Electrical Installation

Charlie Charolais

Hi all,

We are at the chasing/elec 1st fix stage on a new build
Are there any items you would recommend we install electrically, for now & to future proof?

So far we have;
General sockets & switches
Cat 6 to all TV’s
UFH stats
wifi hotspots
Smoke alarm
Emergency lighting
Intruder alarm, linked to internal lights
Christmas switch is being considered....

Calahonda52

CCTV , some inside as well if you plan having pets: e.g. dogs or cats, not goldfish
5 Amp lighting circuits for table lamps with timers as security lighting.
Timers can be on consumer unit
wall mounted usb charging points

Dudda

You could consider 2 Cat 6 cables to all TV's as you'll probably have a sky box, playstation, Apple TV or some other device along with the TV that can connect to the internet.

I'd also consider wires for fire and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom, not just the circulation areas. Houses are getting more and more airtight and if mechanical ventilation was to breakdown during the night you could suffer carbon monoxide poisoning in a tiny bedroom. They are reviewing this as part of the new fire regulations.

JimmyMW

Charlie Charolais wrote: »

Hi all,

We are at the chasing/elec 1st fix stage on a new build
Are there any items you would recommend we install electrically, for now & to future proof?

So far we have;
General sockets & switches
Cat 6 to all TV’s
UFH stats
wifi hotspots
Smoke alarm
Emergency lighting
Intruder alarm, linked to internal lights
Christmas switch is being considered....

Can I ask you about the Emergency lighting, wifi hotspots, could you explain what you are doing with these two items, I am at a similar stage myself and I have not considered Emergency lighting or wifi hotspots

hufpc8w3adnk65

Make sure and wire for mains smoke alarms at the very least in the downstairs hall, landing, attic, gas boiler (carbon monoxide) kitchen (heat) but as stated there maybe in every room and have them all interlinked

Charlie Charolais

JimmyMW wrote: »

Can I ask you about the Emergency lighting, wifi hotspots, could you explain what you are doing with these two items, I am at a similar stage myself and I have not considered Emergency lighting or wifi hotspots

emergency lights are battery pack lights that come on if there is a power cut

eircom/hardwire connection is 300m away, we will have to lay duct etc so don't thinks its worth it. we'll get a wifi receiver, 1 booster upstairs & 1 downstairs to spread around the house, my understanding is the wifi is as quick as eircom anyway

Tom Hagen

anybody know if the chasing for electrics is done before metal frame suspended ceiling is installed?

sydthebeat

Tom Hagen wrote: »

anybody know if the chasing for electrics is done before metal frame suspended ceiling is installed?

definitely

first fix should be completed before the suspended ceiling
personally id even have the walls base coat plastered

ptogher14

Chasing should be done before the ceiling goes in. Makes life easier. It's easier to wire with the ceiling in as well but this may be dictated be your wall build up.

Tom Hagen

sydthebeat wrote: »

definitely

first fix should be completed before the suspended ceiling
personally id even have the walls base coat plastered

but when wiring for lights etc does the electrician not secure the cables to the metal frame ? or does he secure them to the bottom of the precast slab ?

sydthebeat

Tom Hagen wrote: »

but when wiring for lights etc does the electrician not secure the cables to the metal frame ? or does he secure them to the bottom of the precast slab ?

the bottom of the slab

Tom Hagen

that's sound lads thanks. once I've the roof on:
my mhrv guy wants to go in first, so then electrician 1st fix next, metal ceilings and slabbing,

quick question, when should scud and scratch plaster coat be applied ? before chasing?

sydthebeat

Tom Hagen wrote: »

that's sound lads thanks. once I've the roof on:
my mhrv guy wants to go in first, so then electrician 1st fix next, metal ceilings and slabbing,

quick question, when should scud and scratch plaster coat be applied ? before chasing?

Tom, have you not got a building contractor or an engineer / certifier on this project?

Tom Hagen

sydthebeat wrote: »

Tom, have you not got a building contractor or an engineer / certifier on this project?

good idea I better ring him. sound

Calahonda52

Tom Hagen wrote: »

that's sound lads thanks. once I've the roof on:
my mhrv guy wants to go in first, so then electrician 1st fix next, metal ceilings and slabbing,

quick question, when should scud and scratch plaster coat be applied ? before chasing?

