Electric Certificate

Corky1970 · May 6, 2021

Hi - I had a shed built at the end of my garden mainly for storage and to house my dryer for use in winter months. The electrician installed some lights and two sets of double sockets. The electricity supply is connected to the main house supply and has an isolator switch inside the shed door. I have an electric certificate for the house - the work which he also completed in 2019. Do I need a separate certificate for the installation of the supply in the shed or is it covered by the house certificate as it is connected to it to it?

littlespark · May 6, 2021

If it was done at the same time, it should be covered by the house cert.... is it mentioned on the circuit chart?

DefyG · May 6, 2021

What does it say on Part 2 of the certificate?

Corky1970 · May 6, 2021

littlespark said:
If it was done at the same time, it should be covered by the house cert.... is it mentioned on the circuit chart?

Hi and thank you ? The house was done in 2019 and I got the cert shortly after the work was complete. The shed only got done last August/September so doubt it shows on cert. Will dig out the cert and see what it says.

Corky1970 · May 6, 2021

DefyG said:
What does it say on Part 2 of the certificate?

Just dug out the cert - part 2 description and extent of the installation covered: The Whole Installation. So will that include the shed? ?

DefyG · May 6, 2021

No not if the shed wasn't completed until a year or so after the certificate was issued.

timhoward · May 6, 2021

There are two usual possibilities for the shed supply -
it will either be fed from a circuit on the house consumer unit
or there will be an separate isolator near the electricity meter to isolate the shed.
Do you know which?
If the former, the shed should be listed on the list of circuits towards the end of the certificate if the certificate covers it.
(As post #2 mentioned)

Corky1970 · May 6, 2021

DefyG said:
No not if the shed wasn't completed until a year or so after the certificate was issued.

Great - thanks so much! Will call the electrician to sort another cert out. Thanks for your help - much appreciated! ?

Corky1970 · May 6, 2021

timhoward said:
There are two usual possibilities for the shed supply -
it will either be fed from a circuit on the house consumer unit
or there will be an separate isolator near the electricity meter to isolate the shed.
Do you know which?
If the former, the shed should be listed on the list of circuits towards the end of the certificate if the certificate covers it.
(As post #2 mentioned)

The isolator switch is actually in the shed but it is not listed on the schedule of circuits so will call the electrician! Thanks for your help ?

Mike Johnson · May 7, 2021

Is the shed supply from your Consumer Unit or from a plug and socket in the house?

Corky1970 · May 7, 2021

Good morning Mike - the supply to the shed is via a thick black cable which attaches to some outside plug sockets and next to the socket box is another fused boxed. I would send a pic but cannot get the attach files button to work ?

littlespark · May 7, 2021

Was the external socket original with the house? Then this is a modification to an existing circuit.... should still have a minor works cert.

Corky1970 · May 7, 2021

Corky1970 said:
Good morning Mike - the supply to the shed is via a thick black cable which attaches to some outside plug sockets and next to the socket box is another fused boxed. I would send a pic but cannot get the attach files button to work ?

littlespark said:
Was the external socket original with the house? Then this is a modification to an existing circuit.... should still have a minor works cert.

Yes the external socket was installed with the total rewire of the house. So just a minor work cert should suffice then - many thanks ?

Mike Johnson · May 7, 2021

Does that thick black cable have a plug attached to it the goes into the external socket, if so its technically an extension lead and does not require a test certificate.

Corky1970 · May 7, 2021

Hi Mike - no plug attached at the end of the cable, it seems to go into the back of the double plug socket and then connects over to the second smaller fused box with a switch to turn off the power to the shed from the back of the house if needed.

Corky1970 · May 7, 2021

Mike Johnson said:
Does that thick black cable have a plug attached to it the goes into the external socket, if so its technically an extension lead and does not require a test certificate.

Corky1970 · May 7, 2021

on my laptop now so can attach a pic

Mike Johnson · May 7, 2021

In that case as others have said a small works certificate needed.

littlespark · May 7, 2021

Just to make it clear, the double socket was existing. Power then goes through the switch fuse to the left, goes back into the socket box and exits onto the black armoured cable.

Mike Johnson · May 7, 2021

Would the mastic that has been applied/squirted onto the top of the adjoining switch fuse and double socket be sufficient to maintain the IP rating? I suppose it all accords how the cable has been waterproofed between the two.

Corky1970 · May 7, 2021

littlespark said:
Just to make it clear, the double socket was existing. Power then goes through the switch fuse to the left, goes back into the socket box and exits onto the black armoured cable.

Yes that double socket was installed when the house was first rewired and as far as I am aware I think you are correct re: the power going through the switch and back to the socket.

Iona222 · May 7, 2021

Corky1970 said:
Hi - I had a shed built at the end of my garden mainly for storage and to house my dryer for use in winter months. The electrician installed some lights and two sets of double sockets. The electricity supply is connected to the main house supply and has an isolator switch inside the shed door. I have an electric certificate for the house - the work which he also completed in 2019. Do I need a separate certificate for the installation of the supply in the shed or is it covered by the house certificate as it is connected to it to it?

Ye it will need certification, I would say a full EICR done on the property to ensure no damage either to the installation during the works.

littlespark · May 7, 2021

Iona222 said:
Ye it will need certification, I would say a full EICR done on the property to ensure no damage either to the installation during the works.

Really? For a 2 year old house where the only additions have been this armoured out to the shed?

one thing I would check is how the external socket is wired, considering now there is a spur off it.

1. on the ring, with 32A mcb. The shed is a fused spur. - compliant
2. A spur off the ring.. if the socket is fused inside the house, then the fuse outside wasn’t needed, but shed is still compliant
3. An unfused spur from the ring with 32A mcb. The shed is now a spur from a spur- non compliant
4. The socket is part of a radial circuit, either on its own or with others... 16A mcb at board. Shed becomes part of the circuit- compliant.