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How much quicker is D-Line to install?
How many times can the hinge be opened?

Can one increase the Ingress Protection rating of a D-Line installation?

Can D-Line be bent?
What inspired D-Line?
Could anyone mistake the wood-effect for the real thing and drill through wires?
Is D-Line patented?
What is D-Line’s main competition?
Can D-Line be painted?
Why does the D-Line brochure show a recessed light if the wires are surface?
It seems easy to use, much easier than alternatives. Are there any snags?
Are the alignments between lengths and accessories always perfect?
D-Line recommend clip to be at the top side. Can it be at the base instead?
Can I just use D-Line as a trim?
What are the best choice wiring accessories to compliment the switch and socket boxes?
Is the clip-opening child-proof?
Please can you provide a guide to capacity for fitting popular cable types, such as twin and earth, 3 core flexes, and low-voltage comms type cables?
Will users still recess or continue to use mini-trunking?


How much quicker is D-Line to install?

Against recessing there is no comparison, with D-Line being an incredibly convenient alternative. Against mini-trunking and pipe trunking we’ve had reports (from many trial installations) D-Line is saving upto forty per cent off install time, so it is giving a very significant cost-saving.

In particular, as reported to us:

  1. Being one-piece makes the trunking much easier to handle.
  2. You don’t need to cut small lid sections for cable retainers, as is often the case with mini-trunking.
  3. D-Line’s lid is already attached, and is tensioned so it works as a cable retainer.
  4. Having male-insert accessories is a real benefit. Users say that the clip-over pieces of traditional trunking often drop-off, which can never happen with D-Line.
  5. With bespoke internal bends there is no need to mitre corners.
  6. Socket box knockouts could not possibly be any easier.
  7. There is no maintenance needed, so you can be satisfied the work not only looks a lot better but the lid and accessories will not peel or drop later!
  8. With the colour range there is no perceived need to paint over the product.

How many times can the hinge be opened?
It can be opened and closed thousands of times, millions probably!

Can one increase the Ingress Protection rating of a D-Line installation?
Yes. The lengths are IP65, but the open backed accessories are only IP20 (finger-safe). They could of course be sealed to make the entire installation IP65.

Can D-Line be bent?
Sure, on a gentle radius (but not the quarter sphere!) See installation in a luxury kitchen where the installer did not want to drill through marble bench. Please see also (if you can notice it!) 30 x 15 above a skirting board.



Is D-Line low smoke zero halogen?

D-Line is self-extinguishing. However it is PVC and thus does have halogens, so it is not LSOH. Please note at glow wire testing (550ºC) flames were self-extinguishing within 30 seconds of combustion.

What inspired D-Line?
It was actually an electrical installer who wanted a much quicker fix than having to recess, but a better look than box-trunking. It seemed such an obvious request but marketplace and patent searches revealed no alternatives. Then we considered trends in homes and how modern objects tend to be stylised by curves and chamfers, and how awkward recessing is for DIY’ers also. Then a plumbing contractor confirmed interest in the basic concept. At that point we realised the market must be huge with so many applications and potential demands, so we just got on with it … but it’s taken three years to develop the full range.

Could anyone mistake the wood-effect for the real thing and drill through wires?
We cannot imagine this, given the clip-line groove is visible. In this respect D-Lining is a safer option vis-à-vis recessing, as you don’t need to be drilling walls.

Is D-Line patented?
Patents are pending. Applications are now at advanced stages. The products combine leading plastic–engineering technologies with cutting-edge designs. In addition to patents, we have more than thirty design registrations approved in various territories.

What is D-Line’s main competition?
First recessing and secondly trunkings. For D-Line it is marvellous that installers tell us they dislike both in equal measure!

Can D-Line be painted?
Yes, though it’s colour range is designed to eliminate the need. Of course rooms change colour, so yes D-Line can accept Emulsion and gloss paint as long as the surface is keyed using a sandpaper or similar. Ideally where possible use Plastikote – or similar but not necessary. Please beware however that paint may flake on re-opening, so it looses its accessibility appeal. Other trunkings would react exactly the same.

Why does the D-Line brochure show a recessed light if the wires are surface?
Here the cables run up the tiled walls using the quarter sphere as a coving. The installer cut a hole in the top corner and fed cables across to a prepared cut-out, wired the light, then fixed it from the underside.
They could never have got behind the walls, which were already tiled. The cornice infact provides a decorative edging to the tiles.



It seems easy to use, much easier than alternatives. Are there any snags?

