New Electrical Install Question

[Asosoon]

Hello,

I have an electrician installing a new light and ring circuit for a loft conversation. He has joined the cables using block connectors which are in turn covered with electrical tape. Some of the earth cables are exposed. Could someone please tel me if this meets UK regulations.

Kind regards

Asosoon.

P.S. I'm not an electrician.

 

[Andy78]

Where are these connector blocks located ? in a light fitting or on show and accessible ?

 

[Asosoon]

They will eventually be above the ceiling , coincidentally in the bathroom.

 

[Andy78]

Then they should be in an enclosure of some sort, and the earths should be sleeved for identification.
I'm sure this will be corrected if you ask.

If they are screw terminals then this joint in the cable needs to be also available for future inspection. If it will not be able to be accessed from below the ceiling then there must be access made to get to it from above. Either that or a different type of joint known as maintenance free will be required.

 

[Asosoon]

Andy, thank you for the advice .

Regards

 

[westward10]

I'm sorry but I would have serious concerns about using block connectors wrapped in tape, I would seriously question their competence.

 

[Pete999]

I'm sorry but I would have serious concerns about using block connectors wrapped in tape, I would seriously question their competence.

Me as well, choc block and tape, do you have to feed his horse as well

 

[Andy78]

It's a loft conversion. Much like a kitchen fit,I find that the chances of an actual electrician being involved are dramatically reduced in these cases.

 

[westward10]

It's a loft conversion. Much like a kitchen fit,I find that the chances of an actual electrician being involved are dramatically reduced in these cases.

I would take a stab that these block connectors are used for spotlights with the cpcs floating about.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Or a temporary joint to maintain power whilst circuits are being altered.

 

[westward10]

Or a temporary joint to maintain power whilst circuits are being altered.

Temporary joint with block connectors, not on my shift.

 

[The Ghost]

What scheme is the electrician with as a matter of interest. e.g. NICEIC Stroma Elecsa

 

[Leesparkykent]

Temporary joint with block connectors, not on my shift.

Yes not ideal but wrap a choc box round it which gives the connections strain relief......job done for a temporary connection.

 

[westward10]

Yes not ideal but wrap a choc box round it which gives the connections strain relief......job done for a temporary connection.

I wouldn't give choc boxes van space.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I wouldn't give choc boxes van space.

Take those rose tinted glasses off mate

 

[Midwest]

It's obviously been a quiet weekend on here to be arguing about connectors. Me & Andy could start disagreeing again about plate switches in bathrooms or I could start a thread about hot tubs

 

[Octopus]

Hello,

I have an electrician installing a new light and ring circuit for a loft conversation. He has joined the cables using block connectors which are in turn covered with electrical tape. Some of the earth cables are exposed. Could someone please tel me if this meets UK regulations.

Kind regards

Asosoon.

P.S. I'm not an electrician.

This does not meet the regs and you are right to question this. You should raise this with the builder and the spark.

If you are met with black looks or bs, then keep a watch on what they do next. Some of our eastern European colleagues seem to think that tape and hidden screw connector junction boxes are fine.... Which they are not in most cases.

I would also suggest that you check that they will be providing you certificates for all modified circuits and labc part p notification for new circuits and or fuse board changes

 

[Andy78]

It's obviously been a quiet weekend on here to be arguing about connectors. Me & Andy could start disagreeing again about plate switches in bathrooms or I could start a thread about hot tubs

If the hot tub's in a shed where it is unclear if there are parts which may or may not introduce an earth potential.....you're on!

 

[Midwest]

If the hot tub's in a shed where it is unclear if there are parts which may or may not introduce an earth potential.....you're on!

I was thinking more about one like this;

 

[E.E.I]

This may be a temporary measure until second fix stage to keep lighting/power on, but best speak to the electrician and raise your concerns

 

[westward10]

This may be a temporary measure until second fix stage to keep lighting/power on, but best speak to the electrician and raise your concerns

Temporary measure or not unenclosed block connectors are totally unacceptable.

 

[Pete999]

Or a temporary joint to maintain power whilst circuits are being altered.

Or a Cowboy

 

[Asosoon]

Sorry, I've had to leave the house and only just returned. The block connectors are being used to connect the spot lights, a ceiling lamp, the bathroom extractor fan and light switches. I I can seen two junction boxes which also appear to be connected to the light circuit. I'll try to post some pictures.

