blend in with the decor but still look like something that isn't plain wall.

The other option (and probably officially the better one) is just to contact the DNO and let them sort it out - it is their equipment and therefore their problem after all. There may have other objections to what's happened (e.g. are the cables running through thermal insulation in the roof space, or because they're now concealed in building structures, potentially at more risk of 'abstraction' than they would like. Perhaps running in a modern concentric cable, perhaps by a different route, would be the better solution all round.

BTW - there look to be 4off 1-core cables there - is this a looped service or a 3-phase supply?

   - Andy.

Hi Andy,

No, only 2x 1core cables live, the other two have been cut off and none live.

I am right in thinking there would be a charge from DNO as ultimately the occupier had the extension built over the DNOs cabling? 

oh yes, the DNO will charge for re-routing cable that is essentially because of something the customer has done.

Mike.

Thanks for all the replies on this.

As identified, I will take the recommended route of putting some form of visual reference to the cabling. Wide trunking is my immediate thought, ensuring its protruding from the finished plaster level

I did that in the back of a pantry - sloped wall running on underside of staircase. Cable clipped left to right and unprotected. So , a bit of trunking neatly horizontal to protect cable and warn of cable presence.

couple of weeks later I returned to find they`d got a plasterer to put a plaster coat over the whole lot therefore burying the cable just below the surface and no zone of protection warning. I give up!