3 monthly tests on construction sites

[BristolSpark]

Hi

Regarding 3 monthly tests on a site. Does anyone have an idea of the best way or the way to go about such a test. Its all live and running and power will probably not be allowed to get turned off.

Any deas.

What tests should be done and far into the circuits should I tests

There will be cabins, plus general site supplies, transformers hoists ect...

any help would be good.

thanks

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

i would try and arange out of hours and then do the full p i r
or tell them that the sheet will have a lot of limitations and is hardly worth doing

 

[Spudnik]

Agree there.

Would have to be done after hours and should have a FULL PIR.

A lot can happen to an installation in three months on a site!

 

[BristolSpark]

thanks for the reply guys. You would recommend a full PIR then and out of hours.

My boss wants it doing day time, wont pay for the out of hours lol.

So I guess I can only do Ze, Zs tests then. plus RCD trip times.

Any other thoughts on this...

Its one of my first site tests......

 

[Spudnik]

You wont be able to do Ze as you need to disconnect any main bonds, which you cannot do unless the installation is isolated.

Can you not just do the tests out of hours and charge normal rate?

Something is better than nothing!

 

[BristolSpark]

Hi Jason

Job not done yet. Client done want out of hours work, as it would mean somebody from management having to stay on site. Boss dont want to pay overtime rate for out of hours.

I aint really sure now what tests I can really do apart from functional and I thought Ze with a three wire test lead. general visual around.

Any further advice my friend

 

[Spudnik]

Ze is a three wire test, however, it SHOULD be performed with main bonds disconnected otherwise your result will include any parallel paths, and this does not ensure that earthing is achieved via the main incoming earth.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

jason is right, especially on a construction site installation parallel paths tend to be a big issue through the metal cabins.

 

[a12jpm]

Disagree gents. I have been doing this kind of stuff on cabins for about a month solid now. Most sites realise that your only trying to ensure their safety and can live with a power down for about 20-30 mins per cabin. Of course the set ups I have to do may vary from what you do but mine involve a 3 phase board feeding individually CU in the cabin so I just lock off at the three phase board, test away, then power CU up and finish off. I should qualify the statement with I am only there to test the cabins on behalf of the guys who rent them out to the site and not the generator/ supply, that is out of my remit

For what it's worth the Site Agent/Foreman gets his bits chewed by H&S if the cabins are not tested up to date so hes normally happy to see me, and when I get a grumble or two I politely explain that I am testing the installation to ensure your safety blah blah. Winds there neck in a bit most times.

 

[gunner]

ask that they stress,think of the double timewhat they want,inform them it can only be done out of hours

 

[Plan]

If your gonna sign the cert do it right regardless of what problems the customer throws at you. At the end of the day it'll be you in court trying to explain a partially completed cert to a judge.
When it comes to 3 month site periodics I always think of the time some idiot bypassed a rcd cos of nuisence tripping. The burried swa had risen in the mud and was rubbing against the metal ramp to the cabin. Next guy to walk in was electricuted and was dead before the ambulance arrived.
At the end of the day do it right, you just might save someones life