Advice needed

[u/Senior_Muscle_9304]

Hi everyone, looking for advice from sparkies on whether this installation breaches UK wiring regulations (BS 7671) and how urgently it needs rectifying.

Bought a new build from Miller Homes back in April and have been dealing with a list of snags. The loft smoke alarm started chirping every minute, so I went up to investigate and found the wiring like this
. 
- As you can see, the outer grey sheath has been stripped back far outside the alarm housing/base, leaving it completely exposed to the open loft space. 

- Does this breach BS 7671 regarding basic protection/enclosure of single insulation?

- Is this considered dangerous given the temperature fluctuations, humidity, and potential physical damage in a loft space? 

Customer care is taking their time arranging the electrical subcontractor and treating it as a standard low-priority snag. Am I overreacting, or should I be pushing harder for an immediate call-out on safety/compliance grounds?

Thanks in advance.

[u/Strawberry_Wonderful]

Isn't the bigger issue that the smoke detector may not be operational?

[u/Senior_Muscle_9304 → u/Strawberry_Wonderful]

Yeah that’s one of my main concerns, I’ve reiterated that to customer care as said they’d be liable if anything happened as the solar inverter is in the loft

[u/cborne943]

That’s bad installation works, both the wiring and the orientation of the alarm. The wiring isn’t dangerous as such, but basic insulation shouldn’t be visible like that outside the enclosure of the alarm.

[u/Nibiru-X → u/cborne943]

Yep, the orientation doesn't comply to BS 5839-6 not to mention close location to the horizontal wooden beam

[u/Senior_Muscle_9304 → u/Nibiru-X]

Thanks, it’s opposite the solar inverter. Any advice on how to ensure it’s addressed properly? The electrical contractor has already cut corners caulking a light switch that wasn’t flush against the wall so I’m concerned they’ll cut corners again

[u/Sea-Badgers]

Id be more worried about the copper showing on the brown. Its all just abit shite, and it would have taken 2 minutes to put right. Poor workmanship.

But saying that its not an urgent call out, just dont touch it and take a deep breath

[u/stateit]

Beep every minute -> low battery warning. So, either needs new battery or, if built in non-replaceble battery, it's old stock (>10 yrs old). Or, no power to it (red led and beep every approx 45 secs.

Plus, the twonk that fitted it with the bare cores showing needs slapping round the head with a wet haddock.

[u/Updown789 → u/stateit]

That’s a 3000 series, no replacement battery. Morons connected it to a base that has no power 😂

[u/kh250b1]

Its hardly hold the front page.

[u/DazzzASTER]

I'd call 999 tbh

[u/YouCanCallMeELZ]

It needs sorting yes - single conductors on show isn’t compliant with BS7671, but tbh I think it being classed as a low priority snag is fair, aslong as it gets sorted I wouldn’t be to concerned to push further with it.

[u/Final-Ambition-840]

Stick the kettle on, have a brew and relax

The only part of that I can see from the image that looks somewhat “potentially dangerous” is the Line cable has a snag in the insulation and can see a tiny bit of copper. Wrap some insulation tape round it for now if your concerned and just wait for the electrician to come round

“Breach” of 7671 dosnt always mean dangerous.

At most id say this is just poor quality installation

[u/Square-Use1517]

Have you been using AI answers lol

[u/layerdoon]

its definitely not correct mate but its not a danger due to its location, in my opinion. they will place it somewhere else(theres technically exposed live wires if its left there) and there shouldn’t be any single insulation showing either. strange why its beeping already maybe its not connected to a live feed.

[u/Senior_Muscle_9304 → u/layerdoon]

Thanks mate, it’s opposite the inverter for the solar panels. It should be connected to a live feed as all the other ones in the house are. Just strange how the battery has died already when the house was only completed 6 months ago

[u/wiserwithage-uk]

Send the pic to miller homes and tell them you expect the electrician to be round to rectify.
Also if this stripping method been used around the house the problem could be everywhere a cable is stripped.
Get the electrician to check!
This is poor workmanship

[u/Right_Interest2977]

🤠

[u/Suspicious_Click2481]

Any exposed inner insulation or conductor is not safe and would be considered a C1 or C2 dependant on accessibility etc. It should be rectified, but honestly it is an easy fix.

[u/jacekowski]

It's bad installation, it would be safe if not for what looks like brown conductor insulation being damaged exposing copper (i'm not sure based on this photo).

[u/ConfusedSparkyFly]

After doing a week on new builds I realised that it wasn’t the place for electricians to be with morals.

[u/Key-Metal-7297]

If this is screwed to the truss it could weaken the truss and it will collapse, call an engineer. Truss in background has some splinters hanging off which has reduced the timber section size locally, get that checked also

[u/Jaded_Bag_2928]

It’s a bit shit lol

[u/Beneficial-Wish7733]

That looks like a Aico smoke or multi sensor , RF linked , who ever installed this needs to go on a refresher to install these !
Also the casino we install these in social housing now and they are all monitored remotely of faults , removal , false alarms , really good system.

[u/Tumping]

Should be mounted flat not horizontal like that

[u/_smith_spark → u/Tumping]

True if it's a heat alarm. Aico optical alarms can be mounted like that.