What code for all CPC's chopped off on lights?

[HappyHippyDad]

I have just completed an EICR.

All the earths have been chopped off in the ceiling roses and switches on the lighting circuit. There are no class 2 fittings.

Usually if there are no earths on the lights and no class 2 fittings then it will be a C3. However, the lighting circuit does have CPC's they have just not been connected anywhere. Would this be a C2 as Zs will be greater than the maximum? Also, how does this relate to RCD protection? There is RCD protection on everything but with the Zs on the lights being non existent the RCD will not trip with an earth fault (especially in relation to the bathroom).

Cheers guys.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

C2. If a fault occurs its dangerous.

 

[Strima]

C2.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Not a big fan of earths being cut out

Poor workmanship imo

 

[Risteard]

I presume you mean no Class I luminaires?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

C3.
RCD will still operate.

 

[Electric Magic]

Contra Spin, C2. RCD will operate, but not until someone or something with a path to earth touches the live metal part to create a circuit. Great that an RCD (theoretically) shuts off the circuit quick enough that the shock won't interrupt the fibrillations of your heart, better though when it shuts the circuit off without a human conductor.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I presume you mean no Class I luminaires?

Yes,

 

[Strima]

As the CPCs have been chopped out this goes against the original design of the circuit.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Wait, so we can apply a code C3 for lighting circuits that have no CPC at all, but it’s C2 if the unused CPCs have been cut off, rather than terminated in a parking terminal?
Questions that should be asked:
It’s not dangerous, there’s no live parts that can be touched, and it’s not potentially dangerous because there are no exposed-conductive-parts that could become live under fault conditions.
Yes improvement is required in order to comply with BS7671 which requires a CPC, in case someone decides to install class 1 fittings or accessories.

 

[Electric Magic]

Apologies Spin you're correct, didn't realise HHD meant there were no class 1 fittings when he said there were no class 2 fittings in the opening post.

 

[telectrix]

a c3 and sack the w4anker that installed it.

 

[TJ Anderson]

As the CPCs have been chopped out this goes against the original design of the circuit.

I think we can safely say this was a "fly by the seat of your pants install" with no design at all

 

[davesparks]

No CPC is a C2

 

[Nigel]

Is the CPC continuous throughout the circuit?

 

[Intoelectrics]

No CPC is a C2

If the cpc is connected at the ccu but not at each class 2 (as there is no requirement) accessory then would that still be determined as no cpc? The circuit would still have a cpc, no?

 

[robd]

C2 for me ESP if there are any fittings which aren't double insulated.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I have seen brand spanking new builds where the sparks have simply bent back and cut the cpc extremely short where class II fittings are fitted , just taking the lives and N into the light

I tend to sleeve the cpc and coil it up like a snake leaving it long incase the home owner changes the light

 

[robd]

Yes but in the original post if I understood correctly by cutting the earths they were then not taking an earth round the circuit to each point, compared to what you are saying where the earth is there but just not connected

 

[Dustydazzler]

OP have you checked to see if the cpc is connected at the fuse box ? Or has that been cut short as well ?