The 25mm gap between cables and hot water pipes
Services crowded together inside a wall are the most common lock-up item we record in Gables.
In short: Cables, gas lines and water pipes touching each other or steel framing, found before plaster.
A rule you cannot see later
Electrical cables, gas pipes and water pipes are run by different trades on different days. The requirement to keep them apart can only be checked before linings go on.
What we see
Across Gables lock-up visits in 2026 we recorded cables pressed against hot and cold water pipes, a gas pipe touching metal framing and copper pipes resting on steel.
Why separation matters
Heat from hot water pipes degrades cable insulation over time, and metal to metal contact between different materials invites corrosion and noise.
The fix
Usually a clip, a spacer or a short reroute. It takes minutes while the wall is open and needs a wall opened up afterwards.
What we do not do
We do not test the wiring or gas. We record visible clearances so the relevant licensed trade can correct them.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Gables. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
