17th Edition

[hotXbun]

On Monday I became competent. On Tuesday I went to see a Client re new bathroom I'm fitting out in October. I asked to see the consumer unit as I intend to put in place some new lighting. "You'll be pleased" she said, "I had new consumer unit installed earlier this year!" .... Upon quick inspection I note that it is a TNC-S supply and consumer unit is split into 2 sections with 30mA RCD to power ONLY.

Please, I need clarification. I understand the 17th IEE regs to include RCD protection to all areas, except something rated as special and exempt (if you get my drift ... something like a freezer, exact classification not part of this discussion...). I was expecting at least 100mA RCD covering lighting circuits. Am I wrong? And how do I proceed? The consumer unit was fitted as part of insurance work.

Also, I thought that upon completion of work a schedule/copy of the test results was sent to Client and upon receipt by Building Control they folowed up with a certificate also sent to the Client neither of which she has received though it happened a few months ago .... again, am I wrong to expect such events???

Many thanks in advance for replies. Apologies if questions looked upon as a bit naive but I'm assuming this is just the place to ask

Will be back this evening, any replies would be looked upon with gratitude

Stewart

 

[ian.settle1]

On Monday I became competent. On Tuesday I went to see a Client re new bathroom I'm fitting out in October. I asked to see the consumer unit as I intend to put in place some new lighting. "You'll be pleased" she said, "I had new consumer unit installed earlier this year!" .... Upon quick inspection I note that it is a TNC-S supply and consumer unit is split into 2 sections with 30mA RCD to power ONLY.

Please, I need clarification. I understand the 17th IEE regs to include RCD protection to all areas, except something rated as special and exempt (if you get my drift ... something like a freezer, exact classification not part of this discussion...). I was expecting at least 100mA RCD covering lighting circuits. Am I wrong? And how do I proceed? The consumer unit was fitted as part of insurance work.

Also, I thought that upon completion of work a schedule/copy of the test results was sent to Client and upon receipt by Building Control they folowed up with a certificate also sent to the Client neither of which she has received though it happened a few months ago .... again, am I wrong to expect such events???

Many thanks in advance for replies. Apologies if questions looked upon as a bit naive but I'm assuming this is just the place to ask

Will be back this evening, any replies would be looked upon with gratitude

Stewart

If lighting circuits are less than 50mm deep and not have earthed mechanical protection it is a 30mA RCD.

As it was for insurance work I would have thought the insurance company would want a copy of the certs before paying out fotthe work?

 

[Modernelectric]

On Monday I became competent

What do you mean by this?

 

[ian.settle1]

What do you mean by this?

He was incompetent before joining a scam scheme

 

[Modernelectric]

But its as if competency has happened over night?!

 

[danzor]

Alot of things change over night, tomorrow I might be a plumber

 

[hotXbun]

Monday, I woz a plumber got fed up with all the leeks and suddenly I thought why not go and improve myself so I went on this OU course, took the exam and now I've become certified superior ... beats being a plumber

As for the ins and outs of "If lighting circuits are less than 50mm deep and not have earthed mechanical protection it is a 30mA RCD" ...... you surely jest? How could anyone know what depths are involved unless they either measured the whole blasted installation or put it in in the first place! ... and what happens at the lightbulb end? That isn't submerged. Nope, I reckon the cliché response is incorrect!

ok ok ... being serious, I am rather bound to know that bit of theory being "new"! So, come on! If faced with an enthusiastic Client do you tell her 'you been robbed' or maybe phone the relevant marketing Institution and complain like blazes!??

Any way, its nice to talk

 

[High Tower]

Alot of things change over night, tomorrow I might be a plumber

Depends weather or not you suddenly, over night develop a tendancy for drilling through cables and putting sinks in under sockets?

 

[thepurple1]

Just had a leaflet through the door.
Train to be a plumber or electrician in 3 months. What a waste of 4 years of my training and being skint

 

[Des 56]

hoxburn

People reading your post will have doubts about the level of understanding that you have, especially given that you are new to the trade and have little training in the traditional sense

This is not meant as a personal attack on your percieved abilities,but a request that perhaps you should allow a little more training and experience to be aquired before trying to make judgements on others work. which you seem clearly incapable of doing in an experienced manner

Passing a short course, multi guess regs or other and the acceptance of that as competence wil not be a substitute for much more extensive experience and knowlege before being that competent person

If you believe that you are indeed competent after very limited training, then perhaps the customer should be made aware of that lack of experience before you demonstrate it to them unknowingly

 

[pfa]

is anyone more competent going to give a proper answer

 

[Sintra]

is anyone more competent going to give a proper answer

The answer is that if you are not competent why put your clients at risk.

As previously stated competency doesn't come overnight it takes years of experience.

 

[pfa]

how many years experance do you need to become competent after you serve your time.the points rased are resonable if the cu got changed this year why does it not comply with the regs no rcd protecting cables less than 50mm below surface.if more people asked more questions about work done by others the quality off work would get better and if more jobs were cheaked by all the groups that take money off you every year (niceic/eleca/napit/eca) so people can self cert .the problem seems to be they have no problem taking money off you but dont seem to be bothered by bad work when reported to them.moan over

 

[Des 56]

On Monday I became competent. On Tuesday I went to see a Client re new bathroom I'm fitting out in October. I asked to see the consumer unit as I intend to put in place some new lighting. "You'll be pleased" she said, "I had new consumer unit installed earlier this year!" .... Upon quick inspection I note that it is a TNC-S supply and consumer unit is split into 2 sections with 30mA RCD to power ONLY.

Please, I need clarification. I understand the 17th IEE regs to include RCD protection to all areas, except something rated as special and exempt (if you get my drift ... something like a freezer, exact classification not part of this discussion...). I was expecting at least 100mA RCD covering lighting circuits. Am I wrong? And how do I proceed? The consumer unit was fitted as part of insurance work.

Also, I thought that upon completion of work a schedule/copy of the test results was sent to Client and upon receipt by Building Control they folowed up with a certificate also sent to the Client neither of which she has received though it happened a few months ago .... again, am I wrong to expect such events???

Many thanks in advance for replies. Apologies if questions looked upon as a bit naive but I'm assuming this is just the place to ask

Will be back this evening, any replies would be looked upon with gratitude

Stewart

The consumer unit may have been installed earlier this year,but the design for the installation may have been pre 2008
The 100m/amp requirement was not required under the 16h edition for TN installations,only TT and then the requirement was for time delay protection
The lighting circuits do not require RCD protection
They do require that protection if the cables are buried less than 50mm and /or they are located in a special location otherwise no need
Certification is to be given to the person ordering the work
If the person doing the work is registered then building control are not involved other than logging the actions They may ask for certificates ,but that is not the problem for the self certificating spark
Until the certificates are seen then the date and edition of the install cannot be assureed
The regulations are not retrospective and an installation wired to the 16th edition may be compliant to its standards at the time and only non compliant to the changed regulations which only impact on it if alterations or additions are carried out
The poster may find that the only non compliance may be these alterations or additions that have been carried out since the consumer unit change

 

[sparks1234]

I'm amazed unless I have missed something, I assumed that when he said he became compedent that he meant he has now passed an assessment by NIC or Elecsa and was now able to carry out works and sign them off.