Rodent damage to cables?

[Jupiter01]

I started what was going to be an ambitious project from the outset only to find another project lurking behind the plasterboards.

I removed the plasterboards so I can fix some battens for the kitchen units to screw on to and then noticed the cables in this condition:


We had a problem with rats a few years ago. Do you think this is their doing? A number of other cables were also in a similar state.

Out of caution, I replaced all the visible cables:


Assuming this has been caused by the rodents:
1. What was the danger of this going unnoticed?
2. Should I be concerned that other cables (not accessible) have suffered a similar fate?

Thanks for your help.

 

[john4703]

I can't see any sign of rat droppings in your pictures. In my limited experience they seem to s**t as they chew and leave loads of smelly evidence.
I think one of my worst experiences was lying in a loft repairing cables that rats had damaged and suddenly half a dozen of them ran over my back and head as I was blocking their usual route. The whole area was thick with their droppings (I refused the offer of a free meal in that restaurant)

 

[Jupiter01]

think one of my worst experiences was lying in a loft repairing cables that rats had damaged and suddenly half a dozen of them ran over my back and head as I was blocking their usual route.

Oh my god!!

 

[Jupiter01]

I’ve definitely had a rat problem in this area previously

 

[john4703]

Oh my god!!

Exactly. My invoice reflected my feelings and included the price of a new set of overalls.

 

[sparkwright]

Looks like rodent damage to me.

The danger of this going unnoticed is that you have live exposed wires that someone doing maintenance could touch.

The wires could potentially touch (although rodents chew so carefully this doesn't seem to happen) which would cause a short circuit, meaning fuses blowing or breakers tripping.

 

[Jupiter01]

Could this sort of thing cause a fire?
Also, would the rodent have been electrocuted by nibbling the Live wire?

 

[JohnD]

occasionally.

 

[JohnW2]

Looks like rodent damage to me.

There surely is no doubt (well, rodents - probably, but not necessarily, rats), is there?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Jupiter01]

How concerned should I be about the state of other cables? These were only uncovered as I removed plasterboard from this area. Hence the question on fire hazard.

 

[Jupiter01]

Also, what do you recommend for the cable joins behind plasterboards. There are some old ring main cables that I need to join to the new cables I have laid. There is also the lighting cable that needs to be joined.

I assume it’s a maintenance free connection but can I please ask for a recommendation. I do have plenty of wago connectors if that’s sufficient.

 

[Jupiter01]

Hi,

Can someone please provide advice on how I should connect these new cables to the old cables. This join will be hidden behind plasterboard and will therefore need to be a maintenance free fixing I assume.

Thanks again.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Wago connectors combined with the appropriate enclosure can be classed as maintenance-free. TLC may be best place to check what combination is appropriate.
For the RFC cables, one good way of making the joint is put an extra socket in at the joint.
Yes rat-gnawed cables can be an issue. Without doing as you've done (expose the cables) then insulation resistance and low ohm resistance testing of the cables will indicate if there's any dangerous damage.
The test gear needed isn't cheap.

 

[Taylortwocities]

The test gear needed isn't cheap

And pointless if you do not have the competence to operate it and to interpret the results.

Given the state of the cabling, you can assume that there is a lot of this sort of damage in the property.

At the very least, I recommend that you have an electrician carry out a continuity and insulation resistance test on the whole installation. Perhaps a full EICR. If the rodents problem has not been sorted then get a specialist company to deal with them. The little burgers won’t go away on their own.
Maybe get a fierce version of this

Untitled

• Taylortwocities
• 6 Nov 2013
• 1

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Yerse, the EICR bit would have been the rest of the post but Firefox had a wobble