Junction box stress

[waitees]

Hi

I have been told different things by different people, I have 2 juction boxes under the floorboards with access at the top of the stairs, for downstairs lights. I have done this because of limted space in lights for 3 plate. Do I need to clip the cables before entry into the jb so no stress on the cables or shall i screw it to the joist ?

Help please !

 

[pushrod]

Definitely fix JB but both i would have thought - are you saying as well that they are accessible ones. Ordinary screw termination JBs are supposed to remain accessible. Otherwise, strictly speaking, you should be using those no maintenance hager ones.

 

[Risteard]

Otherwise, strictly speaking, you should be using those no maintenance hager ones.

Not convinced that the Regulations permit these to be inaccessible. At the very least it is a departure from the Regulations for new innovations which offer an equivalent degree of safety.

 

[pushrod]

Not convinced that the Regulations permit these to be inaccessible. At the very least it is a departure from the Regulations for new innovations which offer an equivalent degree of safety.

Not saying they are but Hager / Asley certainly seem convinced that they comply with regs for not being accessible.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/Hager/JB_Guide.pdf look on page 9 and 10.

 

[JUD]

Not convinced that the Regulations permit these to be inaccessible. At the very least it is a departure from the Regulations for new innovations which offer an equivalent degree of safety.

Not saying they are but Hager / Asley certainly seem convinced that they comply with regs for not being accessible.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/Hager/JB_Guide.pdf look on page 9 and 10.

IIRC the Ashley junction boxes use Wago connectors inside which are British Standards Approved. (BS EN 60998) and a quote from page 362 of BRB (Appendix 15):

Junction box to BS EN 60670-22 or BS 6220.
Junction boxes with screw terminals must be accessible for inspection, testing and maintenance or, alternatively, use maintenance-free terminals / connections (Regulation 526.3)

That's good enough for me

 

[mechelec]

alternatively, use maintenance-free terminals / connections (Regulation 526.3)


It is not exactly worded like that in my regs

 

[JUD]

alternatively, use maintenance-free terminals / connections (Regulation 526.3)


It is not exactly worded like that in my regs

Page 362 (Appendix 15)

 

[b-spark]

Ever Jb now has to have cord grips either via box itself or via clips.It has to be supported and fixed. As long as the box has access ie theres no tiles or floating floor going over the floorboard your sound!
also if your putting jb's on circuits you should draw a plan to complete the information with con unit. If probelms occur later you have the info.

 

[pennywise]

also if your putting jb's on circuits you should draw a plan to complete the information with con unit. If probelms occur later you have the info.

I would love to fault find if that were the case for every job

 

[waitees]

hi thanks for all the responses.

Used to work for a guy before i went on it on my own and he always put jb at the top of the stairs for access and used the old normal jb and had his niceic inspection annually and they never pulled him up about it, very strange.

I have tried the maintenece free hager boxes and found them very fiddly, i have also come accross these new 17th edition jb boxes that cef are selling. they have 4 entrances with clamps on every entrance. Question is, is it possible to use these, there is a excess panel at the top of the stairs to gain access with little carpet on the corner to lift.

Do you think this will be acceptable for the niceic man ?

 

[pushrod]

If there is access i would think any JB would be acceptable. TBH i suspect we talk a lot more about them on here than other people do - when i tried to buy some 6 months ago at an electrical factor that also ran a team of electricians no one in there had heard of them !!

 

[Risteard]

Page 362 (Appendix 15)

That is an informative, not normative, appendix, and as such does not form part of the Regulations.

Only Appendix 1 is normative.

 

[b-spark]

I would love to fault find if that were the case for every job

I drum it into the lads who work for me its like buying a car the amount of papers what get passed on to cilent with us. specs of runs all data which comes with what ever has be fitted.
we loop in at switch for ease of it. If we do rework tho it all gets written down. I dont want to be looking over and under for crapy connections doing a wheres wally!
Whats the point of rules if you do your own thing. Its all in the little red book! chairman mao's set up again in elec world!

 

[martysparky]

IIRC the Ashley junction boxes use Wago connectors inside which are British Standards Approved. (BS EN 60998) and a quote from page 362 of BRB (Appendix 15):

Junction box to BS EN 60670-22 or BS 6220.
Junction boxes with screw terminals must be accessible for inspection, testing and maintenance or, alternatively, use maintenance-free terminals / connections (Regulation 526.3)

That's good enough for me

& as manufacturers instructions superseed regs that'll be good enough for me too.

 

[james b]

Don't the regs say your only allowed to install a j.b if it has direct access?