Q&A - By Frank Bertie NAPIT Group Technical DirectorQ: We are carrying out alterations to existing circuits and have come across open connector joints at the rear of the kitchen base units, can we leave them in place?
A: No, Live conductors and terminals are required to be provided with an enclosure to ensure there can be no access to those live parts without a means of a key or a tool to prevent the risk of electric shock. There is also a further requirement that the enclosure has to prevent the spread of fire in the case of a fault.
If the cables are Pvc/Pvc or as they are more commonly known Twin & Earth and have the outer sheath removed the single insulated conductors have to be contained within the enclosure.
With any electrical accessory including junction boxes, choc boxes etc, the accessory should be securely fixed to prevent strain on the terminations and cables.