Bedroom lights without earths

[Car123]

Here is another question. In my bedrooms 1 light is earthed and two are not. The lights are pendants..All plastic fittings. I have been told there needs to be further investigation. The investigation apparently needing to get up in to the loft to look for the earth. This is a problem for me as the loft is looked and choker block with my stuff. Loads of it. The loft is locked and I am not sure where the key is. (Lockdown intervened(.Anyhow I have asked the electricians why they need to investigate further. I said I thought it was okay that bedroom lights are not earthed with plastic fittings. They just dont answer. I am feeling a bit desparate about it as I have 28 days to complete the work

 

[Car123]

Surely at some point you will need to get in the loft. And if the key is lost then why not get the sparky, or a local handyman(when he is there securing the trunking), to fit a new lock?

I wouldn't knackered the chances of getting a safe electrical system for the sake of a lost loft hatch key.

I’m getting concerned with what’s up there now! ??

A lot of dead sparked electrocuted looking for an earth and one wetpants.

 

[dodger421]

Is a plastic rose attached to the ceiling okay or does it need to be a light fitting with the bulb enclosed? My problem is it will be problematic to access the loft.

The only exception is the wiring to a lamp holder suspended from a ceiling rose, ie the pendant drop which is all of the white bit in the picture (except the rose cover that is). A CPC (earth) must be present and suitably terminated at the rose, which is the black bit.

 

[SJD]

Over the years working in rental properties, I've come across a few with padlocked lofts. Even one loft where the access is from the side of an attic bedroom, where there is screwed down panelling over it so the tenant wouldn't know there was an entrance. Usually this is done to hide stashed junk (sorry)!

I'd say it is not a good idea, if urgent access might be needed, certainly not if there are any water services in the loft. Even lighting cables can be nibbled by rodents and might need looking at in a hurry.

 

[DPG]

To be fair it sounds like my loft. Absolutely jam packed with stuff!

 

[Car123]

That's not great, is the loft space designed to take the weight of it being full of stuff? It's not normal for a rented property to have the loft filled with the landlords stuff.

It's perfectly normal. The loft has been given extra strenthening

 

[Car123]

Over the years working in rental properties, I've come across a few with padlocked lofts. Even one loft where the access is from the side of an attic bedroom, where there is screwed down panelling over it so the tenant wouldn't know there was an entrance. Usually this is done to hide stashed junk (sorry)!

I'd say it is not a good idea, if urgent access might be needed, certainly not if there are any water services in the loft. Even lighting cables can be nibbled by rodents and might need looking at in a hurry.

There are no tanks up there.

 

[Baddegg]

To be fair it sounds like my loft. Absolutely jam packed with stuff!

After doing a loft conversion a lot of time I’ll get called back to quote for a large shed/outbuilding...must be secure and water tight etc etc.....for......all the junk they used to keep in the loft where they now sleeping ??

 

[Car123]

After doing a loft conversion a lot of time I’ll get called back to quote for a large shed/outbuilding...must be secure and water tight etc etc.....for......all the junk they used to keep in the loft where they no sleeping ??

Yes thsts the thing about lofts. But all this really arose as a result of lock down. Instead I had to rent the house before I had planned. I was due to be back there to sort things out. But coming back to the non earthed lights. I agree that it would be ideal to get in to the loft but it could be difficult to get around. Is there a way that light fittings can be changed so that this okay? I am confused as they have done this in the bathroom

 

[dodger421]

Is a plastic rose attached to the ceiling okay or does it need to be a light fitting with the bulb enclosed? My problem is it will be problematic to access the loft.

In the interests of clarity - this type of fitting also needs a CPC (earth) to be run to the rose, even if it’s not connected to the lamp holder.

 

[Car123]

In the interests of clarity - this type of fitting also needs a CPC (earth) to be run to the rose, even if it’s not connected to the lamp holder.

Right. Yet it's accepted that the bathroom has a doubly insulated light with no earth

 

[dodger421]

Right. Yet it's accepted that the bathroom has a doubly insulated light with no earth

Without seeing the report it’s difficult to tell, but if I had to guess I’d say the bathroom light was changed for incorrect IP rating, not lack of earthing. They are two separate issues.

 

[Baddegg]

Yes thsts the thing about lofts. But all this really arose as a result of lock down. Instead I had to rent the house before I had planned. I was due to be back there to sort things out. But coming back to the non earthed lights. I agree that it would be ideal to get in to the loft but it could be difficult to get around. Is there a way that light fittings can be changed so that this okay? I am confused as they have done this in the bathroom

You can change em to class 2 same as the bathroom although it won’t make any difference as you need the earth for the rcd to work so it still leaves you the issue of not having rcd protection on the lighting circuit which you’ll need for a satisfactory certificate.....I would say this is already highlighted on the cert you havnt seen....