It’s been designed to be simple, much easier. That is why it is so labour-saving. Three points to bear in mind

Remember to leave a space (between D-Lines) equal to the fascia of the accessory you want to retro-fit.
  • Remember to fit the switch/socket box adaptor (or adaptor tee) before you secure the box to the wall (or else you would have to loosen screw-fixings later).
  • If using divider remember to leave space for accessories later.

Are the alignments between lengths and accessories always perfect?
As close as can be, but please bear in mind D-Line is combining lengths produced by extrusion processes, with accessories made by injection mould processes, and plastics are subject to slight variances / tolerances. If ever a slight difference does occur it is usually always on the underside which is below eye-level so barely visible.

D-Line recommend clip to be at the top side. Can it be at the base instead?
Yes an installation can be reversed, but the lid is not so effective as a cable retainer assist in this manner. You could circumvent cables dropping by using an adhesive product, or fix a tie-wrap base for example.

Can I just use D-Line as a trim?
Of course, as a frame or edging it’s easier than solid woods with no need to mitre corners for example. It is quicker to fix than wood, and of course looks great with usually no need to paint later.

What are the best choice wiring accessories to compliment the switch and socket boxes?
At the time of writing we have launched with a square edged box so best use a square edged socket (UK Spec); by early August latest there will be rounded edge boxes too to accommodate rounded-edge sockets (UK Spec). We can quickly design other boxes for other non-UK markets too … please enquire. These will follow.

Is the clip-opening child-proof?
Yes, we spent a lot of time and trial-and-error achieving the best trade-off between accessibility and security.
D-Line is best opened by applying finger pressure just above the clip mechanism. For the smallest profile (16 x 8) the user can use the groove as a nail-grip.
There is a knack to it, it does not just pop open! Remember its shape, with no sharp edges, makes it child friendly too!

Please can you provide a guide to capacity for fitting popular cable types, such as twin and earth, 3 core flexes, and low-voltage comms type cables?

Good question, here it is …
Fig 1.

Cable (twin and earth) flat 6242Y
D-Line profile
1.5mm
2.5mm
4mm
6mm
10mm
16 x 8
30 x 15
2 cables
2 cables
1 cable
1 cable
No
30 x 30 ¼
4 cables
3 cables
3 cables
2 cables
1 cable
50 x 25
8 cables
6 cables
4 cables
3 cables
2 cables
60 x 30
10 cables
8 cables
6 cables
4 cables
3 cables
This is only a guide and should not be used as technical information

Fig 2.

Cable (3 core PVC flex) 3183Y
D-Line profile
0.75mm
1.0mm
1.5mm
2.5mm
16 x 8
1 cable
30 x 15
4 cables
3 cables
1 cable
1 cable
30 x 30 ¼
6 cables
4 cables
3 cables
2 cables
50 x 25
8 cables
6 cables
5 cables
4 cables
60 x 30
10 cables
9 cables
7 cables
5 cables
This is only a guide and should not be used as technical information

Note
The above allow for bending radius. Straight runs could accommodate additional cables.

Having a 30 x 15 knockout on switch / socket boxes means one cannot connect 2 x 2.5mm 3 core flexes, only 2 x 1.5mm 3 core or smaller.

D-Line size
Speaker Cable
Telephone Cable
Satellite / TV Cable
Data cable
16 x 8
30 x 15
30 x 30 ¼
50 x 25
60 x 30
This is only a guide using most popular domestic and general commercial wiring cable-types and should not be used as technical information.

e-types and should not be used as technical information

Will users still recess or continue to use mini-trunking?
In new builds with cavity walls which have not yet been decorated and floors that have not been laid recessing is comparatively easy and can be relatively quick. So we appreciate D-Line is orientated towards retro-fits. Please consider though that house builders will use it to provide cable paths for appliance wire / alarms instead of traditional floor trim.

Similary, if appearance does not matter many people will still opt for mini-trunking. It is after all as cheap as it looks, and considered ok for such places as boiler houses or airing cupboards for example. At the other end, if installers have the time and can afford to recess and then redecorate etc., then we accept that recessing and having flush sockets etc may still be preferred.

D-Line is providing a third way, but two factors need to coincide…first, appearance has to matter, because D-Line looks good on any surface, and second time needs to be valued. Regards appearance we offer an advantage over mini-trunkings, and vis-à-vis recessing we are so much easier and quicker (while still looking good!)

It is when these come together that D-Line becomes the brand-of-choice, otherwise we expect mini-trunking or recessing will understandably still find favour.