Light steel framed walls and floors

6.10

6.10.19Services

Services shall be adequately protected from damage.

Service mains and service outlets should be:

  • designed to ensure the fire resistance of walls and floors is not impaired
  • installed in accordance with the design
  • on the warm side of the insulation.

Light steel studs should not be notched to accommodate services. Holing of structural light steel members should be carried out in accordance with this chapter. On-site hole cutting should be avoided, as badly cut edges can have an adverse effect on the durability of the frame and may cause damage to pipes and cables.

Grommets should be used around the edge of service holes to protect electrical cables and reduce the risk of bimetallic corrosion between the light steel framing and copper pipes. Swaged holes for electric cables and plastic piping do not require grommets.

In Scotland, services are not permitted within:

  • framed separating walls
  • separating wall cavities.