 

[Car123]

You can change em to class 2 same as the bathroom although it won’t make any difference as you need the earth for the rcd to work so it still leaves you the issue of not having rcd protection on the lighting circuit which you’ll need for a satisfactory certificate.....I would say this is already highlighted on the cert you havnt seen....

Well I understand that I think. But then how come they accept the bathroom without an earth with just a doubly insulated light

 

[Baddegg]

Well I understand that I think. But then how come they accept the bathroom without an earth with just a doubly insulated light

How can you know they do without seeing the report mate?...as @dodger421 points out that could’ve been for ip reasons......you really need that report mate and post it up here for anymore truly constructive advice I’m afraid

 

[Car123]

How can you know they do without seeing the report mate?...as @dodger421 points out that could’ve been for ip reasons......you really need that report mate and post it up here for anymore truly constructive advice I’m afraid

What's ip reasons. I am going in what they have written in their estimate along with the categorisation. And it says the light needs changing nothing about earthing

 

[Baddegg]

What's ip reasons. I am going in what they have written in their estimate along with the categorisation. And it says the light needs changing nothing about earthing

What light the bathroom?

 

[Baddegg]

IP ingress protection no water and or vapour can get in depending on the ip rating

 

[Car123]

What light the bathroom?

The light in the bathroom was changed in 2014. When they did the EICR test this time around they said they could find no evidence it was doubly insulated. They said it should be changed for one that was.. The electrician who fitted it then was traced thro an agent. He went in and checked and admitted it was the wrong one. He then changed it. Yes I know it's a ridiculous story.

 

[Car123]

IP ingress protection no water and or vapour can get in depending on the ip rating

Ah yes. I don't know how they graded it. But the light is not over the bath or shower. It's in the vicinity of the loo. Either way I was told it needed a doubly insulated light

 

[Baddegg]

Ah yes. I don't know how they graded it. But the light is not over the bath or shower. It's in the vicinity of the loo. Either way I was told it needed a doubly insulated light

Double insulated would imply no cpc at that point in the circuit, there is no way if you have circuits without cpc that the issue of rcd protection hasn’t been raised on the EICR.....even if it’s only graded as a c3 which I doubt considering how vigorous they were over the trunking issue, if it’s not mentioned at all I’d be very sceptical over the validity of it, and I wouldn’t panic to much either as your 28 days won’t start until you have the report ?

 

[Car123]

Double insulated would imply no cpc at that point in the circuit, there is no way if you have circuits without cpc that the issue of rcd protection hasn’t been raised on the EICR.....even if it’s only graded as a c3 which I doubt considering how vigorous they were over the trunking issue, if it’s not mentioned at all I’d be very sceptical over the validity of it, and I wouldn’t panic to much either as your 28 days won’t start until you have the report ?

Thanks for this. I am pleased that the 28 days does not start until I get. To be honest I could do with a bit more time to work out what I am going to do.. Half of what they have said makes no sense and they are not answering my question about it. In the past I thought they were good electricians but I am really having reservations now. They have contradicted themselves during the process and are very expensive.

 

[dodger421]

Ah yes. I don't know how they graded it. But the light is not over the bath or shower. It's in the vicinity of the loo. Either way I was told it needed a doubly insulated light

Again it’s difficult to be certain without seeing both the report and the property, but the reason I think it’s an IP issue in the bathroom is because it’s been listed separately.

I’m assuming that the bathroom light and the lighting circuit which needs investigation are in fact the same circuit? As in they’re both supplied from the same MCB (and both upstairs presumably)?

 

[Baddegg]

Thanks for this. I am pleased that the 28 days does not start until I get. To be honest I could do with a bit more time to work out what I am going to do.. Half of what they have said makes no sense and they are not answering my question about it. In the past I thought they were good electricians but I am really having reservations now. They have contradicted themselves during the process and are very expensive.

Get the report and post it up here, less any names addresses business details etc that ain’t fair and it’s illegal ?

 

[Car123]

Again it’s difficult to be certain without seeing both the report and the property, but the reason I think it’s an IP issue in the bathroom is because it’s been listed separately.

I’m assuming that the bathroom light and the lighting circuit which needs investigation are in fact the same circuit? As in they’re both supplied from the same MCB (and both upstairs presumably)?

The bathroom is downstairs.

 

[dodger421]

The bathroom is downstairs.

