Req deph for burried cable

Cables to be installed in ducts or pipes in the ground
are not required by BS 7671 to have armouring and/or
a metal sheath, if the duct or pipe is sufficiently
strong to resist likely mechanical damage. In case of
doubt, a cable fulfilling the requirements of
Regulation 522-06-03 should be provided.
Protective conductors which are buried directly in the
ground must comply with the requirements of
Regulation 542-03-01.
All buried cables must be marked by cable covers or a
suitable marker tape, and buried conduits or ducts
must also be suitably identified. A warning tape
above the duct or conduit run would be suitable.
Cables, conduits and ducts must be buried deep
enough to avoid being damaged by any disturbance
of the ground reasonably likely to occur. This could
include gardening/horticultural works, excavating for
any local buried service pipes etc. Generally, it is better
to locate cables etc. clear of such possible works.

A depth of burial of less than 500 mm is usually
inadvisable as shallow laid cables may be
inadvertently damaged by general gardening etc.
Cables that cannot be buried at a reasonable depth
should be specifically protected, e.g. by ducts encased
in concrete, or installed along an alternative route.
Before any excavation is undertaken for cable or
other works HSE guidance booklet HSG47 "Avoiding
danger from underground services" should be
studied, as it provides valuable advice on safety
aspects.
It is important to be able to identify exactly where
hidden services are located and accurate records,
including drawings, should be made before trenches
are backfilled. Cable routes should be located on
drawings by dimensions from some fixed object that is
not expected to change for a considerable time, (e.g. a
building). Road and pathway features may be relatively
easily changed. Scale drawings are of little value unless
very detailed. Concrete route markers may be installed
at changes of direction of cable routes and at regular
intervals along routes.

 

18".

 

How can you argue with 500mm quoted from the Regs ?

 

NJUG Publication 7:

http://www.njug.org.uk/pdfpublications/Utilities%20Guidelines%20on%20Positioning%20and%20Colour%20Coding%20of%20Apparatus.pdf

450mm cover under footpaths (and private land)
600mm cover under roads

Also as stated in New Roads and Street Works Act 1991: Sections 79 and 80 - consultation paper.

 

The original question and your answer could be streets apart,as a Utilities in a footway was not mentioned.

 

Water Regulations Guide R4.15 says 450mm.

Shows a nice diagram of all service depths and separation distances. Refers to NJUG6 which is, I think, obsolete. limestone cowboy refers to NJUG7 which is also obsolete, but his link does link to the current recommendations.

 

Page 213 table 4A1 BS 7671 (brown book )

Installation methoud 17/18/19 would be relevent

If you look there it gives minimum dimensions for cables in trenches...

SF

 

Find a gravedigger - offer him cash-in-hand.

6 feet should be deep enough.

 

Find a gravedigger - offer him cash-in-hand.

6 feet should be deep enough.


Cracking reply there BAS,I am still laughing now...........