--- title: "Electrical wiring systems" subject: "Building Technology" chapter: 12 key: "semester_6/building_technology:electrical-wiring-systems" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/electrical-wiring-systems site: BCT Engineering --- # Electrical wiring systems Building Technology · Chapter 12: Other services in building - Asked in: 2068 Baisakh (old course), 4 marks; 2066 Jestha (old course), 2.5 marks; 2064 Jestha (old course), 4 marks (asked 3 times) - Video: [Understanding Different Types of Electrical Wiring | Types of wiring | LynxE Learning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIRS34UnsCo) — LynxE - Your New Learning Experience - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/electrical-wiring-systems - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-12 ## Question Write a short note on types of electrical wiring (wiring systems) in buildings. ## Short answer Wiring systems include cleat (temporary, cheap), batten (dry areas, low cost), surface conduit (workshops), and concealed conduit (safest, neat, fire/moisture resistant, common in modern buildings). Sheathed cables suit damp areas. Concealed conduit in PVC/steel pipes is preferred for permanent safety and appearance. ## Answer **Wiring** is the system of conductors, switches and fittings used to distribute electric power in a building. Wiring systems are classified by the method of fixing. #### 1. Cleat wiring PVC or VIR cables held in porcelain/wooden cleats on the wall. Cheap and temporary; used on construction sites and at exhibitions. Poor appearance and not safe for permanent use. #### 2. Casing-capping wiring Cables laid in the grooves of a wooden casing and covered by a capping. Cheap but old-fashioned; a fire risk and affected by moisture and termites; rarely used now. #### 3. Batten wiring Sheathed cables (TRS/CTS or PVC-sheathed) are clipped onto teak wood battens fixed to the wall. It looks neat and is cheap, but is poor against moisture and fire; used in dry places. #### 4. Conduit wiring Cables drawn inside PVC or GI pipes (conduits). - *Surface conduit:* fixed on the wall surface; easy to repair; used in workshops. - *Concealed conduit:* buried in the plaster or slab; best appearance, safe against fire, moisture and mechanical damage. Most used in modern buildings, but costly and difficult to alter. #### 5. Sheathed (TRS/CTS) and lead-sheathed wiring Cables with a tough-rubber or cab-tyre sheath (TRS/CTS), or with a lead cover, clipped directly to the surface. Resists moisture; used in damp areas; lead-sheathed wiring is costly. #### 6. Others Metal-sheathed cable, bus-duct/trunking (large buildings and industry), underground cable. **Comparison:** concealed conduit is the safest and neatest, cleat wiring is the cheapest (temporary work), batten is the cheapest permanent system, and conduit/trunking is used in most multistorey buildings. **Systems of distribution:** the *tree (branch) system* and the *ring/loop system* are the two layouts; the ring system gives better voltage and reliability. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Cleat wiring is suited to: A. Permanent multistorey buildings B. Temporary work such as construction sites C. Damp basements D. Industrial trunking Answer: B. Cheap, temporary and unsafe. (Key point: Cleat wiring) 2. What is true of concealed conduit wiring? A. Safest and neatest but costly and hard to alter B. Cheapest and temporary C. Unsafe against fire D. Easy to repair Answer: A. Buried in plaster or slab. (Key point: Concealed conduit) 3. Batten wiring is: A. Best against fire B. Cheap and neat but poor against moisture and fire C. Costly and waterproof D. Used in damp areas Answer: B. Used in dry places only. (Key point: Batten wiring) 4. Which distribution layout has better voltage and reliability? A. Tree system B. Cleat system C. Ring/loop system D. Neither Answer: C. Ring has better voltage and reliability. (Key point: Ring system) ## Related in Building Technology - [Electrical services principles, wiring, safety](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aelectrical-principles-wiring-safety) — Building Technology, chapter 12 - [Fundamental requirements of electrical wiring](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aelectrical-wiring-requirements) — Building Technology, chapter 12 - [Safety precautions in electrical works](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aelectrical-safety) — Building Technology, chapter 12, asked 3× ## Related in other subjects - [General electrical rules for installation and wiring](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_power_distribution_and_illumination%3Aelectrical-rules-installation) — Industrial Power Distribution and Illumination, chapter 1, asked 3× - [Types of household wiring](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_1%2Fbasic_electrical_and_electronics_engineering%3Atypes-of-household-wiring) — Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering, chapter 4, asked 2× - [Design network for two buildings with fiber](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Anetwork-design-guidelines-two-buildings) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 5 - [Types of electrical installation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_power_distribution_and_illumination%3Aelectrical-installation-types) — Industrial Power Distribution and Illumination, chapter 5, asked 2×