Power cable in back yard - asbestos sheath?

[Gavgnr]

Please could I ask some advice regarding this as I'm very worried about it.

I bought a Victorian terrace a couple of years ago and in the back yard there is a power cable running from the house to the garage.

I have no idea when the garage was built but I'm guessing it was quite some time ago.

Most of the cable is concealed within a wall but part of it is exposed where it enters the house. I've never paid much attention to it until I was watching something on TV which got me worrying that it's asbestos insulated cabling.

Our house was renovated by the guy we bought it iff and you can see from the pictures that the cable has been painted over.

I've had a look in the wall cavity where the cable enters and where the cable is not painted and it seems to be a dirty grey/brown colour.

To touch, the cable is hard and not rubbery or anything.

Should I be worried about this?

Any advice much appreciated.

Read more: //www.diynot.com/diy/threads/power-cable-in-back-yard-asbestos-sheath.432265/#ixzz3XSZmD2Cs

 

[winston1]

The problem with asbestos is that it give fine fibres if it is disturbed. The fact that it is painted will stop this happening so worry not.

 

[Aragorn84]

I've never heard of asbestos insulated cabling.

Its probably Pyro/MICC.

 

[yorkspark]

Looking at the cleats it looks like swa cable, perfectly safe and if I remember there was a make which had a hard pvc coating. Can you take pics of either end where it terminates?

 

[Gavgnr]

Thanks for the replies.

Not really able to take pics of where the cable terminates as one end is concealed in the wall and the other disappears into the house.

To be honest I'm too scared to touch it at the minute!

I know it sounds daft but I'm a bit of a panicker about this sort of stuff as I have a nipper that runs around in this yard

I know it's hard to tell from the part that's painted, but I was worried when I saw the non painted bit which is within the wall (You can just see a bit of it in the 1st photo) as it's a brown/grey colour and feels like material rather than rubber/plastic

 

[Aragorn84]

surely you must be able to see where it terminates inside the garage? it must go to a switch or box or something. It cant just vanish into the wall and not reappear...

 

[sjwkmje]

It looks like steel wire armoured (SWA) cable. Based on the method of installation. Does not look like Mineral insulated copper (MICC) cable to me. But either would not contain asbestos.

Nothing to worry about. It will be PVC if SWA or copper if MICC. I highly doubt it is anything to do with asbestos. Best way for us to confirm is to see the end of the cable. With asbestos its the fibres that are the problem when disturbed and that cable is painted over so will stop the fibres. If you can post a photo of the ends of the cable if possible we can give you a better idea.

Not heard or seen asbestos based cabling in my career. Its usually found in old switchgear.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gavgnr]

I appreciate your responses folks, thank you.

I've checked the garage and on the other side of the wall where the cable enters and it is a black plastic tubing with ridges which is completely different to the cable outside.

Unfortunately I can't take pictures of where the cable enters the garage either because it enters through a wall.

Sorry I can't provide more info.im grateful for your help

Would asbestos sheathing be used in this way for a power cable?

 

[RF Lighting]

Where in Leeds are you? The only asbestos cable I've ever seen has been used in specialist installations. I've certainly never seen it used in a domestic environment.

 

[Gavgnr]

Not sure why it's showing Leeds, I live in Accrington!

 

[Taylortwocities]

I've checked the garage and on the other side of the wall where the cable enters and it is a black plastic tubing with ridges which is completely different to the cable outside.

What you can see is almost certainly the inner sheath of armoured cable.

The inner sheath, outer sheath and the conductors' insulation will be PVC or Cross-linked polyethylene. The conductors are made of copper.


All components are completely harmless - assuming you turn the power off and check for safe isolation before you disconnect anything!

PS Is there really electricity in Accrington? Blimey!

 

[Gavgnr]

Thanks for your reply.

The cable in the garage runs to a switchboard of some sort and the cable is definitely some kind of plastic, but it looks thicker than the cable I am concerned about outside?

I was pessimistic and thought that a previous owner had removed and replaced any asbestos sheathing inside the garage but not outside, because it's inside a wall covering (bit like half flower pots laid horizontally accross the top of the wall)and would be a pain to remove I guess.

To be honest I'm useless with any diy stuff and the idea that this could be asbestos had scared me something rotten, not for my sake but my nipper's; particularly as the paint on the cable has obviously aged and is deteriorating.

 

[Robin0577]

I've never heard of asbestos insulated cabling.

Its probably Pyro/MICC.

Asbestos insulated cable/flex does (did) exist but as far as I'm aware was never used for general wiring, only for very high temperature applications such as heating appliances, stage lighting and industrial plant.

 

[westie101]

It is possible that it is a very old hessian covered, lead sheathed, paper insulated cable which would put it sometime in the '60s or before.