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mains voltage cable through a 'blocked up' chimney space (flue)

psychicwarrior

hello good day

There have been many questions over time on this subject and surprisingly [to me] it seems that more often than not there is little/no objection to doing so... even suggesting in some cases that it is no different to running cables in/through/down wall cavities. There is no specific regulatory reason ever presented either to suggest not.

My take has always been that the/a fire place and chimney , even if blocked up,  (and similar to a wall cavity) has a specific purpose and is not expected to carry cables within/though it; is/can be subject to environmental factors [arguably] difficult to mitigate; might get repurposed again (in case of blocked up fireplace). Based on that, despite being asked, I've not ever run cables within/through such.

The other day I was questioned and considered as being over-cautious  regarding [yet another] request for a socket behind a tv on a chimney breast, with a blocked up fireplace below (complete with air vent grille) of course.  "Cant you just drill into it and take a wire through from a socket on the side to the socket behind the TV position, as it would be the easiest option".  No I said again leaving out he fishing of cable etc.

Well, always willing to review being over cautious and take correction,   so what's the view from folks on this forum ...  have 'you' done such  ,  or think it similarly inappropriate  ?  

  • 0

    a pipe that happens to be full of soot. 

    Indeed - my worry would be the chemical composition of the soot - often it's a cocktail of all sorts of nasties, especially if it was a coal fire, including stuff like creosote, which is known to be unkind to PVC cables....

    Maybe if the cable was run through a bit of flexible conduit - both to protect it from the soot and provide a little support/protection where it emerges from the drilled holes through brickwork.

    As for signage, as I understand it, to comply with building regs, flue data ("notice plate") is meant to be located if not at the flue itself, then at the CU or water stop cock ... so a suitable sign there drawing attention to the to the cable inside the flue should be seen by anyone properly installing a new a fire/stove etc.

       - Andy.

  • 0 in reply to mapj1
    mapj1 said:
    it will probably end up being lined as well

    Don't get me started! Of course, most people pay up because they do not know any better. For a stove, as opposed to an open hearth, what is wrong with a register plate where the (steel) flue goes up the chimbley?

  • 0 in reply to mapj1

    That looks to me like a Swiss socket on the wall.

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