Electrical Inspection Questions

ahll

A periodic condition report has just been done and the house and I have a couple of questions.

1. C3- Cables joined with connector box does not satify BS7671.

in this case the connector box does not have tape around it.

I thought connector boxes where fine..is there now a problem with them now ?

2. C3 - Cables joined with connector block in ceiling void does not satisfy BS7671 for loose connections.

Again I thought connector boxes where fine and in this case a choc box has been used and is accessible.

3. C2 - Cables joined with connector block wrapped in masking tape, metal light fitting with no cpc fitted in the hall and landing which does not satisfy BS7671 Regulations.

I already stated that an cpc needs to be run to all upstairs lights. Is this also because the back boxes not earthed or to do with use of connector box ?

4. C3- Absence of gromits to cable entries at various accessories e.g sockets.

This has obviously been like this for years..is this a case of having to go around undoing everything to fit missing gromets ?

Why wouldn't they comply and what can be done to fix them ?

dil1976

ahll wrote: »

A periodic condition report has just been done and the house and I have a couple of questions.

1. C3- Cables joined with connector box does not satify BS7671.

in this case the connector box does not have tape around it.

I thought connector boxes where fine..is there now a problem with them now ?

The connector block needs to be in a enclosure with a cord grip holding the cables in place.
2. C3 - Cables joined with connector block in ceiling void does not satisfy BS7671 for loose connections.

Again I thought connector boxes where fine and in this case a choc box has been used and is accessible.

As above
3. C2 - Cables joined with connector block wrapped in masking tape, metal light fitting with no cpc fitted in the hall and landing which does not satisfy BS7671 Regulations.

I already stated that an cpc needs to be run to all upstairs lights. Is this also because the back boxes not earthed or to do with use of connector box ?

No CPC to a class one fitting needs either replacing with a class 2 fitting or a CPC running to it. As the fitting could become live and you could be killed if you were to touch it.


4. C3- Absence of gromits to cable entries at various accessories e.g sockets.

This has obviously been like this for years..is this a case of having to go around undoing everything to fit missing gromets ?

You could unscrew the socket boxes and just cut the gromit to fit it.

Why wouldn't they comply and what can be done to fix them ?

Also a C3 is just advisory but any C1 or C2 codes will mean until they are fixed the installation is unsatisfactory.

ahll

dil1976 wrote: »

1. C3- Cables joined with connector box does not satify BS7671.

in this case the connector box does not have tape around it.

I thought connector boxes where fine..is there now a problem with them now ?

The connector block needs to be in a enclosure with a cord grip holding the cables in place.

2. C3 - Cables joined with connector block in ceiling void does not satisfy BS7671 for loose connections.

Again I thought connector boxes where fine and in this case a choc box has been used and is accessible.

As above

3. C2 - Cables joined with connector block wrapped in masking tape, metal light fitting with no cpc fitted in the hall and landing which does not satisfy BS7671 Regulations.

I already stated that an cpc needs to be run to all upstairs lights. Is this also because the back boxes not earthed or to do with use of connector box ?

No CPC to a class one fitting needs either replacing with a class 2 fitting or a CPC running to it. As the fitting could become live and you could be killed if you were to touch it.


4. C3- Absence of gromits to cable entries at various accessories e.g sockets.

This has obviously been like this for years..is this a case of having to go around undoing everything to fit missing gromets ?

You could unscrew the socket boxes and just cut the gromit to fit it.

Why wouldn't they comply and what can be done to fix them ?

1. In this case the connector box is enclosed within a light a ceiling fitting isnt this enough. There is not much cable to put it within another enclosure though.

2. Ok but isnt this what the choc box is doing it holds the cord grip and cables in place !
The connector block needs to be in a enclosure with a cord grip holding the cables in place.

3. Yeah I asked them to fit a cpc but I guess changing them to plastic pendents would also do the job.

4. You could unscrew the socket boxes and just cut the gromit to fit it.. Can you clarify what you mean by this..

dil1976

I wouldn't worry about the C3 codes as they are advisory and shouldn't in the time frame recommended for the next EICR cause any problems. If you can afford to have them done then it certainly wouldn't hurt to get them done.

1 I wouldn't pull this up as long as the connections were between a light fitting and the plasterboard as there would only be 2 ways to actually touch them.

2 Depends what sort of choc box is used, although the use of a cord grip only came into force in the 17th edition in 2008, and seeing as the regulations can't be forced retrospectivley again not a problem, thats why it would have been given a C3

3 You are correct.

4 Just unscrew the face plates on your switches, sockets etc, the grommit you need would be known as open meaning it already has a hole in it, so just cut into in once and fit onto th opening of the box.


I hope all that makes sense.

ahll

dil1976 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry about the C3 codes as they are advisory and shouldn't in the time frame recommended for the next EICR cause any problems. If you can afford to have them done then it certainly wouldn't hurt to get them done.

1 I wouldn't pull this up as long as the connections were between a light fitting and the plasterboard as there would only be 2 ways to actually touch them.

Ah the connector is in the ceiling light fitting that is metal but earthed...if it was between the light fitting and the platerboard the light would not sit flat on the ceiling. What would you do here?
2 Depends what sort of choc box is used, although the use of a cord grip only came into force in the 17th edition in 2008, and seeing as the regulations can't be forced retrospectivley again not a problem, thats why it would have been given a C3

It is one of these choc boxes HERE

3 You are correct.

4 Just unscrew the face plates on your switches, sockets etc, the grommit you need would be known as open meaning it already has a hole in it, so just cut into in once and fit onto th opening of the box.

Yes I thought that was what you ment just wanted to check. Seems like a handy tip for people..thanks


I hope all that makes sense.

We are awaiting the quote to get things sorted so all is ok. He is putting a new consumer unit in and talking about using RCBos instead of mcbs. I think its fair to say that the guy didnt make it clear that you don't have to have C3 things done. I just want to be in an informed position for when he gets back to us. we also got a C3 for worn screws in one of the upstairs sockets. He mentioned something about a tool that can be used to re-thread the back box....do you know what tool this is ?

Thanks for your comments so far

dil1976

ahll wrote: »

We are awaiting the quote to get things sorted so all is ok. He is putting a new consumer unit in and talking about using RCBos instead of mcbs. I think its fair to say that the guy didnt make it clear that you don't have to have C3 things done. I just want to be in an informed position for when he gets back to us. we also got a C3 for worn screws in one of the upstairs sockets. He mentioned something about a tool that can be used to re-thread the back box....do you know what tool this is ?

Thanks for your comments so far

Yes it is called a re-threading tool strangely enough.

There should be on the report you received a page saying the 3 different codes mean and how they affect the report.

ahll

dil1976 wrote: »

Yes it is called a re-threading tool strangely enough.

lol thats seems like a really good name for it.....