Wall and floor electrical systems

The installation of conduits for an electrical system can be done on the wall or under the floor. Let’s analyse why choosing a wall system or a floor one. Let’s try to understand if there are any differences.

Drywall electrical systems

They are often preferred over floor systems because if a portion of the system has to be redone, it is easier. Break a wall is although very annoying but less difficult and less expensive of breaking the floor of a room / house. Although installations on traditional walls continue to be frequent in the current market, the number of electrical systems that are made on drywall is increasing.
This choice is given by numerous advantages, including:

• The hydro-thermo-regulating properties of drywall have less impact on the environment and are in line with the requirements of modern building;
• Many drywall sheets have high mechanical resistance, fireproof and sound absorbing, therefore excellent both in terms of humidity and noise emission.
• Drywall is an easy material to work with and above all, very lightweight compared to bricks.
• Drywall is ductile, easy to handle, transportable and economical: characteristics that have improved over time, so much so that it becomes a material that can be used together with more complex technologies.

Floor electrical systems

Underfloor electrical systems usually refer to systems used for space heating. The grounding system must be carried out following specific criteria and using specific materials. Experts usually recommend wooden, parquet or bamboo floors for this use, even if porcelain and ceramic or stone tiles are fine anyway. The important thing in these cases is that whatever flooring is chosen, it does not act as a “plug” hindering the diffusion of heat and therefore heating the rooms.

Criteria for the installation of both systems

Any type of installation require attention to some aspects:

• Power supply circuits for user devices
• Power supply circuits of the sockets
• Protective equipment
• Ease of adapting the installation to the place
• Environmental safety
• All materials and equipment used must be in line with the CEI standards, the CEI-UNEL tables and must have the IMQ mark.

When laying conduits, it is important to follow some particular indications:

• The electrical conduit must remain away from sources of heat and condensation / humidity.
• If you make a transition from recessed wall to floor, too tight curves should be avoided.
• In case of floor installation, in the presence of crossings, the pipes containing liquids must remain under the electrical ones.

But an element that makes the difference is also the material of the pipes that are used for the system. The classic pipes for electrical systems are mainly made of PVC, but polypropylene is a much superior material. For this purpose, here is a link to understand the differences and choose the best tube with awareness.

Installation of conduits in electrical systems

In the usual electrical systems, the conduits are embedded in the walls or, as we have seen before, in the floors.
The tubes are installed in the grooves on the wall or on the floor that have been created to join the various boxes and light points together.
The junction boxes, on the other hand, are usually connected to each other through pipes placed on the floor.
When choosing and inserting tubes in the grooves, colours are important.
In fact, the adoption of coloured pipes can be an aid both in the assembly phase and in the intervention phase at a later time.
The CEI 64-100 / 2 guide recommends: black for the electrical and home automation sector, green for telephone, TV and data transmission, blue intercoms, and brown alarms.

It is also interesting to understand why choosing a material, rather than another, with which the pipes are made, because if it is true that once they are covered no one sees them anymore … the benefits of a conscious choice can be of great use in case of fires, malfunctions, cable replacement; in short, of all the security that the inhabitants of a home are entitled to. And without having a higher cost!