I'm confused about junction box rules

[PotatoSoup]

Hiya,

Thanks for reading this. I'm befuddled so would really appreciate some clarification from someone who knows the current electrical rules and regulations: the electrician I've just used has connected an outside light via an old style junction box. The junction box is in the ceiling of the under the stairs cupboard, which I'm about to plasterboard and then plaster over (he knew that was the plan). I thought ye old style junction boxes had to remain accessible and that putting them into a ceiling which is going to be plastered over was therefore a no-no? The stairs are immediately above so I can't imagine they'd be seen as easily taken up (particularly as it would mean hauling up the carpet). I'm confused - is it sometimes ok to use junction boxes in ceilings that are due to be plastered if certain conditions are met? Please can someone demystify me?

 

[pete01]

They need to be maintenance free, you cant use the old round screw terminal type unless you can easily access them.

 

[Murdochcat]

Only maintenance free type connections should be used in the situation you describe.

Don’t pay his bill and get him back to correct the work

 

[blup]

Should be maintenance free junction boxes if inaccessible. The idea being that the connections can’t shake loose. But if done properly should last for ever like back in the day so I wouldn’t worry unduly. You know where it is.

 

[blup]

Did the jb carry existing cables to which he added the new spur? Was it still accessible when he finished the job?

 

[PotatoSoup]

Hiya, nope, there wasn't a junction box there before - he put it in.
I didn't throw him out of the way to plaster before he left but the wooden frame was already in place, ready for the plasterboard.

Did the jb carry existing cables to which he added the new spur? Was it still accessible when he finished the job?

 

[PotatoSoup]

Thanks so much, Folks - I'm going to do as suggested and ask him to come back to sort it. I didn't want to apply the Karen make-up and wig if I'd got the wrong end of the stick because then I'd just look silly, so I much appreciate your help

 

[blup]

Thanks so much, Folks - I'm going to do as suggested and ask him to come back to sort it. I didn't want to apply the Karen make-up and wig if I'd got the wrong end of the stick because then I'd just look silly, so I much appreciate your help

Let us know what he says and does. Technically he might argue an MF wasn’t needed as it was exposed at the time he installed it and it is not illegal to frame over the resulting jb.

 

[Murdochcat]

Let us know what he says and does. Technically he might argue an MF wasn’t needed as it was exposed at the time he installed it and it is not illegal to frame over the resulting jb.

Which would be b o l l o c k s

 

[chivers67]

Just out of interest can you post a photo of what's been done already?

 

[blup]

Which would be b o l l o c k s

The sparkie was paid to fit a jb in an accessible area. Unless the contract specified mf he can claim that he met his side of the bargain. The OP can build in an accessible panel to reach the jb

 

[davelx]

The sparkie was paid to fit a jb in an accessible area. Unless the contract specified mf he can claim that he met his side of the bargain. The OP can build in an accessible panel to reach the jb

The customer cannot be expected to know if an MF junction box is required. If the customer informed the electrician the the junction box was going to be enclosed behind plasterboard, then the electrician has a duty to exercise reasonable skill and care in doing the job and therefore should have installed an MF junction box.

 

[SUNRAY]

Hiya,

Thanks for reading this. I'm befuddled so would really appreciate some clarification from someone who knows the current electrical rules and regulations: the electrician I've just used has connected an outside light via an old style junction box. The junction box is in the ceiling of the under the stairs cupboard, which I'm about to plasterboard and then plaster over (he knew that was the plan). I thought ye old style junction boxes had to remain accessible and that putting them into a ceiling which is going to be plastered over was therefore a no-no? The stairs are immediately above so I can't imagine they'd be seen as easily taken up (particularly as it would mean hauling up the carpet). I'm confused - is it sometimes ok to use junction boxes in ceilings that are due to be plastered if certain conditions are met? Please can someone demystify me?

In the emboldened part is correct and you specifically told him that then the onus is on the electrician to provide a system which conforms to regulations as inaccessible

 

[Murdochcat]

The sparkie was paid to fit a jb in an accessible area. Unless the contract specified mf he can claim that he met his side of the bargain. The OP can build in an accessible panel to reach the jb

Read the OP again

 

[davelx]

Read the OP again

I did, perhaps you should read the whole thread.