EICR On small industrial unit

uksparks · Sep 18, 2014

Hi,

A friend of mine owns a small unit, i have the papers from when it was last tested 10 years ago and also 15 years ago, but a lot of its been pulled out since then.

Ill be honest, I do not generally do periodics on this type of building and would like a bit of guidance.

I know how to test the circuits etc, its not that, thats the issue, its more with the BS number and what other peoples thoughts are for the setup where the board is really.

Take a look at the photos and see what you think, its a courier business and they wash vans out the front and take extensions out, nothing is RCD protected, generally the condition looks ok having walked round it yesterday.

[ElectriciansForums.net] EICR On small industrial unit

Andy78 · Sep 18, 2014

BS3036 for all the fuse wire carriers
BS5419 for the main switch in the single phase board

The DB could ideally not do to be half in and out the ceiling but you have proved it is accessible. C3 for ease of access and working space for DB possibly.

I would C2 the lack of RCD on sockets used outside with water jets. A simple RCD socket installed for this use is an easy remedy.

I'm now going to sit back and wait for the inevitable argument about the dangers of asbestos flash pads... on which subject I have no opinion to offer ... lol ..

uksparks · Sep 18, 2014

Thanks Andy, I agree with your comments, yes the board and floor in the way has been there dined it was built. I said it would be nice to bung a nice shiny new board in but they didn't want it.

the rcd issue, I said I could swap them for protected ones.

the asbestos, I guess it's a C3.

Andy78 · Sep 18, 2014

uksparks said:
Thanks Andy, I agree with your comments, yes the board and floor in the way has been there dined it was built. I said it would be nice to bung a nice shiny new board in but they didn't want it.

the rcd issue, I said I could swap them for protected ones.

the asbestos, I guess it's a C3.

It's a nothing on your report.... You are reporting on the electrical safety of the installation and it's suitability for continued use. Any deterioration or defects can be brought into your report, but not the suitability of materials that have no mention in BS7671. You have to justify any code with a relevant regulation.

I do not know enough about asbestos to advise you any better than this..... The white asbestos flash pads in the main DB are, as I understand it, of a low risk but still "potentially" harmful.
You could put a note on your report to the effect that the client may want to carry out their own asbestos report .... merely as an arse covering operation for yourself mind you.

kjgreen3 · Sep 18, 2014

Any 3 phase equipment fed off that Bill Board? If so each phase is individually fused which is a no-no. Will need changing so the phases on that circuit are linked i.e. 3-pole mcb.

gnselectricals · Sep 18, 2014

kjgreen3 said:
Any 3 phase equipment fed off that Bill Board? If so each phase is individually fused which is a no-no. Will need changing so the phases on that circuit are linked i.e. 3-pole mcb.

Which reg does that have to comply with then as I fitted a 3 phase ISO yesterday fitted with bs88 fuses which won't disconnect if one phase is lost.
Cheers

ipf · Sep 18, 2014

kjgreen3 said:
Any 3 phase equipment fed off that Bill Board? If so each phase is individually fused which is a no-no. Will need changing so the phases on that circuit are linked i.e. 3-pole mcb.

Where the heck do you get that one from?.........baffles me, at times.

davesparks · Sep 18, 2014

kjgreen3 said:
Any 3 phase equipment fed off that Bill Board? If so each phase is individually fused which is a no-no. Will need changing so the phases on that circuit are linked i.e. 3-pole mcb.

I call bovine excrement! Unless of course you can quote a law or regulation to support that theory.

dingledong · Sep 18, 2014

So a 3 phase appliance protected by 3 individual breakers , not a joined breaker is ok ? ? Or have I read it wrong

infinity · Sep 18, 2014

An incoming supply will have a fuse for each phase!

dingledong · Sep 18, 2014

But at the fuse board they are joined so if one trips it turns the whole machine of

dingledong · Sep 18, 2014

I know I am missing something sorry goodnight

ipf · Sep 19, 2014

dingledong said:
But at the fuse board they are joined so if one trips it turns the whole machine of

I think I'm with Tony after that....I can see his point.

kjgreen3 · Sep 19, 2014

Ok I always thought machinery, especially rotating (motors etc) should drop all three phases if one phase drops out (unless the machinery itself has this type of protection, eg. undervoltage trip).

This is to prevent harm to operators but mainly to protect the equipment itself. If this is so wrong how come 3-pole mcb's are interlinked?

Teach me people

alanl · Sep 19, 2014

You havent done much industrial work, so clearly havent seen that very many installs still have fuses for fault and overload protection.
Fuses are quite good at not tripping with short term overloads, so are still specified for some equipment where a circuit breaker may trip earlier, and / or cannot achieve the required Zs figures.

It isnt wrong to have 3 phase CB's interlinked, it's a good thing for isolation, but if they are not interlinked, at most it is only a C3 on an EICR.
Clearly some equipment calls for all phases to be isolated at the same time, so manufacturers rules should be followed too.