Catagory for bad cable work please

NoSparks · Aug 12, 2012

I was working in an old shop yesterday in which I have been asked to do an inspection. While there I found cables draped diagonally across the ceiling of the cellar. The unprotected choclate block is clearly a Cat 1, but what would your reaction be to the cabling?

[ElectriciansForums.net] Catagory for bad cable work please

Silly Sausage · Aug 12, 2012

I'd say, at most, C3.
In the BRB have a look at 522.8 and Appendix 4 in the red OSG.

londonlec · Aug 12, 2012

C2 I think for me.

Are there blanks missing in the D/B?

kingeri · Aug 12, 2012

C3. I'd find it difficult to justify a C2 for untidy wiring. OK, it needs supporting, but it's not going to be dangerous if a fault occurs. But it is a quick fix anyway, so I'd go C3.

Guest55 · Aug 13, 2012

C3 for unsupported cables , C2 for choc block.

Adam W · Aug 13, 2012

I'd maybe give the choc block a C3 because there is insufficient mechanical protection - it's not necessarily presenting any danger, particularly because it's by the ceiling.
As for the cables, C3 at most, if there is any danger of them falling any further - there are no specific rules against messy work.

Farmelectrics · Aug 13, 2012

Even though it's rough as can't see how you could give it anything other than a code 3

sparkymalarky · Aug 13, 2012

Bad as they are, the cables are not supported or correctly fixed therefore I would say it merits a C3. The block connector though would be a C2 which also includes basic insulation external to a suitable enclosure. How high is the distribution board fixed? Are these connections live and are they accessible?

The ESC guide below should provide some guidance.

View attachment ESC EICR guide.pdf

Risteard · Aug 15, 2012

I would consider the unprotected block connector to be exposed live parts, and therefore must be C1.

Silly Sausage · Aug 15, 2012

A connector block, C3.
Unless it's a huge one, got to be IP2X, no direct contact with...

huntos33 · Aug 16, 2012

sparkymalarky said:
Bad as they are, the cables are not supported or correctly fixed therefore I would say it merits a C3. The block connector though would be a C2 which also includes basic insulation external to a suitable enclosure. How high is the distribution board fixed? Are these connections live and are they accessible?

The ESC guide below should provide some guidance.

View attachment 14051

C1 for the profile badge

NoSparks · Aug 19, 2012

The consensus for the festoon of cable across the ceiling of the cellar seems to be C3. I had thought that with the possibility of people swinging on the cable, or getting objects caught in it, and pulling the cable such as to cause other attached equipment (eg fuse boxes) to be damaged or even pulled off the wall would warrent a C2.

The chock block although it offers some protection to about IP2, presents bear live metal work and is therefore by definition C1.

The missing cover of the CU may also give access to live bare metal work and if it did then it would be C1, however the busbars inside CUs are now often insulated such that even if the front cover of the CU were missing altogther there would be no dager. In this case the missing blank would be no more than C3.