How bad is this really?

[wonderwire]

I've just bought a new flat, renovated in the mid-1980s.

I've started to change out a few of the old ceiling pendants for new ones, and have discovered a lot of "patchwork" wiring. E.g. extending a cable length using exposed t-piece screw connectors, like this:



The connections in this photo were not part of the ceiling rose or enclosed in a junction box, just left in the loft space above the ceiling rose... I've found about 4/5 "solutions" in the loft like this.

I know this is not up to code, esp. 17th edition(!!), and so where I have found them I have replaced them with junction boxes.

My question is: i) was this practice really common 30 years ago? (it just doesn't seem safe), ii) practically, how worried do I need to be? I guess it's lasted 30 years, is this a common thing people see, or do I need to get a professional rewire asap?

Would an electrical periodic inspection report pick this sort of thing up?

 

[endecotp]

I think it's nothing to worry about.
Do "professional electricans" doing an EICR ever unscrew ceiling roses or open other light fittings? (In my experience: no).

 

[Lectrician]

Of course they do!

If those terminal blocks were enclosed within the back of the fitting, between the ceiling and do the fitting, it would be fine.

 

[ericmark]

It has been questioned many times to if having junctions which require a tool for access but are enclosed in a place where one would not expect to find a junction is this complaint? The ceiling rose is the only place where you can access without the use of a tool there is special dispensation for the ceiling rose. So although seen a poor practice joints which require one to remove something to access be it the lid of trunking or the floor board as long as something holds the cable so it is unlikely the joint will fail then it is hard to find a rule which says it's not permitted. We have:-
134.1.4 Every electrical joint and connection shall be of proper construction as regards conductance, insulation, mechanical strength and protection.

But nothing defines proper construction.

421.7 Every termination of a live conductor or connection or joint between live conductors shall be contained within all enclosure selected in accordance with Regulation 526.5.

It should be assessable for inspection and testing but in real terms it is. The 134.1.1 Good workmanship by competent persons or persons under their supervision and proper materials shall be used in the erection of the electrical installation. Electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the equipment.

Is really the part where one would say is does not comply, the rules saying you should not build your junction box or distribution unit in a property in the control of an ordinary person could also likely be questioned as in the main you are using the enclosure formed by the joists, ceiling and floor boards. So if the joint is in the loft space then easy to say it does not comply, but between floors it really is a grey area. In real terms often the cables are clamped with cable clips so there is often no easy way to hid cables when the ceiling rose is removed. So although something I would try to avoid it is not something I would really worry about.