If you are internally chasing the external walls and that inside face is your A/T layer, then you need to make the chase airtight as well before the conduit and socket boxes get fixed.

Some of us here saw what happens during the smoke test when this little detail was omitted. 17th Dec 2011, if I recall, a nice crisp frosty morning, without a hint of window and the smoke wafted and swirled out gently under the EWI from where the socket boxes were.:)

Tom Hagen

Calahonda52 wrote: »

If you are internally chasing the external walls and that inside face is your A/T layer, then you need to make the chase airtight as well before the conduit and socket boxes get fixed.

Some of us here saw what happens during the smoke test when this little detail was omitted. 17th Dec 2011, if I recall, a nice crisp frosty morning, without a hint of window and the smoke wafted and swirled out gently under the EWI from where the socket boxes were.:)

Cool thanks. Now that you've mentioned airtightness.
One mistake i made and only thought of it afterwards was i didnt wrap the hollowcores.
I see its mentioned here a good bit.

Could I now go back and put siga tape at the joint all around where the precast slab meets the internal wall?
Will this help as opposed to having nothing there?

( - trying to close the gate after the horse has bolted i know! )

mfceiling

Tom Hagen wrote: »

but when wiring for lights etc does the electrician not secure the cables to the metal frame ? or does he secure them to the bottom of the precast slab ?

Chase all walls first. If you have hrv or soil pipes under the hollowcore make sure they are installed.

Ceiling then goes in (scratch coat on walls should also be done before).

Idea of having the ceiling in is that electrician can "set out" lighting layout in rooms ie. position individual lights in the correct areas using the ceiling to keep all lights in line and in place.

Tom Hagen

mfceiling wrote: »

Chase all walls first. If you have hrv or soil pipes under the hollowcore make sure they are installed.

Ceiling then goes in (scratch coat on walls should also be done before).

Idea of having the ceiling in is that electrician can "set out" lighting layout in rooms ie. position individual lights in the correct areas using the ceiling to keep all lights in line and in place.

hi mfceiling,

so your saying the electrical chasing should be done first, and the plumbing first fix soil pipes etc, and mhrv ducting installed , and then the scud and scratch coats done, and then the metal ceilings installed ?

chillit

Any good tips on how to make the chases and socket boxes airtight. My engineer has suggested being them in bonding. I'm not sure that the electrican likes the sound of the extra work so I might do it myself

mfceiling

Tom Hagen wrote: »

hi mfceiling,

so your saying the electrical chasing should be done first, and the plumbing first fix soil pipes etc, and mhrv ducting installed , and then the scud and scratch coats done, and then the metal ceilings installed ?

That's it Tom!!

mfceiling

chillit wrote: »

Any good tips on how to make the chases and socket boxes airtight. My engineer has suggested being them in bonding. I'm not sure that the electrican likes the sound of the extra work so I might do it myself

Send a PM to hexosan on here. He used a thick sort of "rubber" paint which did the job. Probably was easier than trying to get bonding compound into the chase.

Rossdarragh1

Dudda wrote: »

You could consider 2 Cat 6 cables to all TV's as you'll probably have a sky box, playstation, Apple TV or some other device along with the TV that can connect to the internet.

I'd also consider wires for fire and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom, not just the circulation areas. Houses are getting more and more airtight and if mechanical ventilation was to breakdown during the night you could suffer carbon monoxide poisoning in a tiny bedroom. They are reviewing this as part of the new fire regulations.

I'm building in a very rural area where Cat 6 cables may never be of use. Should I still wire for them? Have decent Wifi through a nearby dish, is the best thing to do just wire for a router and a couple of hotspots? It's a 4000 sq ft bungalow.

Effects

I'd still wire for cat6 anyway. I can'e see being rural as a reason not to.

Metric Tensor

Wire for CAT6 - as above being rural doesn't matter. Any communications inside the house will be much more stable via wired connection. What's going on inside your house should be treated separately to your limited link with the outside world.