Chasing Cables, Safety question.

[digitalfm]

Hi,

I will soon be chasing some cable runs for HDMI, Compontent, VGA and S Video cables about 1 metre in length. I am intending on using some 40mmx25mm trunking.

I know how to chase out walls but wondered how deep you can chase a wall out before you are potentially weakening the integrity of the wall.

eg; my plaster is around 10mm so will be chasing around 15mm into the face of the brick.

Are there any safety laws that i'm not aware of or any general knowledge on how deep you can channel into brick work.

I'm considering doing this soon so please let me know if I'm about to cause a catastrophe.

Many Thanks

[GasDad]

I'm not a structural engineer but:

If your wall is more than 9" thick or is an outside wall, I don't think you have a problem.

If your wall is only one brick thick (ie less than say 8") and is a structural wall then you may have cause for concern.

James

[clockworks]

Common sense says that a vertical chase would have little effect, no matter how deep, as long as it's not too close to an existing opening.
A horizontal chase is a different matter. Blockwork should be OK to about a quarter of it's depth. I'd be very careful with bricks - they can shatter.

[digitalfm]

Thanks clockworks,

So that one for and one against. Any other opinions?