If you put a 13A socket up there it will get used for a vacuum cleaner - why go to the effort of running a cable upstairs when you can just disobey a little sticker?
Going around putting 5A plugs on all low powered appliances and running them off the lighting circuit is not the way forward.
You could fit a FCU at a push, but it's best just to fit a socket properly, which is essentially what the customer is asking for - ingenious little 'DIY-esque' innovations shouldn't become the norm
Hi Novus
What the Op was asking about was a 'spur off the lighting circuit' in the loft, where there is only a lighting circuit, a 5A socket or FCU is covered by the Regs so what is the problem with that?
I don't think anyone is suggesting that 5A sockets should be used all over a premises for low powered appliances, but they are useful in certain situations - like this one.
Lets not forget that the owner of the property has a say in these situations, after all, he owns the installation, how much more difficult and expensive would it be to bring a 13A socket up from the floor below, we don't know - we are not the Electrician on site.
We can only advise our customers what to do, if they don't want to do that, we can suggest a compromise, if they are set on doing it illegally then you have to walk, but if you walk, you know that the next guy through the door is not going to be a skilled Sparky, he will do what they want, so what kind of dangerous situation will he leave behind?
It's our job to leave our clients safe and happy.