Regulations on Terminal Block wrapped in electrical tape

[Camdonian]

Hi, I'm a council tenant and just had some work done in my kitchen, which included a new electrical installation. There was previously a single sockets ring main, and a new kitchen sockets ring main was added, which in itself seems fine. But I'm concerned about the pre-existing ring main. This previously came into my kitchen from the ceiling and the electrician shorted out the circuit by wiring it into terminal blocks and wrapping it up in electrical tape, which he then hid away in the ceiling, which was then replastered.

Does this breach any regulations? I was under the impression it needed to be an accessible junction box for such a connection.

 

[telectrix]

you are correct. if a junction is going to be inaccessible, then it must be a "maintenance free" joint, enclosed in a suitable enclosure. choc block and tape is the sort of bodge you'd expect from a builder. get them back to rectify. quote regulations 526.3 (vi), 526.5, 526.6. 526.7, and 526.8, from IET wiring regulations , BS7671 (2011).

 

[Badged01]

Whats on the other end of the cable? i.e. Is it still "live" or just a "dead" being stowed away?

 

[telectrix]

i.m assuming from the OP that the kitchen was dissed from the RFC and the joint is to reinstate the original RFC. OP says there was just 1 RFC before. therefore, it's a cock-up of the 1st magnitude.

 

[Darkwood]

Connectors and tape do not constitute a safe joint they must be in some form of housing to comply and as has been mentioned recent regulation would deem it none compliant if its inaccessible as it needs to be maintenance free both the connectors and housing.

 

[Camdonian]

Whats on the other end of the cable? i.e. Is it still "live" or just a "dead" being stowed away?

It is definitely live, I checked. It's part of what is now the sockets ring main for the rest of my flat. It comes from a hallway plug, then actually goes around my kitchen at ceiling level to a switched socket which is now hidden by some kitchen cabinets (this was supposed to be made redundant but they weren't) then goes off into my living room. I'm quite familiar with route because I had to reinstate my kitchen ceiling last year.


The work was done by Camden Council contractors as part of "Better Homes" work in my property.

Basically it seems to me they need to now install a new sockets ring main that bypasses my kitchen completely, as getting access to the terminal block would now be extremely difficult, part of the ceiling would need to be removed and also some box work for piping.

 

[telectrix]

that is totally unacceptable, get them back. whatever they have to do to put it right, they'll have to reinstate.

 

[ArseyDee]

Appalling. Name and shame the Contractor.

 

[Geordie Spark]

It is definitely live, I checked. It's part of what is now the sockets ring main for the rest of my flat. It comes from a hallway plug, then actually goes around my kitchen at ceiling level to a switched socket which is now hidden by some kitchen cabinets (this was supposed to be made redundant but they weren't) then goes off into my living room. I'm quite familiar with route because I had to reinstate my kitchen ceiling last year.
View attachment 21844

The work was done by Camden Council contractors as part of "Better Homes" work in my property.

Basically it seems to me they need to now install a new sockets ring main that bypasses my kitchen completely, as getting access to the terminal block would now be extremely difficult, part of the ceiling would need to be removed and also some box work for piping.

I did a job just like that when I fitted some sockets in my shed.

I was 13 at the time ........

 

[telectrix]

I did a job just like that when I fitted some sockets in my shed.

I was 13 at the time ........

and after 50 odd years, still no improvement.

 

[Octopus]

Presumably this work was done by a contractor on behalf of the Council - so write a nice polite letter to the Council including the detail you have outlined here.

Unless shoddy work is reported, work will get done to a ever decreasing standard......

 

[Badged01]

If its a "Live" one then as my learned colleagues have stated this is an unnacceptable way to terminate a live cable and falls foul of stated regulations!

A pic and nice letter to the council as suggested should hopefully get the issue resolved .....

 

[ArseyDee]

If this typifies the standard of electrical install, god help the rest of Camden's housing stock.

 

[Geordie Spark]

and after 50 odd years, still no improvement.

I realised there was no hope so took up plumbing and gas fitting instead.

How's your UFH heating these days??

 

[mechelec]

If you saw it and was concerned enough to take a picture why the hell didn't you question them before they finished the ceiling and boxed in the pipe work. It would have saved you a lot of stress.