Is this NICIEC extractor fan installation safe?

David Thomas · Nov 8, 2018

Hi,

Quick Q from a newbie. I had a NICIEC registered electrician install an isolation switch and extractor fan in my downstairs bathroom. I’m now replacing one of the down lights and found what is a surprising mess of wires in the false ceiling, all joined together with a terminal block (centre is neutral, left and right are live).

The grey cable leads to the isolation switch and the terminal block has been installed by the electricians. They’ve twisted the earth wire onto an existing twisted arrangement.

Is this safe/correct? I found it surprising from an Australian perspective but am open to being told that this is how things are done in Britain.

If this isn’t right, what should I do before adding the downloght? Put the terminal block in a junction box? Solder then sleeve twisted earthing wires?

My wife is back in an hour and I want everything back in the ceiling then, so prompt responses appreciated!

[ElectriciansForums.net] Is this NICIEC extractor fan installation safe?

MFS Electrical · Nov 8, 2018

Call back the cowboy that done that and tel him to fix it. Where do i start?

And btw: Hi and welcome to the forum, apologies it wasn’t the prompt reply you were after

MFS Electrical · Nov 8, 2018

The connections need to be enclosed in a suitable enclosure i.e a junction box, which will have to be maintenance free if it isn’t accessible and that is not an acceptable way to joint CPCs (earths) The NICEIC has a platinum promise so call up the guy who did this and tell him you’ll be sending pics to the niceic if he doesn’t get his butt back and sort it the way it should be done, also if he refuses to come back and sort it. Get on the phone to the NICEIC and make sure they send out someone who will do it right, their platinum promise thing means they will send someone else to do it for free if the original contractor won’t/can’t fix it.

Edit; after another look I have spotted some copper showing on the black termination to the far right for which there is no excuse and also the lack of proper identification of the cores i.e sleeving not to mention the obvious lack of sleeving for the CPCs

And personally I don’t think you should add anything to it until that mess has been rectified.

Dazza1976 · Nov 8, 2018

If that’s a NICEIC electrician that installed that, he should be shot !!
Agree with MFS reply

MFS Electrical · Nov 8, 2018

Dazza1976 said:
If that’s a NICEIC electrician that installed that, he should be shot !!
Agree with MFS reply

Unfortunately this seems to be an all to regular occurrence these days....

buzzlightyear · Nov 8, 2018

David Thomas said:
Is this safe/correct? I found it surprising from an Australian perspective but am open to being told that this is how things are done in Britain.

I can only apologise for a fellow spark has done .and you have the write to complain .send me his details and I will make sure that my big boots are on to kick him or she up the A77.

MFS Electrical · Nov 8, 2018

buzzlightyear said:
I can only apologise for a fellow spark has done .and you have the write to complain .send me his details and I will make sure that my big boots are on to kick him or she up the A77.

I wouldn’t call the nugget that did this a spark any day of the week. I didn’t realise you have to write to complain that’s good to know for the future.

OP did you receive any sort of certificate for the work that had been done?

buzzlightyear · Nov 8, 2018

MFS Electrical said:
Unfortunately this seems to be an all to regular occurrence these days..

if you wear the badge of the NICEIC you should wear it with pride if they can not do a proper job, may be they should stack beans in Tesco's.

MFS Electrical · Nov 8, 2018

buzzlightyear said:
if you wear the badge of the NICEIC you should wear it with pride if they can not do a proper job, may be they should stack beans in Tesco's.

Unfortunately too many nuggets use it to get work that they’d otherwise miss out on.

Strima · Nov 8, 2018

That is rough and needs sorting out. Get him back to do it or raise a complaint with the NICEIC.

Silly Sausage · Nov 8, 2018

buzzlightyear said:
if you wear the badge of the NICEIC you should wear it with pride if they can not do a proper job, may be they should stack beans in Tesco's.

Sod that, I like my tins undamaged, ta very much

Octopus · Nov 8, 2018

The OP should send a copy of this information to the NICEIC in Luton, Marked for the attention of Emma Clancy - CEO ...

buzzlightyear · Nov 8, 2018

Murdoch said:
The OP should send a copy of this information to the NICEIC in Luton, Marked for the attention of Emma Clancy - CEO ...

she will say take it up with the sparky who did the job .me try watchdog.

Octopus · Nov 8, 2018

Murdoch said:
The OP should send a copy of this information to the NICEIC in Luton, Marked for the attention of Emma Clancy - CEO ...

And send a copy to Watch Dog - make sure the NICEIC know this is happening

Sintra · Nov 8, 2018

I would suggest that those connector blocks have been there before your electrician was it looks like the 3 white cables have at one time been a lighting point. However your electrician should not have added his new cable into that lot in that way. For the sake of a small enclosure a bit of sleeving and a few MF connectors it could have been done correctly.