festoon lighting

[studentspark]

Have a client that has ordered festoon lighting which he want to have in his office.
The cable is fabric covered flat festoon cable and comes with Edison lampholders which clamp on to the cable to make the electrical connection.
These lampholders can be unscrewed so can be removed.

I'm not keen but would like other opinions.

Regs mention insulation piercing lampholders (sections 711 and740) but this is with regards to exhibitions temporary locations etc.
Wants it wired off the lighting circuit and controlled by a switch, so its a permanent fixture.

Is this lampholder compliant?

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[Robin0577]

Not sure where it stands rules wise but fabric covered cable with insulation piercing lampholders sounds like a really bad idea to me! I always thought the original rubber versions were a bit dodgy once someone's moved a lampholder or two and left holes but a fabric covering can only make it worse...

If I'm imagining this correctly, the pins pierce through the actual fabric outer covering, yes? So what happens if the fabric absorbs a bit of moisture from, say, a steaming kettle?

 

[ericmark]

I have used the self sealing cable at 24 volt with ASii but with reduced low voltage it was withdrawn so with low voltage seems rather silly.

Yet I have some where lighting track which is really the same idea and it is hard to point to any regulation which will prevent it.

If we consider the modern RCD protection then likely safe enough but all the 110 volt and 24 volt have no earth so would not be permitted.

The earth is a problem with Edison screw there is nothing for the earth to connect to however it would still need to be there. Just can't see how you would include an earth with that type of cable.

So to me if no earth then no way even if we all know really it makes no difference.