Regulations now seem to imply that junction boxes located under floor boards are no longer considered as easily accessible, although I’ve had confliction views on this! This is giving me some problems modifying the existing wiring in my property; can the learned ones here give a view on locating one in an open ceiling void behind a bath panel which is only removable with the use of a tool (& therefore outside the zones)? Would this be considered easily accessible or is it a daft idea?
Location of junction boxes
- Thread starter Richard C
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my vote says yes, accessible
Accessable with a tool it may be but the area behind bath panels tends to be damp
Some thought is needed about damp and corrosion of the wires under the clamping screws leading to loosening connections.
Bernard
Sharnbrook
Some thought is needed about damp and corrosion of the wires under the clamping screws leading to loosening connections.
Bernard
Sharnbrook
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The idea was not to leave the box on the floor directly under the bath but poke it back under the floor boards through the roughly 400 x 400mm hole where the shower/bath pipes & bonding cables emerge; would this be considered acceptable practice? My thoughts were that it would be no more vulnerable than the kitchen lights which are located directly under the bathroom floor in the same area anyway!bernardgreen said:
mst; common sense? Does that mean yes it is considered accessible or no it’s a daft idea?
Any other comments anyone?
With certain exemptions, Regulations 526-04-01 and 543-03-03 call for all electrical connections (joints and terminations) to be accessible for inspection, testing and maintenance.
Where connections are made in roof spaces, inter-floor spaces and other non-readily accessible locations, the enclosures containing the connections should normally be fixed, and provision must be made for their access by providing, for example, removable access traps in the ceiling
In your case the junction box would be accessible so your proposal is OK
Where connections are made in roof spaces, inter-floor spaces and other non-readily accessible locations, the enclosures containing the connections should normally be fixed, and provision must be made for their access by providing, for example, removable access traps in the ceiling
In your case the junction box would be accessible so your proposal is OK
Pensdown said:
Pensdown; Thanks for the definitive answer; but if it's in the loft & the loft is accessable, do you really have to provide a trap in the ceiling?
Along with ‘philrosenberg’s comment, I assume my logic is sound; unless anyone else can add anything?
The loft hatch is the trap to allow access. What it is getting at is that you can't have a JB in a loft void that doesn't have access without having to hack a hole in the ceiling.
My understanding, and looking throught the new shiny books is that as long as access is there, and not in any silly places like the pond, such as a trap/loft hatch/solid oak door with shiny brass lock and elf on guard then it is okay
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