Bedroom lights without earths

[Car123]

Here is another question. In my bedrooms 1 light is earthed and two are not. The lights are pendants..All plastic fittings. I have been told there needs to be further investigation. The investigation apparently needing to get up in to the loft to look for the earth. This is a problem for me as the loft is looked and choker block with my stuff. Loads of it. The loft is locked and I am not sure where the key is. (Lockdown intervened(.Anyhow I have asked the electricians why they need to investigate further. I said I thought it was okay that bedroom lights are not earthed with plastic fittings. They just dont answer. I am feeling a bit desparate about it as I have 28 days to complete the work

 

[Car123]

Surely at some point you will need to get in the loft. And if the key is lost then why not get the sparky, or a local handyman(when he is there securing the trunking), to fit a new lock?

I wouldn't knackered the chances of getting a safe electrical system for the sake of a lost loft hatch key.

I’m getting concerned with what’s up there now! ??

A lot of dead sparked electrocuted looking for an earth and one wetpants.

 

[dodger421]

Is a plastic rose attached to the ceiling okay or does it need to be a light fitting with the bulb enclosed? My problem is it will be problematic to access the loft.

The only exception is the wiring to a lamp holder suspended from a ceiling rose, ie the pendant drop which is all of the white bit in the picture (except the rose cover that is). A CPC (earth) must be present and suitably terminated at the rose, which is the black bit.

 

[SJD]

Over the years working in rental properties, I've come across a few with padlocked lofts. Even one loft where the access is from the side of an attic bedroom, where there is screwed down panelling over it so the tenant wouldn't know there was an entrance. Usually this is done to hide stashed junk (sorry)!

I'd say it is not a good idea, if urgent access might be needed, certainly not if there are any water services in the loft. Even lighting cables can be nibbled by rodents and might need looking at in a hurry.

 

[DPG]

To be fair it sounds like my loft. Absolutely jam packed with stuff!

 

[Car123]

That's not great, is the loft space designed to take the weight of it being full of stuff? It's not normal for a rented property to have the loft filled with the landlords stuff.

It's perfectly normal. The loft has been given extra strenthening

 

[Car123]

Over the years working in rental properties, I've come across a few with padlocked lofts. Even one loft where the access is from the side of an attic bedroom, where there is screwed down panelling over it so the tenant wouldn't know there was an entrance. Usually this is done to hide stashed junk (sorry)!

I'd say it is not a good idea, if urgent access might be needed, certainly not if there are any water services in the loft. Even lighting cables can be nibbled by rodents and might need looking at in a hurry.

There are no tanks up there.

 

[Baddegg]

To be fair it sounds like my loft. Absolutely jam packed with stuff!

After doing a loft conversion a lot of time I’ll get called back to quote for a large shed/outbuilding...must be secure and water tight etc etc.....for......all the junk they used to keep in the loft where they now sleeping ??

 

[Car123]

After doing a loft conversion a lot of time I’ll get called back to quote for a large shed/outbuilding...must be secure and water tight etc etc.....for......all the junk they used to keep in the loft where they no sleeping ??

Yes thsts the thing about lofts. But all this really arose as a result of lock down. Instead I had to rent the house before I had planned. I was due to be back there to sort things out. But coming back to the non earthed lights. I agree that it would be ideal to get in to the loft but it could be difficult to get around. Is there a way that light fittings can be changed so that this okay? I am confused as they have done this in the bathroom

 

[dodger421]

Is a plastic rose attached to the ceiling okay or does it need to be a light fitting with the bulb enclosed? My problem is it will be problematic to access the loft.

In the interests of clarity - this type of fitting also needs a CPC (earth) to be run to the rose, even if it’s not connected to the lamp holder.

 

[Car123]

In the interests of clarity - this type of fitting also needs a CPC (earth) to be run to the rose, even if it’s not connected to the lamp holder.

Right. Yet it's accepted that the bathroom has a doubly insulated light with no earth

 

[dodger421]

Right. Yet it's accepted that the bathroom has a doubly insulated light with no earth

Without seeing the report it’s difficult to tell, but if I had to guess I’d say the bathroom light was changed for incorrect IP rating, not lack of earthing. They are two separate issues.

 

[Baddegg]

Yes thsts the thing about lofts. But all this really arose as a result of lock down. Instead I had to rent the house before I had planned. I was due to be back there to sort things out. But coming back to the non earthed lights. I agree that it would be ideal to get in to the loft but it could be difficult to get around. Is there a way that light fittings can be changed so that this okay? I am confused as they have done this in the bathroom

You can change em to class 2 same as the bathroom although it won’t make any difference as you need the earth for the rcd to work so it still leaves you the issue of not having rcd protection on the lighting circuit which you’ll need for a satisfactory certificate.....I would say this is already highlighted on the cert you havnt seen....

 

[Car123]

You can change em to class 2 same as the bathroom although it won’t make any difference as you need the earth for the rcd to work so it still leaves you the issue of not having rcd protection on the lighting circuit which you’ll need for a satisfactory certificate.....I would say this is already highlighted on the cert you havnt seen....

Well I understand that I think. But then how come they accept the bathroom without an earth with just a doubly insulated light

 

[Baddegg]

Well I understand that I think. But then how come they accept the bathroom without an earth with just a doubly insulated light

How can you know they do without seeing the report mate?...as @dodger421 points out that could’ve been for ip reasons......you really need that report mate and post it up here for anymore truly constructive advice I’m afraid

 

[Car123]

How can you know they do without seeing the report mate?...as @dodger421 points out that could’ve been for ip reasons......you really need that report mate and post it up here for anymore truly constructive advice I’m afraid

What's ip reasons. I am going in what they have written in their estimate along with the categorisation. And it says the light needs changing nothing about earthing