Is using insulation tape on downlights compliant

[GKen]

Good day

We recently installed LED downlights in our house and after 5 months are already having to change the lights. When I took the light out I noticed that it had been connected using insulation tape and not a screw connector as I would have expected (pictures attached). They produced a post completion COC, but I am concerned that this type on connection is not compliant and a potential fire risk.
I would appreciate any advice on this.

Regards
Greg

[GCE]

I would say that twisted wires protected by installation tape would be a no go

I would back it with the regulation pasted below and use the " adversely affect the current carrying capacity "

If you draw full current through those joints bearing in mind that they are looped out you run the risk of the joint heating up due to loose connection

The replacement of lamps already could be the quality of the lamps or the surges in electricity due to load shedding or combination of both


From SANS 10142-1 ed3.1
6.3.7 Joints and terminations
6.3.7.1 Joints and terminations of cables, cores and conductors shall be
made in accordance with manufacturers' instructions or the appropriate part
of SANS 10198-10 and SANS 10198-11.
Flexible cables shall only be joined using termination boxes, cable couplers or
manufacturers’ jointing kits.
All joints shall be accessible, protected against strain, and protected in
accordance with 5.2.1, except for joints made and sealed permanently and
intended to be maintenance free.
6.3.7.2 Joints and terminations shall not
a) adversely affect the current-carrying capacity, the insulation resist-ance or
the earth continuity of the cable, core or conductor in which they are made,
b) be made in any connector, bend, elbow or tee-piece of a conduit,
c) allow the strands of a stranded conductor to spread, or
d) require strands of a stranded conductor to be cut away to allow connection
of the conductors (for example, to terminals).

[skatingsparks]

ECA recommendations.

https://ecasa.co.za/technical/what-is-the-legally-correct-method-to-use-when-connecting-a-simple-gu10-230-v-tail-in-a-ceiling-void/

What they have fone there is poor. ECA say you could pass that in an existing install but that is the reason i don't do compliance work because i could not pass that. Twist on's fall off (even with tape), twisting the cable can make it brittle, earth is not mechanically connected, metal fitting (whilst probably our of arms reach) is not earthed and anyone who uses those GU10 connectors that won't spend literally a couple of Rand more on a proper GU10 lamp holder with earthed bracket proper junction box has probably cut every other corner as well. I mean, probably takes longer to twist the earths like that than put a proper connecter block. If i did do a CoC on that - i'd fail it.

[Isetech]

1/ There is a plastic cap which fits on the top of that lamp holder, to prevent the standard test finger from touching live parts, its a fail.

2/ The earth wire twisted together with no connector, is a fail.

3/ The open wires not terminated in an approved junction box, is a fail.

4/ The fact that the lamp is a plactic lamp the holder is porcelain making it literaly impossible for a live part to touch the metal part clipped into a plaster board ceiling (non conductive), maybe that part would pass.

It this was a light fitting on a property which was recently purchased, it would would be a fail and the person who passed it would be back to sort it out.

One thing I have learnt about COC's, more and more estate agencys are providing the COC service, get the new owner to contact the estate agency and report any non compliant issues, before you waste time dealing with the person is issued the COC. IT makes the estate look really bad when they are using dodgey inspectors to sign off properties. If the estate agent is worth its salt, they will makes sure the peoperty is compliant.