 

[westward10]

Sorry, I've had to leave the house and only just returned. The block connectors are being used to connect the spot lights, a ceiling lamp, the bathroom extractor fan and light switches. I I can seen two junction boxes which also appear to be connected to the light circuit. I'll try to post some pictures.

As I suspected, I think you need to have serious concerns about the work they are carrying out.

 

[Asosoon]

 

[Asosoon]

Westward10, this is where my ignorance in the subject defeats me. What should they be using?

 

[davesparks]

I think you'd have been better off getting an electrician to do the electrical work instead of the half brained monkey who did that.

I hope your house insurance is up to date, cos she gonna burn

 

[westward10]

My advice, stop them from doing anymore work and get qualified electrician in, that is scandalous.

 

[davesparks]

Westward10, this is where my ignorance in the subject defeats me. What should they be using?

In that application they should have used a maintainenece free connection, but the better option would be to wire it in such a way that there are no hidden joints of any type.
Also they should not have shifted the insulation out of place because it can lead to pockets of cold air being trapped there and causing condensation and damp problems.

 

[westward10]

Westward10, this is where my ignorance in the subject defeats me. What should they be

The person doing that work may call themselves an electrician but that is one thing they are not.

 

[telectrix]

oh.idon'tknow. i like them :

 

[GMES]

That is absolutely disgraceful work and is not the work of a competent Electrician, as westward just said stop them from going any further and get a decent guy in while it's at the 1st fix stage.

 

[telectrix]

but if lights are b&q and manufacturers instructions say choc blocks and tape?????????

 

[HandySparks]

The guy is clearly not an electrician.

 

[Asosoon]

I feared it was the case. Thank you for your advice. I will try and find a competent electrician.

 

[Pete999]

Totally agree with Westward10, the people that did that work need prosecuting scandalous work, he sure as hell ain't no Electrician, or if he says he is he needs to give up PDQ.
Stop the work and get a decent Professional in, may be able to salvage some of the cable, I hope you haven't paid this guy any money.

 

[GMES]

but if lights are b&q and manufacturers instructions say choc blocks and tape?????????

The guy is clearly not an electrician.

We've all said the same for years but Tel is like family now.

 

[GMES]

I feared it was the case. Thank you for your advice. I will try and find a competent electrician.

What part of London are you based, I am sure one of the members could help you out.

 

[Leesparkykent]

 

[Asosoon]

I'm in Mitcham.

 

[telectrix]

as above. that is totally beyond the pale. bodged and dangerous. you need a qualified.competent spark on site immediately to explain what's wrong. stop any further work by these cowboys immediately.

 

[GMES]

Ok any members interested in helping out, please Pm Asosoon and come to some arrangement. Sooner rather than later by the look of that wiring.

 

[tomspark93]

That is shocking workmanship (if you can even call it that)

 

[Pete999]

I would be willing to have a look, but time and distance have taken theit toll, sorry

 

[westward10]

I think there is a few of us who like to be near Mitcham tomorrow to help, sadly I am not.

 

[GMES]

I have placed a link to this thread in the jobs section so hopefully the op will get someone she can trust to do the job correctly.

 

[Asosoon]

Cheers guys.

I'm glad I followed my gut instinct and decided to ask for advice. I really appreciate all your comments.

 

[The Ghost]

I would still be interested to know if he is member of competent person scheme?

 

[1Justin]

Awful workmanship, It’s that sort of thing which, with some certainty, will cause an unfortunate future electrician to need to tear the ceiling down to find faults. Every one of those joints and junctions is wrong in more ways than one.

And I’d take them up not only on the electrics, but in the manner that those insulation blocks aren’t vapour sealed or even foamed in. Particularly so since this will be a bathroom. Humid room side air behind the plasterboard will find its way to the cold side of the blocks via those open slots, and can condense out there. This also means that if the cold side is ventilated (or with modern construction as it should be, a vapour permeable sealed membrane above above), cold air can circulate to the warm side, removing the benefits of much of that insulation. (Small builders , much like your “electrician”, sadly aren’t members of “competent persons” schemes). You could partially fix this with foil backed plasterboard, but since there will be holes in it for downlights, that rather defeats the object.

Gaps should be foam filled, and the whole lot taped over to restore the vapour barrier. Of course this leads to a problem with the electrics, since there seems to be no service void in the system, and nowhere to put cables. - That comes back down to the lack of intelligence in the design made by the builder in the first place.

 

[Midwest]

Okay lets not all have nightmares, its all fixable. OP just get your local friendly building inspector in to have a gander. In the meantime, can someone throw another log under the hot tub, its getting a bit lukewarm.