Illegal Lights?

[jimmy_one_ball]

Hi Guys

I'm a recently qualified electrician trying to get myself up and running and recently had a small job at a local solicitors office. They wanted me to look at a couple of old, buzzing, 6ft 70W twin flourescent light fixtures which didn't respond to new tubes or starters so I replaced them like for like with new ones. Whilst I was there I noticed there was only one or two double socket outlets in each of the rooms (old building) and as you can imagine there were extension leads everywhere causing obvious trip hazards. In one room there was a daisy chain of three extensions with a multiway adapter in the last one with all the computers and printers etc plugged in.

Green PAT test labels were plastered everywhere (another story!). Without going into the effect this could have on Zs readings I told the office manager this was bad and she agreed that I could install extra socket outlets where needed. So I've been going in on weekends to minimise disruption and doing a bit at a time, all good so far but then one of the girls in the office (who I know) told me that her boyfreinds Dad is a spark and she just happened to mentioned to him what I was doing. He said the lights I installed were illegal as they need to be a certain type for offices with computers, not the discharge flourescent ones that I installed, and that extension leads are fine and that I'm just raking up business! Talk about shattering my confidence!! One of the extension leads was a coiled up type, which has the effect of cable grouping and was a fire risk, or so I thought.

Is this bloke just being a **** or am I right to do what I am doing? He's making me feel like a complete **** but he shouldn't be banding words like illegal around! I test and certify every circuit I'm working on and all socket outlet spurs are from an RCD type FCU. I appreciate anyones thoughts on this, thanks in advance.

J.O.B

 

[UNG]

I hate the way the term illegal is used and bandied about for something that is non compliant with regulations that are not law, but then again non compliant doesn't have the frightening ring to it when you are trying to sell something or trying to take the opposition out of the equation

With regard to the extension leads daisy chained my concern would be the fire hazard they present and there may be some issues under the Electricity at Work Act, do they have a fire alarm if not may be you could sell them one

 

[mogga]

best person to get quote on legalities are Currys,comet installation guys Iv had a couple of instances where ILLEGAL has been thrown in
as for CAT 2 you could advise the office manager that you RECOMEND fitting cat 2 diffuser due to the computer screens ( just recomend and point out the flicker effect ect ) but dont worry if she says no AS for extensions aisy chaining is a big nono but most offices Iv seen tend to have extensions within the desk for all equipment on the desk its when tom dick and harry add their own stuff that daisy chaining becomes the norm

 

[electromonkey]

That electrician's just put the wrong light fitting up. That's illegal. Quick, phone the police. That man should be arrested!!!

 

[The Ranger]

With regard to the sockets and extension leads. Every time you plug in an extension lead you do add extra resistance to the circuit (R1+R2) which affects the Zs Value at the piece of equipment that is plugged into the extension lead socket. This could affect the disconnection time and therefore might no longer comply with the regulations and be dangerous.

While I agree technically thats what could happen at what point did the extensions become part of the fixed installation? I don't think you can go down the non compliant using the example above but I do think you can advise that it's bad practice.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Take it slowly and do not immediately worry and do not take any responses to heart.

If they are illegal then the fluorescents would have already been "illegal" before as you replaced like for like
As far as i am aware fluorescent lights are suitable for use in an office. However there are lighting design considerations for office users to prevent glare and excessive light intensity, but these requirements are usually a more specialised approach. It is highly possible that the lights could be causing incorrect light angles and reflection patterns but this was not your remit: redesigning the lighting.

Excessive use of extension leads is a bad idea as this increases the resistance of the circuit and can lead to overheating of cables and potential overloading of circuits. The building regulations advise having sufficient socket outlets to supply the equipment expected to be in use. Consideration being taken of the usual length of flexible cable supplied with such equipment.

If you are talking to the electrician then politely ask if he could write down clearly the contraventions of the law, specifying which laws, that he thinks you have done so that you can ensure that there are no problems.

Do not panic!

well i wouldn`t be asking this guy anything politely.........i would however make it clear his interference wasn`t required, helpful or needed and to politely **** ***!!....I mean who`s this guy anyway...the electrical police?....He just dont like it because YOU got the work and not him...thats all it is....he will have been aware of this lot here and no doubt saw it as HIS work...lol.....so in his eyes you`v "nicked it" off him...lol.....funny really innit...he should have got there quicker...lol.....