Fair enough. In that case I’m surprised they haven’t mentioned the downstairs lighting circuit not having a CPC present. Unless it has one but the light wasn’t rated for Zone 2 (basically that’s within an arms length of the shower enclosure and/or bath. Within 60cm horizontally and up to 2.25m vertically are the actual measurements).

Ultimately the upstairs circuit seems to have one light with a CPC and the remainder without. That’s unusual, and is why the inspector has said it needs further investigation. If all of the lights didn’t have a CPC because of their age and installation method that’s easy enough to explain and code. The fact one fitting has a CPC and not the others is the justifiable cause for concern and warrants further investigation to find out what’s happened.

 

[loz2754]

You can change em to class 2 same as the bathroom although it won’t make any difference as you need the earth for the rcd to work so it still leaves you the issue of not having rcd protection on the lighting circuit which you’ll need for a satisfactory certificate.....I would say this is already highlighted on the cert you havnt seen....

RCDs do not require an earth to function.

 

[Car123]

Fair enough. In that case I’m surprised they haven’t mentioned the downstairs lighting circuit not having a CPC present. Unless it has one but the light wasn’t rated for Zone 2 (basically that’s within an arms length of the shower enclosure and/or bath. Within 60cm horizontally and up to 2.25m vertically are the actual measurements).

Ultimately the upstairs circuit seems to have one light with a CPC and the remainder without. That’s unusual, and is why the inspector has said it needs further investigation. If all of the lights didn’t have a CPC because of their age and installation method that’s easy enough to explain and code. The fact one fitting has a CPC and not the others is the justifiable cause for concern and warrants further investigation to find out what’s happened.

Thank you for this. Everything else down stairs is earthed apart from the bathroom. It's an old Victorian terrace in a popular area. The lights in the sitting room diner were done by another company about two years ago. My memory is vaguely, and I might be wrong, that during this work they went in to the loft and that as a result of this they earthed the light in the front bedroom. I am now presuming to bring the earth down. The company who did this managed to leave/put the wrong fuse in the consumer unit now picked up on this EICR. When I spoke to them I really did not anywhere. They said "Well why would we go in the loft" I feel pretty dismayed that some money things seem to have c $$c $ed up. I have said various times that I could always rely on electricians. How the kitchen light got earthed is a mystery. I have spent quite a bit of money and as I said I have put in an electric WiFi fire alarm system which I did not need to do.

 

[Baddegg]

RCDs do not require an earth to function.

True but it is preferable to a human for a path ?

 

[Car123]

RCDs do not require an earth to function.

I am getting confused again. Who said this? If this is the case why do I need an earth?

 

[dodger421]

I am getting confused again. Who said this? If this is the case why do I need an earth?

The earth return path is a vital part of how the circuit breakers (MCB‘s) or fuses in the consumer unit (CU) work to disconnect the supply in the event of a fault. This is known as protection by automatic disconnection of supply, or ADS. The CPC (earth) provides a low resistance path back to the CU for any potential fault current, hopefully preventing that harmful current from flowing through a person in the worst case scenario. That’s why a CPC should be present at all points of the fixed wiring and should ideally run alongside the live conductors of each circuit.

ADS is like the bare minimum requirement for protection from electric shock and RCD’s provide an additional layer of protection on top of that.

Some faults don’t create enough current to allow the MCB’s or fuses to operate, or they allow more current than is typically survivable to flow through a person before they do disconnect the supply. Residual Current Devices (RCD’s) provide additional protection against these by being more sensitive to smaller current imbalances in the circuits they protect. They monitor the outgoing and return current on the line and neutral conductors of a circuit or group of circuits and trip if the imbalance is more than 30mA (other ratings are available, but 30mA is required for additional protection). They don’t need a CPC to operate but having one provides that low resistance path back to the CU for the fault current, causing the RCD to see the imbalance in the live conductors (L + N) quickly and trip accordingly.

Electricity is sort of like water in that it usually follows the path of least resistance. In the event of a fault with a CPC present, the electricity will flow down that and should trip either the RCD or MCB/fuse before anyone gets hurt. Without a CPC it’ll flow through the next path of least resistance which might well be the unfortunate human being who’s just stuck a nail through a cable above a light switch.

Hypothetically (really don’t try this at home), grabbing the end of a single line conductor (usually brown or red in the UK) won’t cause an MCB or fuse to trip or rupture before you’ve had a very nasty, possibly fatal, shock. They might not even operate at all in some circumstances. If we fit a 30mA RCD as well it will trip quickly enough to prevent that same shock being fatal in most cases.