Exposed wiring in home bar lighting

[PaulG]

I personally would say no it wouldn't be compliant unless the lampholder is covered and not accessible using the finger test.

Found SANS 10142; 6.14.4.1: A lamp holder shall be shrouded in insulating material or shall be earthed, unless it is simultaneously:

a) out of arm's reach
b) ....

I gather from this that it would be acceptable as long as no live conductors are accessible and the casing of the lamp holder is earthed?

[Dave A]

I'm also assuming there's ballasts with open wiring and terminals somewhere.

Nope - 220v all the way to the CFL.

I gather from this that it would be acceptable as long as no live conductors are accessible and the casing of the lamp holder is earthed?

Not an earth to be found, and to retrofit one to each light is going to get ugly.

We've gone with the plastic bulkhead covers solution as suggested by Ian, which also resolves the concern that immediately leapt out at me from my food safety interests - containment if the bulb is broken. Nothing quite like shards of glass with your favourite tipple to test if you've had too much already.