One for the sparkies please

[waddycall]

Im about to sort out the alcove next to our chimney breast. It contains the pipework and electrics for our heating system. My plan is to fix some stud work to the wall and plasterboard over the lot with a couple of access panels set in for getting to the pipe stats and junction box. What I'm not sure of is what I should be doing with the wiring that's hidden behind the plasterboard. Should it only run in certain areas or directions to avoid being drilled or screwed into in future? Any suggestions?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

View attachment 119749 Im about to sort out the alcove next to our chimney breast. It contains the pipework and electrics for our heating system. My plan is to fix some stud work to the wall and plasterboard over the lot with a couple of access panels set in for getting to the pipe stats and junction box. What I'm not sure of is what I should be doing with the wiring that's hidden behind the plasterboard. Should it only run in certain areas or directions to avoid being drilled or screwed into in future? Any suggestions?

Vertical or horizontal runs only and so long as it's RCD protected you should be fine.

 

[Kayos]

I'd get rid of the back boiler first, no pipes or wires to worry about then

 

[dobbslc]

Nah run it in daiaganals all over the place and just twist the terminations together! Oh wait that's from the KITCHEN FITTERS regs book......
As above straight up down and horizontally across from any boxes. I'd personally make a large lift out section to access it all in one go if I was going to do that.

 

[MoreWellie]

couple of access panels

what about putting a normal door and frame in to make it a slim cupboard, or maybe bring the door forward a bit and use it as a real cupboard

you can ignore this suggestion as I am not a qualified sparkie

 

[brightspark]

bring the 2 thermostat wires together and across. square the top left ones down and across in to box .make joint box accessible the whole lot will be set back further than 50 mm so no need for extra protection http://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/54/cables-in-walls/index.cfm

 

[waddycall]

Cheers guys. I'll go with bs's suggestion - I need to move the junction box up a bit anyway.

Nah run it in daiaganals all over the place and just twist the terminations together! Oh wait that's from the KITCHEN FITTERS regs book......
As above straight up down and horizontally across from any boxes. I'd personally make a large lift out section to access it all in one go if I was going to do that.

Funnily enough that was my first idea but in he interests of getting it done I'm trying to keep it simple. I'd also be stressing over seeing the joins in a lift out panel!

 

[sg66]

I would go with the get rid of b/boiler

 

[waddycall]

I would go with the get rid of b/boiler

Actually it works really well. There's no gas where we are so it stays!

 

[Parm]

I would move all the pipes and electrics as far right as I could then box it all in

 

[brightspark]

I would move all the pipes and electrics as far right as I could then box it all in

what -purpose would it serve apart from more expense and work for no gain

 

[Parm]

what -purpose would it serve apart from more expense and work for no gain

Probably none but my OCD on such matters would do my head in knowing the mess behind any paneling etc

 

[Kayos]

I would move all the pipes and electrics as far right as I could then box it all in

It could stand to be tidied a fair bit, and lose the capped off dead leg

 

[waddycall]

Not draining this til I really have to!

 

[brightspark]

if its not broke don't fix it

 

[angellonewolf]

make a cupboard with a false back or book case again with false back

 

[500e]

All those dead ends & multiple joints I just could not leave them, would wake in the night having visions of every one of them leaking, & control box on the floor, why? move next to junction box shorten wires then move remaining wire into corner
So is this OCD Parm if so I have that as well

 

[brightspark]

All those dead ends & multiple joints I just could not leave them, would wake in the night having visions of every one of them leaking, & control box on the floor, why move nexto junction box shorter wire
So is this OCD Parm if so I have that as well

good job u haven't my job u would commit suicide working with what I see. u would need a fat wallet to tidy most stuff up

 

[waddycall]

If my only purpose in life was to sort out this alcove I'd probably go to town on it as some have suggested. But I actually need to get it done over the next two days. I'm a heating engineer. I didn't install this but see no reason to rip it apart just to make it look better when I'm going to box it in anyway! It works and doesn't leak. It's also a fairly old micro bore system so best left alone as it works fine.

Thanks for the suggestions, Pete.