Advice on Unsatisfactory EICR report

[naylorpd]

I've had an EICR on the house in Reading that I rent out with some unsatisfactory points and I'm looking for some advice.

Broadly, there are no big surprises because I know that the CU is old, has no RCDs and needs to be changed out. But:

1) Circuits not buried more than 50mm....the house was built in the 1980s (with old red/black T&E) and the cable depth is what it is. Is this an item that they have to report and I just need to ignore?

Actually I doubt that the cable depth is more than 50mm even in my brand new house as it's only slab n dab plasterboard and the total depth is not even 50mm...but that's a different issue. This house is brick & breeze-block.

4, 9) Ceiling rose needs replacing, unswitched socket. I don't mind paying for things I can't do, but I'm perfectly capable to do this myself - but would I then need to get another EICR to show a clean report? So is there a real benefit to get the same sparky to fix this? If it's done at the same time as the CU presumably the cost will be quite small as the call-out is covered.

2) Identification on light switch wires - what is needed? Sounds like something else I can do. But see next point - if all the switches need to come off anyway to find an earth leakage, perhaps the cost is quite small?

10) High earth leakage readings...this is the big issue. What I've been told is "However if a new consumer unit was fitted the RCD safety devices would be continually tripping as there are three circuits that contain earth leakage currents that would be high enough cause constant tripping. There are other relatively minor issues that are fairly common and relatively easy to rectify. So, before we can even consider changing the consumer unit these faults need to be found and rectified. There are three circuits that need investigating, the two main socket outlet circuits and the downstairs lighting circuit. These will not be easy to find and remedy but I would suggest that myself and another electrician would spend a day there and see what we can find, this would be at a cost of £500.00."

I suppose what I'm concerned about here is:
a) is there anything I could do myself to trace these faults?
b) does it need two people and is £500 for a day reasonable
c) it doesn't actually give me any guarantees that they'll find the faults, so it's really just taking a punt
d) they could find it in an hour and I'd still need to pay for a day. But (for example) if that was the case, the rest of the day could be used to fit the new CU and not charge for that again....

Thoughts?

Thanks
Phil

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Still do a L&N to E IR test at 250V DC.

Id be Pi$$ed if i paid 250 quid for that carp.

 

[naylorpd]

How long were they on site?

About 4.5 hours for £245

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

London?

 

[naylorpd]

London?

Reading

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

If any member of the public post a EICR on here it will be pulled apart by us for the minor things, thats why you have had a big response on here. That report to me is pretty poorly written up, missing information and misleading.

Id ask the estate agent why they recommended him at that price, see if there is a member on here local who will price for the board change and give you a hourly rate of any faults that might be present.

 

[Jim_e_Jib]

Sponge scourer.

I think it's spelt Scouser...

 

[Nigel]

Funny thing is if it had no recommendations the op would not be on here saying ‘this EICR cannot be correct. They were only here for 4.5 hours.’

 

[SJD]

As others have mentioned, the test results, the check list and the observations don't really stack up.

I suspect the person doing the test & inspection doesn't have a proper understanding of what he/she is doing (and shouldn't really be doing this work).

 

[gazdkw82]

Interestingly, I found the previous EICR,
- it has the r1, rn, r2 values on the ring mains.
- and it had 1mm cable for lighting circuits which I don't believe. This may have just been copied into the new EICR.
- the IR tests on the ring mains and lighting was not done due to "unable to remove all load sockets, lighting had electronic dimmers"

There's still a dimmer upstairs, but it's downstairs lighting that has the supposed earth leakage.

I think if previous r1,rn,r2 readings are available then these tests can be omitted if needed.

I'm sure I heard that on the 2391 course. I could be wrong

 

[Intoelectrics]

Take the money for the rent but unwilling to spend money to keep the people inside safe.

I actually think the questions are reasonable. The op did not mention that they are not having the work done.
I think for someone who is not an electrician I would expect their initial reaction to be to question the report and the cost if it was not made fully clear to them.

To the OP:
My advice would be to get the C2's completed asap by a qualified competent electrician, then ask if it would be possible to rectify some of the minor issues at a small added cost. Lets face it some of us would do the board change (once any faults had been rectified) and probably throw in the labour cost of changing the socket outlet and the ceiling rose.
Fault finding can be very time consuming, especially on socket ring circuits. There is no way to determine how quick they can be found and/or rectified, so quoting on such is very difficult. I usually explain to my customer and agree to charge a minimum call out, then per hour there after. Please also be aware that the fault/s found could be simple cheap fixes to rectify or potentially costly dependent on the problem. Your electrician will advise you accordingly.

 

[TJ Anderson]

I think if previous r1,rn,r2 readings are available then these tests can be omitted if needed.

I'm sure I heard that on the 2391 course. I could be wrong

No. Always test ring continuity on EICR mate as it needs to be confirmed as part of proving if circuit is satisfactory or not.

 

[gazdkw82]

No. Always test ring continuity on EICR mate as it needs to be confirmed as part of proving if circuit is satisfactory or not.

Think there is something about this in one of the books. I'll see if I can find it

 

[baldelectrician]

The install looks not too bad, however the EICR seems pants

You can get immersion thermostats with a built in secondary cut out for about £10-£15, this means the immersion heater can stay with a compliant thermostat

Looking at it s board and bond with a bit of tlc would make all the difference- I would also suggest mains interlinked smoke detectors (I use thew Aico 3000 range) be installed

 

[Ffoeguk]

Another wooden top masscaraiding as a electrician
EICR - is it safe for continued use Yes or No
It is not a list of upgrades to bring it to the 18th edition
Why does the electrician not describe what he believes to be an issue and a description of the solution on a separate note. These reports are for laymen who are paying for a Skilled Person to advise them on condition.
Indicates no RCD in bathroom, then indicates supplementary bonding C3?
Not worth the paper it is written on ignore the C2’s until reason for the C2 is explained correctly. Bloke does not know what he is doing.
Earth leakage high just stopped laughing
Ceiling rose needs replacing - is it because enclosure is damaged as 651.2?

 

[Ian1981]

Think there is something about this in one of the books. I'll see if I can find it

This is actually mentioned in gn3 if it looks like the ring has not been altered and there are previous test results,however I’d always test it as standard.