Existing Consumer Unit close to vertical waste pipe

Netzero1967 · 2024-11-20T22:30:00+0000

Netzero1967 · 2024-11-20T22:32:24+0000

Netzero1967 said:
here View attachment 118750

IS there a minimum distance between the consumer unit and waste pipe. The waste pipe is on the left of consumer unit.

littlespark · 2024-11-20T22:45:46+0000

Is this part of the EICR property from your other thread?

Netzero1967 · 2024-11-20T22:46:53+0000

littlespark said:
Is this part of the EICR property from your other thread?

yes - so i need to replace consumer unit. However, does it need to be relocated to meet regs?

westward10 · 2024-11-20T22:52:10+0000

Would help if you kept this to the other thread.

Tom256 · 2024-11-20T23:08:15+0000

Netzero1967 said:
IS there a minimum distance between the consumer unit and waste pipe. The waste pipe is on the left of consumer unit.

Deleted content due to seeing message above re: keep to original thread. Will reply same if the thread continues

littlespark · 2024-11-21T07:17:06+0000

We can leave the other thread as “electrician hasn’t given me the report” problem and have this one to discuss what’s actually cropped up on the report…

You don’t actually know what’s on it as you haven’t got it…. Was it just the tester saying you needed a new board without explaining why?

The two boards there could possibly be amalgamated into one, bring it over to the right hand side, away from the drain pipe.

Do you know any other faults?

A satisfactory EICR can have C3 coded faults. Simply means improvement recommended.
Unsatisfactory would be C1 - dangerous or C2 - potentially dangerpus.

As the property is a rental, there is also the safety of the tenants to consider.
A C3 may well be ok for the report, but perhaps should be upgraded anyway.

Netzero1967 · 2024-11-21T08:01:00+0000

littlespark said:
We can leave the other thread as “electrician hasn’t given me the report” problem and have this one to discuss what’s actually cropped up on the report…

You don’t actually know what’s on it as you haven’t got it…. Was it just the tester saying you needed a new board without explaining why?

The two boards there could possibly be amalgamated into one, bring it over to the right hand side, away from the drain pipe.

Do you know any other faults?

A satisfactory EICR can have C3 coded faults. Simply means improvement recommended.
Unsatisfactory would be C1 - dangerous or C2 - potentially dangerpus.

As the property is a rental, there is also the safety of the tenants to consider.
A C3 may well be ok for the report, but perhaps should be upgraded anyway.

you are right, i do not have the EICR report. I have spoken since the the inspection, a number of times to person doing the inspection. He was adament that there needs to be a minimum of 300mm from waste pipe to consumer unit,

I believe in the pic, consumer unit on right is not used. Consumer unit on left is live.

I believe there will also be FI findings on the report.

westward10 · 2024-11-21T08:13:33+0000

Insist he submits the Report or tell him you are going to seek legal advise. I presume you had no contract.

Tom256 · 2024-11-21T09:06:34+0000

Tom256 said:
Deleted content due to seeing message above re: keep to original thread. Will reply same if the thread continues

No there is no need for 300 mm distance in BS 7671 . The NHBC Technical document requires 300mm from electrical consumer units and the edges of sink / basins. Building regs require 300mm distance from the edge of sinks / basins in Kitchens to reduce risk of splashes - is that where he is getting the distance from?. I have had this before from builders / electricians but it is not a BS7671 requirement.
Ask him to provide the regulation he has coded against as that way the discussion is set against the regulation not against someones subjective opinion. It should not be a case of an observation without the regulation for then there is nothing to challange against.

BS 6891 for low pressure gas does have a separation distance requirement but not for waste water pipes.

The BS 7671 2018+A2:2022 Regulations that refer would certainly be Regulations 528.3.3, 528.3.4

528.3.3 - Where an Electrical service is to be installed in proximity to one or more non-electrical services it shall be so arranged that any foreseable operation carried out on the other service will not cause damage to the electrical services or the converse.

[This is basic design ensuring electrical systems are fit for purpose in the environment they are intended to operate and is always a consideration that must be taken into account.]

528.3.4 - Where an Electrical service is located in close proximity to one or more non-electrical services, both the following conditions shall apply:
(i) The wiring system shall be suitably protected against the hazzards likely to arise from the presence of the other service in normal use (Bold mine)
(ii) Fault protection shall be afforded in accordance with the requirements od section 411.

Section 411 relates to Automatic disconnection of supply. This protective measure is used in most electrical installations and is made up of two parts they being 1. Basic protection that is the insulation / barriers for live parts and 2. Fault protection which comprises protective earthing and bonding plus automatic disconnection under fault conditions.

If the coding relates to suitability to hazzard the above are the considerations. I cannot see a C2 observation relating to the waste pipe.