Maximum
England
Safe zones for cables buried in a wall
Within 150 mm of the top of the wall or of a corner, or vertically/horizontally in line with the accessory
Applies to cables concealed in a wall or partition at a depth of less than 50 mm
Cables in a wall have to run in predictable places so someone drilling later has a fair chance of missing them.
Basis in regulation
How to check it on site
Photograph every wall at first fix before boarding — this is the only record the occupier will ever have.
Common failure
Diagonal cable runs between accessories, outside any recognised zone.
Effective from 22 August 2026. Last updated 23 August 2026. This is our editorial summary of publicly available regulation, not building control approval or a warranty determination.