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Poor practice - Outside Light Point

statter

Hello, Fitted an outside light for my daughter last weekend.  Newbuild house Nov 2021 with wiring pre-installed so a quick and easy job.  That's the good part.  

Outside there was a plastic box (OK but not weatherproof) with a clip on lid about six feet above ground level, accessible without steps etc to anyone over 5' 6" tall.  Inside this box the cable (three core +E) was neatly coiled with the end (just cut straight across the sheath) taped over with single thickness of green/yellow insulating tape.  As there were no terminals I might have expected this cable to be dead. Age has taught me caution however and on testing the cable was actually live with the internal switch both on and off.  (the third core was permanent live presumably for a PIR or similar).  

I was initially expecting the indoor end of the cable to be insulated and coiled behind the switch for later connection but in fact it was all connected.

This looks like poor practice and a potentially dangerous installation. It shouldn't be possible to expose live conductors without tools and the box could have been damaged by impact from e.g. a football leaving a live cable dangling and in reach.  A diy installer could easily have had a nasty accident unless they turned off the whole house prior to starting work. I don't have a copy of the new regs as I am now retired but can someone tell me which regulations this breaches.  Sorry I don't have any pictures.

Thanks

  • Off the top of my head, if the lid of the box can be removed without a tool then the innards should be IP2X (finger proof) and need a tool to access live parts. Normally that would be achieved by terminating the cores into choc blocks or similar rather than just taping over.

       - Andy.

  • well it certainly breaks  the one about live parts being not accessible without tools. Even if it was not a regulation, it is an immediate hazard -- probably a mistake during the mad dash to wire things up indoors rather than a deliberate plan, but maybe worth a note to the house builders, as there may be more like this estate

    Mike

  • Was the box outside a greyish colour plastic square box with a clip on lid?

    Like this?

    www.amazon.co.uk/.../ref=sr_1_33

    Z.

  • in reply to Zoomup

    like that Z but circular, cable fed in through rough hole in the back.

  • in reply to mapj1

    Thanks Mike, my thoughts exactly.  Standard on the estate so they may well all be the same.  I will notify the builder.

  • can someone tell me which regulations this breaches.

    Try 416.2.4(iii).

    416.2.4 Where it is necessary to remove a barrier or open an enclosure or remove parts of enclosures, this shall be possible only:
      (i) by the use of a key or tool, or
      (ii) after disconnection of the supply to live parts against which the barriers or enclosures afford protection,
           restoration of the supply being possible only after replacement or reclosure of the barrier or enclosure, or
     (iii) where an intermediate barrier providing a degree of protection of at least IPXXB or IP2X prevents contact
           with live parts, by the use of a key or tool to remove the intermediate barrier.


    NOTE: This regulation does not apply to:
                  - a ceiling rose complying with BS 67
                  - a cord operated switch complying with BS EN 60669-1
                  - a bayonet lampholder complying with BS EN 61184
                  - an Edison screw lampholder complying with BS EN 60238.

  • in reply to AJJewsbury

    Thank you Andy

  • in reply to statter

    The covers are normally quite difficult to remove and may require a screwdriver to lever the cover off at an appropriate place.

    www.cef.co.uk/.../4372881-o65-x-35mm-round-plastic-enclosure-ip44

    Z.

  • in reply to Zoomup

    Thank you Z.  The cover on this one came off easily by hand.  Perhaps the case had been distorted where it was screwed to brickwork?

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