Harry's Hat® - How to fix messy ceiling spaces

How to fix messy ceiling spaces

Ceiling spaces are high risk locations making it very difficult for Electrical Contractors to achieve compliance in a timely and cost effective manner. A new (bright pink) product on the market called Harry’s Hat® is the solution all Electricians have been waiting for.

The new edition of the Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000:2018) was released in June 2018 and one of the significant changes from the previous 2007 edition including the increased mechanical protection for cables installed within a ceiling cavity. The big change was that RCD’s can’t be used in lieu of mechanical protection for wiring systems that are likely to be disturbed. Neither the installing Electrician nor the Electrical Inspector gets to decide which wiring systems are likely to be disturbed, this is predetermined by the standard. Systems deemed “likely to be disturbed” as per the standards are as follows:

On the surface of a wall or on the underside of a ceiling or roof.

In a space between a floor and the ground to which a person may gain entry.

In parts of a ceiling space where access is greater than 0.6m in height.

Within 2.0m of any access to any space which a person may gain entry.

Below raised floors.

Ceiling spaces are the most common area for disturbed wiring systems due to the ease of accessibility to this area. A lot of tradesman, whether its Electricians, Plumbers, Roofers or Insulation installers, access this space along with homeowners for some reason or another so it’s imperative that the cabling in these areas are protected accordingly. Ceiling spaces are high risk work locations where there’s a risk of an electric shock from contact with damaged or exposed live wiring or equipment. In Queensland, Electrical safety inspectors are currently auditing new and existing ceiling space wiring installations, as well as mid construction, to check compliance with the Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000:2018). Previous audits of ceiling spaces have found poor, non-compliant wiring practices which can prove to be deadly. Where, in a roof space, electrical cables can be stood on, a suitable form of covering is required to prevent the electrical cables from being damaged. Clauses 3.3.2.6 and 3.9.3.3.1 & .2 address these requirements.

Traditionally, to achieve compliance, Electrical contractors would run cables along trusses and bearers with pin clips to support the cable to cause undue sagging. This would usually cause the cable runs to be longer as they would be required to be run at right angles Electricians would also be required to cut pieces of timber, fix it in position and span it across beams, joists or trusses to support the cables if they were requiring to run it horizontally or diagonally to the next point. This is a painful process, all of which takes a lot of extra time, additional cost for the timber and extra cable due to the increased cable runs. Having said that, this was the very reason why Electricians would not protect the cables in the roof space and put the lives of others in danger. How many times have you gone to get up into a ceiling cavity and noticed wiring laying across ceiling trusses unprotected and a blatant disregard for the standard? Too many times…

As time evolves, new methods of production have made people’s lives easier, safer and simpler. Harry’s Hat® has been introduced into the marketplace to do exactly this and achieve compliance in a timely and cost effective manner for all Electrical Contractors.

Harry’s Hat® is made from a Polypropylene plastic, which is a nonconductive material. The polypropylene formation can withstand a load rating of 150kg. The design of the product is in the shape of a hat (hence Harry’s Hat®) which ensures that it isn’t a trip hazard with the formation of an Apex. The product offers mechanical protection through an extremely easy and efficient way of install and compliance can be achieved within seconds of unpacking the product. A noticeable characteristic of this product is its colour, bright pink. The bright pink colour selection is an easy way for Electrical Safety Office Inspectors and Building inspectors to quickly check whether or not the Electric installation complies. The bright pink allows clear visibility as to where the presence of cables are running or exist in a ceiling cavity and also whether or not mechanical protection has been applied. This mechanical protection device, which is time and cost effective, easy to install and use without altering an existing installation is the way of the future.