UK This can't be right???

[Tazzy666uk]

I run a hall , and one of the long term hirers has been using it a lot lately. I popped in there today and was extremely concerned about some wiring they have done (which they never asked to do either)…. I noticed that this hall user had wired a cable into one of our fuse boards. It was replaced 2 years ago to meet fire reg but now has a hole in the top (not the one they are using!… however, I traced this wire and it goes to a festoon stage socket….. that means there is a live cable on a 32A breaker going straight to a socket with no isolation other than the board which is up high…. This is wrong and dangerous and against regs? I am concerned for other hall users and think I need to get a qualified sparky in urgently. Would appreciate some thoughts. Thank You

 

[ipf]

As noted above 32A breaker is not suitable for a 16A socket.
Is the board supposed to be mounted at 45 degrees?

Reckon those ceiling tiles are going up at an angle, maybe to an apex.

I wouldn't trust these amateur dramatic folk. I've come across loads of dodgy stuff thrown in by their 'expert lighting engineer' members who've been doing it for free for years.
Quite deadly. What frightens me most is the number of youngsters treading the boards in total innocence.

 

[Rockingit]

OK..... the issue of permission apart, I'm not seeing anything here which concerns me.

It's a 6mm cable feeding what looks to me to be a 32a trailing socket, not a 16a. 30 years of using them and you get a feel for these things by sight from 50m away.... It would be very unlikely that a portable lighting dimmer they'd want to use connected to it would only be on a 16A input either, 32A is far more normal. You could argue that a fixed socket outlet rather than a trailing socket would have been more appropriate but that would mean needing to fix something onto the wall which could introduce more problems.

The fact it's also been ferruled properly makes me know that whoever did it has an appreciation of doing things properly. It would only justify a minor works certificate at best, so screaming to get people to pay for an EICR is probably not helpful.

HOWEVER... what you HAVE done is highlight a bunch of other issues totally unconnected with this lighting feed, which absolutely do warrant an inspection and report!!

 

[Tazzy666uk]

OK..... the issue of permission apart, I'm not seeing anything here which concerns me.

It's a 6mm cable feeding what looks to me to be a 32a trailing socket, not a 16a. 30 years of using them and you get a feel for these things by sight from 50m away.... It would be very unlikely that a portable lighting dimmer they'd want to use connected to it would only be on a 16A input either, 32A is far more normal. You could argue that a fixed socket outlet rather than a trailing socket would have been more appropriate but that would mean needing to fix something onto the wall which could introduce more problems.

The fact it's also been ferruled properly makes me know that whoever did it has an appreciation of doing things properly. It would only justify a minor works certificate at best, so screaming to get people to pay for an EICR is probably not helpful.

HOWEVER... what you HAVE done is highlight a bunch of other issues totally unconnected with this lighting feed, which absolutely do warrant an inspection and report!!

Firstly, thank you to everyone for the comments, I appreciate it.

In respect to my original question and comments, The commando socket is definitely rated at 16A, and it is stamped as that. I didn't check the cable to be fair.

I had two concerns initially (from my own perspective):

1. safety
2. unauthorised tampering with our electrical system.

Hopefully, the first is put to bed as the hirer is only there for one more day and the circuit is isolated when they are not there, albeit if someone got up on a step ladder, they could flip the breaker back on.

The second, is something for me to take up with the hirer.

.....

So, going forward, there appears to be a need for such a thing to be used in our hall and I would like to think we can accommodate that and will speak to our sparky about installing a fixed one. This would eliminate future issues of a similar nature.

As mentioned, the board was changed about 2 years ago to bring it up to regs from fire perspective as the old one was plastic.

I would appreciate any comments as to the other concerns you have? I have no issues highlighting any other issues. I would rather it be safe and done properly than have something potentially dangerous.

This is one of 4 boards in the hall, and there is a 3 phase supply in.

If you have the time, I would appreciate the general board comments....

From my layman observations (which may be wrong!), I can spot:

1. exposed copper terminations.
2. hole in board
3. choc block on tails
4. should be a blanking breaker over the bus bar instead of a cover on front of board
5. cables trailed around the board.

To note, our 'works' sparky also does the EICR (comments noted from others).


thank you

 

[littlespark]

What the most important thing is someone has ***ked about with the electrics, whether they know what they’re doing or not.

It gets my goat when somebody thinks they’re above the normal procedures of doing things and don’t even think to ask for permission.

When we had the caravan park, my FIL bought some chainsaw carved bears to dot around the site… a little one right at the gate, holding a sign with an arrow….
There was a customer who decided upon himself to cover it in white paint! … not the sign… the bear!

 

[Rockingit]

So, going forward, there appears to be a need for such a thing to be used in our hall and I would like to think we can accommodate that and will speak to our sparky about installing a fixed one. This would eliminate future issues of a similar nature.

There's a whole variety of options at that point, and I'd suggest that a 'regular' sparky may not be fully conversant with the conventions of power for stage lighting, PA and so on. There are members here (inc myself) who specialise in this and who can advise and design if you wish, if you're in London then I'm thinking specifically of @davesparks