[Question] Surfix through wall

[ChrisH]

In terms of "the code", does the aluminium sheath in Surfix cable negate the need for using conduit when passing through walls? i.e. is it acceptable to pass surfix through a 10 mm hole to mount a lamp without boring a 20 mm hole to install conduit, provided no fire can pass through the hole?

[AndyD]

It's acceptable to install surfix either on the surface or under plaster without containment but reinstatement of a fire barrier back to its original spec is a different thing entirely.

[ACEsterhuizen]

As Andy said: Only exclusion is concrete. Under screed it must be on E/Leakage. Also note UV issue.

6.3.6 PVC insulated multicore cables with a bare earthing conductor
and round cable with metal stiffening: (ROUND Surfix as we know it - not "flattex")

6.3.6.1 The cables may be installed
a) on the surface,
b) under plaster,
c) under a raised floor,
d) in hollows (such as in walls and partitions) (no additional protection
being needed),
e) in roof spaces,
f) direct in the ground (see 6.4.4.2, unarmoured buried cables),
g) outdoors or exposed to water (but unless the manufacturer proves
that the cables can withstand ultraviolet radiation, the cable shall be
out of sight of the sky), and
h) under screed if protected by an earth leakage protection device with a
rated earth leakage tripping current (rated residual current) IΔn not
exceeding 30 mA. Amdt 5
6.3.6.2 These cables shall not be buried direct in concrete.

[ChrisH]

It's acceptable to install surfix either on the surface or under plaster without containment but reinstatement of a fire barrier back to its original spec is a different thing entirely.

Surely 8mm surfix in a 10mm hole is more fire resilient than 8mm surfix in 20 mm plastic conduit?

[AndyD]

It's kinda a moot point because if you've penetrated a fire barrier neither would be acceptable, you'd still need to reinstate the fire barrier after the installation regardless of which method you've used.

[ACEsterhuizen]

This might also help regarding wiring through walls: (and if it is a fire break)

Page 149:

6.4.8 Wiring through building elements:

6.4.8.1 If wiring has to pass right through a building element such as a
floor, a wall, a partition, or a ceiling, conductors and busbars shall be in a
non-flammable enclosure or wireway.

6.4.8.2 If the building element is a fire break, the space around
a) a cable,
b) a wireway, or
c) the wiring in a wireway, if the internal cross-sectional area of the
wireway exceeds 13 000 mm2,
shall be completely filled with non-flammable material over the full
thickness of the building element.

NOTE 1 Mineral wool is non-flammable.
NOTE 2 A local authority or fire officer could require extra safety measures to be
taken.

[Gtfast]

Hi ,
If one has existing surfix only through a house wall .Would the best way to rectify the problem be to disconnect and remove the surfix from the wall , drill and insert 20mm PVC conduit through the drilled hole , add a PVC elbow on either side of the wall to the 20mm conduit ,add 20mm pvc conduit to the elbows on both sides of the wall ,add a two way round box to the added 20mm conduit on both sides of the wall , add PVC glands to the two way round boxes on both sides of the wall , install the surfix cable through this setup. Would this be legal .How would one sort the problem out .