5A Junction box

I've seen quite a few that have been done like this, mainly on older installations (1990's  and 00's) was it common practice then? 

JDW: 
Another I have seen a few times is strip connectors (choc blocks) in loft and floorboard spaces without an enclosure. Would that fail an inspection? 

Only if you remove the luminaire or take up the floorboards.

JDW: 
 

Another I have seen a few times is strip connectors (choc blocks) in loft and floorboard spaces without an enclosure. Would that fail an inspection? 

Yes. I normally use a surface pattress to enclose such. It can be retrofitted if a small slot(s) are cut into the pattress then a blanking plate is fitted to enclose the connections. The pattress is flame retardant. My method saves having to undo the connections to thread the cables through the knock outs. The connections are less likely to be touched by someone visiting the loft in the dark and perhaps receiving a shock if fully enclosed.

Z.

Another I have seen a few times is strip connectors (choc blocks) in loft and floorboard spaces without an enclosure. Would that fail an inspection? 

It should - screw terminals have to be accessible, and accessible terminals and places where the outer jacket of a cable is removed need an enclosure ?

Now that ‘enclosure’ may be the void behind a wall light or something, and the fitting forms the screwed access ‘cover’  and the brickwork forms the other 3 sides. However, some thought is needed as to if that is wise,  a dry brick wall is probably OK being fire proof and insulating, a hollow partition with duplex board or a hole in the plasterboard under a wooden floor really isn't so clever. 

Now in practice choc block flapping between floor and ceiling next to heating pipes etc are unlikely to pose an immediate danger, but it is very poor practice, accessible or not, and should be corrected when found.

The same  choc block or sprung terminal connector  flapping about  in a  90p box that gives a degree of cable grip and covers the stripped ends of the cable so that only jacket is exposed is perfectly OK, so it is not hard to do better.

Mike.

JDW: 
 

 

Given the true load is fixed, and low, the rating of a lighting box is a bit of an irrelevance, as the real question relates to how many wires can be inserted without it failing to do up properly and is it in a sensible place to inspect. 

Do they ever get inspected, most seem to be under floorboards!

Traditionally they were made accessible by the fitting of a floor “trap” over them. This was screwed down and the work TRAP was scrawled on it in pencil or Biro. They need no inspection if initially correctly installed.

Z.

Another I have seen a few times is strip connectors (choc blocks) in loft and floorboard spaces without an enclosure. Would that fail an inspection? 

 

Given the true load is fixed, and low, the rating of a lighting box is a bit of an irrelevance, as the real question relates to how many wires can be inserted without it failing to do up properly and is it in a sensible place to inspect. 

Do they ever get inspected, most seem to be under floorboards!

While a radial socket or shower circuit may be called upon to deliver the full 32 A , there will be almost no lighting circuits on a 6A MCB that take anything like the full 6A, and probably in many cases not even an amp. 

Arguably a 20A JB should be fine on a ring of sockets, as 20A cable would be accepted though I prefer to see 32A.

Given the true load is fixed, and low, the rating of a lighting box is a bit of an irrelevance, as the real question relates to how many wires can be inserted without it failing to do up properly and is it in a sensible place to inspect. 

In recent years I have been moving towards screwless fittings as vastly more reliable than things with little grub screws that someone either fails to tighten or cross threads so they feel tight but are not gripping.

Mike.

Around here, for many years, folk would pick either “5A ” or “30A” junction boxes for either lighting or power. Very often the “5A” ones were actually 20A ones anyway.

When the MCB became more common than the fuse in consumer units they were 5A and 30A then after a while became 6A & 32A . Nobody asked for or expected 6A and 32A junction boxes

JDW: 
 

Are 5amp junction boxes acceptable on a 6amp lighting circuit?

I personally wouldn’t use them as they are too small, but if they are already fitted are they acceptable? 

Is it actually possible to overload them?

It wouldn’t be in my house, my lighting circuit loads are less than one amp.