Is brown tape on switched live a legal requirement?

[elpedro]

Hi all,

I've had a complete rewire in my house as part of a renovation. I've noticed two things that I wonder if they are in line with regs:
1) the electrician has not put the little bit of brown tape over the blue or black wires that are switched live. Is the brown tape just best practice or is it a legal requirement?
2) I've got metal switch plates. He connects the earth to the back of the plate, but not to the little earth block in the metal back box. I guess the screws connect the plate to the back box, but is it ok from a regs angle?

Thanks.

 

[Andy78]

Yes the blue or black cables should be identified brown as they are being used as line conductors. I personally use sleeving and not tape.

Yes the metal switches should be earthed and the method used here is acceptable. A link from faceplate to the backbox could be added if you want.

 

[littlespark]

The regs say that line conductors should be identified.
Brown sleeving or tape is the easiest way to do that.

 

[FatAlan]

Have you been provided with an Electrical Installation Certificate?

 

[Darkwood]

I think 'legal' is the wrong word but they are inclusive regulatory guidelines and thus not complying would require you to justify the excursion from the regulation especially if for any reason you found yourself in a legal wrangle as you would have to show you were in compliance with the guidelines otherwise you wouldn't hold much credibility in court.

 

[richy3333]

Tape isn't great as it can come off and the requirement used to be to use something 'permanent' i.e. sleeving.

If the metal back boxes have an adjustable lug they should be earthed. Otherwise there is no requirement - as per guidance notes.

Neither 'issue' seems to be any major problem though IMHO.

 

[MJPD29]

Although anyone who knows what they are doing would know it's a switched a live marking it would be advisory. However the back boxes do not need earthed, as you mentioned they are earthed through the faceplate screws

 

[Pete999]

Hi all,

I've had a complete rewire in my house as part of a renovation. I've noticed two things that I wonder if they are in line with regs:
1) the electrician has not put the little bit of brown tape over the blue or black wires that are switched live. Is the brown tape just best practice or is it a legal requirement?
2) I've got metal switch plates. He connects the earth to the back of the plate, but not to the little earth block in the metal back box. I guess the screws connect the plate to the back box, but is it ok from a regs angle?

Thanks.

No because BS 7671 isn't a legal document.

 

[littlespark]

I'd be more worried if there was no green/yellow sleeving on the cpc.

Last week I was working in a neighbours house changing their white accessories to metal decorative.
A number of terminals were not tight on the cables, and cpc at switches into a choc block connector, but NOT onto the metal back box.
There was, however, brown sleeving where required

 

[KWCFC]

Legal requirement???

"What you in for mate?"

"Multiple murders, you?"

"Didn't sleeve the switch live on a rewire"

"Psycho"

 

[PEG]

Hi all,

I've had a complete rewire in my house as part of a renovation. I've noticed two things that I wonder if they are in line with regs:
1) the electrician has not put the little bit of brown tape over the blue or black wires that are switched live. Is the brown tape just best practice or is it a legal requirement?
2) I've got metal switch plates. He connects the earth to the back of the plate, but not to the little earth block in the metal back box. I guess the screws connect the plate to the back box, but is it ok from a regs angle?

Thanks.

....I bet there's a queue of sparks,waiting to quote for your next job....