Why you should wire to downlights in HR flex

[sjm]

Following on from a post a week or so ago about why not just wire to downlights in T+E I've attached the following photos.



I found these when called to an existing customer to locate a fault with the lights in their flat.
The installation was done 3 years ago, not by me I hasten to add.
What has happened is that the downlights have been covered in insulation by Bob The Builder. Although these particular JCC fireguard fittings do say in the instructions that they can be loosely covered with insulation if required by building regs.
My customer has then placed chipboard on top of the insulation in order to store things in the loft.

So although the electrician may not have known about the insulation plus the chipboard combination which has lead to the burning of the T+E, if he had followed best practice and used HR flex for the connection to the downlights then IMHO this wouldn't have happened.
Also I think he should have put some protection over the downlights as the loft was quite likely to be used for storage, the area of installation is right next to the loft hatch.
Your opinions would be appreciated as I've been asked to write a report for my customer. I have told them that the installation is NOT against the regulations, as such, but is IMO poor practice. I have also told them that their use of chipboard over the top of the insulation has contributed greatly to the problem.

So what do you guys think?
Thanks in advance.
Steve

 

[DurhamSparky]

was that not my utility with cu/dno head and all other stuff!!! then they added a shower!

customer: can you move the electrical stuff so i can keep shower...
me: yes but it will cost you thousands
customer: ok we will take shower out

 

[Paul.M]

was that not my utility with cu/dno head and all other stuff!!! then they added a shower!

customer: can you move the electrical stuff so i can keep shower...
me: yes but it will cost you thousands
customer: ok we will take shower out

Yes its yours I remember, also there was a thread about a standard bedroom that the landlord added a shower so he got more rent. But yours were better DS .

 

[ezzzekiel]

looking at the picture cant see what the problem is, looks ok to me

 

[sjm]

Wow that woke everyone up didn't it.
I didn't blame the original sparky and my post does say that he didn't do anything wrong, as such. Yes the DLs are installed within the regs.
However IMHO if he'd used HR flex and kept the T+E away (as I believe is considered best practice by the NIC) then regardless of Bob the builder and customer coming along afterwards the chances of this happening are greatly reduced are they not.
I have told the customer that the installation of chipboard on top of the insulation was the main contributing factor to the problem.

 

[tony mc]

If HR flex was used are you saying that no fault would have developed ?

As far as I can see the heat would still build up and something else would have to give IMO!

 

[Guest123]

Ok, even if HR flex had been used in this instance, how may fittings do you know of that come with porcelain connectors for the final terminations??

We can try our best to future proof but we cant budget for everything.

 

[sjm]

Ok, even if HR flex had been used in this instance, how may fittings do you know of that come with porcelain connectors for the final terminations??

We can try our best to future proof but we cant budget for everything.

Very true but it's only the cables that have burnt.

 

[Fin170]

Halogen ALWAYS costs more in the long run. Be it running costs, the fact they've set half your house on fire or that you've been hospitalised again because you fell off the chair having to replace the weekly one that's gone out.

The sooner they're banned the better, the tabloids would have a field day over it but they'll probably think otherwise if we sent in the hundreds of examples that have become fire risks

 

[wottie]

I love my Pendant :rockon:

 

[leonard]

Wow that woke everyone up didn't it.
I didn't blame the original sparky and my post does say that he didn't do anything wrong, as such. Yes the DLs are installed within the regs.
However IMHO if he'd used HR flex and kept the T+E away (as I believe is considered best practice by the NIC) then regardless of Bob the builder and customer coming along afterwards the chances of this happening are greatly reduced are they not.
I have told the customer that the installation of chipboard on top of the insulation was the main contributing factor to the problem.

The electrical installations are subject of constantly maintenance and inspection ,that for us to keep us busy.What would happened to the mechanics if the cars did not need service?

 

[trev]

The electrical installations are subject of constantly maintenance and inspection ,that for us to keep us busy.What would happened to the mechanics if the cars did not need service?

When you think of the number of electrical installations there are at present, very few of them are the subject of any constant maintenance or inspection mate. That's why there's sparks I know, bloody good sparks as well, working as cleaners

 

[GLENNSPARK]

When you think of the number of electrical installations there are at present, very few of them are the subject of any constant maintenance or inspection mate. That's why there's sparks I know, bloody good sparks as well, working as cleaners

yes trev.....try getting landlords to have PIRs done everytime they get a new tennant in......they just wont do it because they dont want to spend any cash....so what happens is when eventually (after about 5 tennants)...they finally decide to get an EICR done....you find loads of `extras` that the tennant/s did....or stuff that was either badly installed in the first place and constituted either a fire risk..or risk of shock (maybe both?)....or more recent work such as
Mr insulation coming in with his rockwool.......

 

[Knobhead]

The electrical installations are subject of constantly maintenance and inspection ,that for us to keep us busy.What would happened to the mechanics if the cars did not need service?

Who changed the oil in your car/van last time?

Constant maintenance? Dream on!

 

[DPG]

Can never understand why they banned 60W tungsten bulbs but left it perfectly OK to have a kitchen with god knows how many 50W downhazards, sorry downlighters, in there. Daz

 

[leonard]

Who changed the oil in your car/van last time?

Constant maintenance? Dream on!

Tony can you MOT your car ?If you can let me known.