Jump to content

Wiring up an icf house


Russell griffiths

Recommended Posts

I’m just about to start first fix wiring and looking for wisdom on how people ran wires when on an polystyrene icf wall. 

 

Im fully aware of the need to separate the wires away from the polystyrene, wondering what people have done to keep the separation. 

 

Im meeting the electrician later in the week and we have a number of ideas kicking about, but I thought it would be good to see what others have done. 

 

The ideas range from cutting a 25mm deep chase in the wall and lining it with foil tape, to installing a rectangular conduit the type with the clip on face. 

 

Any thoughts @willbish

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@TonyT the only area that is an issue is running cables on any of the icf surfaces. 

 

First floor is I joist so no problem there, ceiling has a service batten so no problem there it’s a couple of the icf walls will have switches or sockets but no service batten to create a void, so cables will need to go in the surface of the icf, so need a method of isolating them from the polystyrene. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nothing definitive yet @Russell griffiths. I wish I was that far along, Im still waiting for my plumbing schematic ?

 

Are you sure separation is required if you are using low smoke cables? I know these are different to standard PVC cable but I haven't done the research yet.

 

Im not sure if tape in the chase would stay put long enough...

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

I’m just about to start first fix wiring and looking for wisdom on how people ran wires when on an polystyrene icf wall. 

 

Im fully aware of the need to separate the wires away from the polystyrene, wondering what people have done to keep the separation. 

 

Im meeting the electrician later in the week and we have a number of ideas kicking about, but I thought it would be good to see what others have done. 

 

The ideas range from cutting a 25mm deep chase in the wall and lining it with foil tape, to installing a rectangular conduit the type with the clip on face. 

 

Any thoughts @willbish

Just a tip. Have you decided on your switches as it can make a massive difference to your wiring? Only reason I am telling you is we wired traditionally as we had not decided on switches at this point. FF a couple of years and we decided to go with I lumos switches and they use a lot less wires so you can save quite a bit on sparky time. What I would say is the I lumos look lovely and when they work they are great but it is a steep learning curve wiring these switches but that is another story!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, willbish said:

Nothing definitive yet @Russell griffiths. I wish I was that far along, Im still waiting for my plumbing schematic ?

 

Are you sure separation is required if you are using low smoke cables? I know these are different to standard PVC cable but I haven't done the research yet.

 

Im not sure if tape in the chase would stay put long enough...

 

Don’t want to take the risk really, for the cost of a couple of lengths of conduit. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
On 13/12/2020 at 16:47, Russell griffiths said:

it’s a couple of the icf walls will have switches or sockets but no service batten to create a void,

 

@Russell griffiths is it ok then to have the PVC cables near the EPS (so running within a 25mm void between EPS and plasterboard where they may touch the EPS), providing they are not embedded? Will make my life easier when I get to that stage

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Adam2 said:

 

@Russell griffiths is it ok then to have the PVC cables near the EPS (so running within a 25mm void between EPS and plasterboard where they may touch the EPS), providing they are not embedded? Will make my life easier when I get to that stage

I don’t know that’s why I asked, I have a lot of walls that will only have a light switch on, so I’m not going to batten the whole wall just for one switch, that’s the walls I was going to chase out. 

@willbish thinks the low smoke cable is ok in contact with the eps, if you look at any American vids they are still chasing the eps and pushing the cables in, but they are Americans ??‍♂️  

Im just trying to be careful so a 3m drop down from ceiling to switch I plan to fit conduit to be safe. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, Adam2 said:

 

@Russell griffiths is it ok then to have the PVC cables near the EPS (so running within a 25mm void between EPS and plasterboard where they may touch the EPS), providing they are not embedded? Will make my life easier when I get to that stage


no the polystyrene will attack the cabling.

cabling sheath will go sticky and cable starts to degrade. 


put cable in metal conduit drops to prevent cable touching 

 

or staple DPC to sheet and clip cable to sheet 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...