Choc Blocks in loft without Enclosures

G

GC129

Member
My loft is due to have fresh inulation and to be boarded over next week, so I thought I'd go and have a check up there.

There's a couple of choc blocks in the light circuits that are not enclosed (see pics). I know that this isn't to regs...

I don't particulary want to get an electrician out for cost related reasons. Considering this is soon to have 300mm of insulation on top of it + boarding, what would be a suitable quick fix for this? And what are peoples thoughts on me, someone who (whilst is competant with wiring) is not qualified, carrying out this work?

Would it be acceptable to put it all in a rather large junction box that then just rests on top of the ceiling under the insulation?

And whilst we're here... Are there any other considerations I need to be aware of whilst the loft people are adding the insulation? Do all lighting ciruits have to be ontop of the insulation? there's reasonably good slack on the cables, but it is tight in some places and sometimes goes under beams, so not confident it would all be able to go on top of insulation withought rewiring in some areas.

Thanks in advance for any advice
 

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GC129 said:
My loft is due to have fresh inulation and to be boarded over next week, so I thought I'd go and have a check up there.

There's a couple of choc blocks in the light circuits that are not enclosed (see pics). I know that this isn't to regs...

I don't particulary want to get an electrician out for cost related reasons. Considering this is soon to have 300mm of insulation on top of it + boarding, what would be a suitable quick fix for this? And what are peoples thoughts on me, someone who (whilst is competant with wiring) is not qualified, carrying out this work?

Would it be acceptable to put it all in a rather large junction box that then just rests on top of the ceiling under the insulation?

And whilst we're here... Are there any other considerations I need to be aware of whilst the loft people are adding the insulation? Do all lighting ciruits have to be ontop of the insulation? there's reasonably good slack on the cables, but it is tight in some places and sometimes goes under beams, so not confident it would all be able to go on top of insulation withought rewiring in some areas.

Thanks in advance for any advice
Click to expand...
Any cables that are covered by insulation will need to be checked by an electrician because they might need to be derated.
It looks like there is a bit of slack on the light so that can be enclosed and put on top of the insulation and where possible the other cables should be laid on top of the insulation .
 
sparko69 said:
Any cables that are covered by insulation will need to be checked by an electrician because they might need to be derated.
It looks like there is a bit of slack on the light so that can be enclosed and put on top of the insulation and where possible the other cables should be laid on top of the insulation .
Click to expand...
That’s normally not a concern for a domestic lighting circuit.
 
Thanks for the all the advice everyone. Those Ashley boxes look neat.

Hopefully the cabels can all go on top of the insulation!
 
Bazza said:
That’s normally not a concern for a domestic lighting circuit.
Click to expand...
There is NORMALLY cables for ring mains in a loft and that would usually be a potential concern if insulation is placed on top.
There may even be a shower cable as well so that would potentially be a concern NORMALLY
 
sparko69 said:
There is NORMALLY cables for ring mains in a loft and that would usually be a potential concern if insulation is placed on top.
There may even be a shower cable as well so that would potentially be a concern NORMALLY
Click to expand...
Ring final not NORMALLY in the loft of a house, except in a bungalow. But needs checking in any case.
 
Bazza said:
Ring final not NORMALLY in the loft of a house, except in a bungalow.
But needs checking in any case.
Click to expand...
That is complete tosh. Ring final cables are NORMALLY laid in the loft for the upstairs ring final in most domestic properties.
And you then add that it needs checking....
Which was what I said in the first place.
 
sparko69 said:
That is complete tosh. Ring final cables are NORMALLY laid in the loft for the upstairs ring final in most domestic properties.
And you then add that it needs checking....
Which was what I said in the first place.
Click to expand...
That is complete tosh.
Ring final circuits are NORMALLY run in the ground floor ceilings. The cables coming UP from the 1st floor into the sockets.
 
sparko69 said:
That is complete tosh. Ring final cables are NORMALLY laid in the loft for the upstairs ring final in most domestic properties.
Click to expand...
What a load of nonsense. Why would you run the ring cables round the loft, you would not even do it in a bungalow with a timber floor with access. You would run ground floor lights and first floor sockets in the floor, not run the sockets in the loft. You must like a lot of extra unnecessary work and making good.
 
arrow said:
What a load of nonsense. Why would you run the ring cables round the loft, you would not even do it in a bungalow with a timber floor with access. You would run ground floor lights and first floor sockets in the floor, not run the sockets in the loft. You must like a lot of extra unnecessary work and making good.
Click to expand...
The discussion is not specifically about ring mains but there are many properties where ring mains are installed in the loft.
Shower cables will also probably be in the loft.
Needs checking. End of.
 
Bazza said:
That is complete tosh.
Ring final circuits are NORMALLY run in the ground floor ceilings. The cables coming UP from the 1st floor into the sockets.
Click to expand...
You are forgetting about shower cables which would be in the loft.
You have already agreed it needs checking and there is nothing further to discuss really.
 
sparko69 said:
The discussion is not specifically about ring mains but there are many properties where ring mains are installed in the loft.
Shower cables will also probably be in the loft.
Needs checking. End of.
Click to expand...
There are some where ring FINAL circuits are installed in the loft. But it is very much in the minority. My beef with your statement is that you said it was NORMAL. It isn’t. End of.
Note the term is ring final.
 
Bazza said:
There are some where ring FINAL circuits are installed in the loft. But it is very much in the minority. My beef with your statement is that you said it was NORMAL. It isn’t. End of.
Note the term is ring final.
Click to expand...
It is NORMAL in my experience.
You have no idea of what my experience is.
It NORMAL to me it doesn't matter what you think.
And don't forget the shower cable :)
End of.
 
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