Alterations to lighting on Busbar trunking

abneyelec · Nov 12, 2016

Hi,

If you have a luminaire connected to busbar trunking via a fused "plug" is this then considered as a fixed appliance? And if so, if you were to change that luminaire would that constitute an change to the circuit, i.e. Would you need to issue a MWC? I am also assuming that if the plug is not fused then it would be considered as part of the circuit and therefore changes would require a MWC.

The reason I ask is that we are converting to LED lights in a store and in the others it has been lighting trunking and we have therefore either issued a MWC or EIC as appropriate. But the latest one has busbar trunking and the contractor is arguing that if its fused its an appliance.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Andy78 · Nov 12, 2016

abneyelec said:
Hi,

If you have a luminaire connected to busbar trunking via a fused "plug" is this then considered as a fixed appliance? And if so, if you were to change that luminaire would that constitute an change to the circuit, i.e. Would you need to issue a MWC? I am also assuming that if the plug is not fused then it would be considered as part of the circuit and therefore changes would require a MWC.

The reason I ask is that we are converting to LED lights in a store and in the others it has been lighting trunking and we have therefore either issued a MWC or EIC as appropriate. But the latest one has busbar trunking and the contractor is arguing that if its fused its an appliance.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

I think that the contractor needs to justify his hearsay claims with something.

I would consider a plugged in anything to be not part of the fixed wiring, fused or not. When you get to lighting and plug in marshalling box and busbar systems it gets a bit complex though. What is fixed wiring what isn't ?

Would I include flex lengths in volt drop and Zs calculations in such instances ? Yes.
Would i issue certification for the swap of a single light on such a system ? probably not.
Would I issue certification for a revamp of entire lighting system even though all plugged in ? Yes, probably. Even if it was proved I did not need to I would still want to, and still would.

Pete999 · Nov 12, 2016

I would have thought in my humble opinion that a plug in fused luminair would come the control of In Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment Service ISTIEE the old PA test

westward10 · Nov 12, 2016

I would issue a MWC regardless of how many fittings I changed as proof of the works complying to relevant requirements.

Lagentium · Nov 12, 2016

I did a similar job a few years ago, every single light fitting had a MWC, not ideal paperwork wise but it's better to go over the top and prove you have tested your work, belt and braces etc etc.

Andy78 · Nov 12, 2016

Lagentium said:
I did a similar job a few years ago, every single light fitting had a MWC, not ideal paperwork wise but it's better to go over the top and prove you have tested your work, belt and braces etc etc.

Out of interest, why not one cert per circuit ?

westward10 · Nov 12, 2016

Andy78 said:
Out of interest, why not one cert per circuit ?

Unless each fitting was on its own circuit

Flanders · Nov 12, 2016

I would say 1 minor works per circuit , test all lights for earth continuity and then do all testing at the furthest point , you could make a lead up and use a PA tester to test all the lights but i would say thats a bit over top. if there are a lot of circuits then it would probley be easyier to just fill out and installation certificate ,

abneyelec · Nov 14, 2016

Hi

Cheers for the responses. In terms of PAT testing surely as the installed item is less than a year old it wouldn't need PAT testing?
My thoughts were that we should do a MWC for each circuit even though we are technically not working on the "circuit". I don't mind certifying our work, or for that matter making the contractor certify his work, but I cant force him to certify the buzbar circuit if he claims he hasn't done any work on it. I guess this is a bit of a grey area.