Changing Re-Wireable fuses to MCBS

[roukel01]

Hello

I'm in need of a little help.

Someone has phoned me today because they are selling their house and something hs cropped up.

Basically they have changed their Wylex Bs3036 fuses to Type B MCB's. Their solicitors are asking for a certificate for the work that has been done, and they don't have one!

What certificate should be have been issued?? It's not exactly a consumer unit change strictly speaking, but the method of protection has been changed , I couldn't give her an answer over the phone and told them I'd look into it.

Your advice on this would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Lee

 

[Podgie]

I'd say an electrical installation certificate. An mcb will disconnect at different rates than bs 3036 re-wirables.

 

[roukel01]

Thats what I initially thought, however, the more I thought about it, the more I started to second guess myself. The board is still the same and so the wiring hasn't been touched.

If the fuse had blown due to a light bulb blowing, and you replace the fuse wire, should that be certified? Or if the fuse wire had blown and the customer decided to change to an MCB, because they found the re-wirable type too fiddley, should it be certified?

Anyone else have any thought on this??

 

[acvc]

The regs say that if you change the protective device on any circuit(s) then its got to be an EIC. Can't say which particular reg it is off the top of my head, but I'll go and find out and get back to you.

 

[Spudnik]

Indeed as has been said, amongst other things, you need to make sure that disconnection times are met.

 

[roukel01]

Ok, so which certificate (if any) is needed?

 

[Sintra]

An EIC is required as you have changed the characteristics of the overcurrent protection so you have to prove your disconnection times are ok.

 

[pushrod]

how long has it been standard to issue EICs ? might the installation predate this ?

 

[roukel01]

The Fuses were swapped last year, it was only noticed because the people buying the house were the previous owners and so they realised that the fuses had been swapped!

Just spoken to ELECSA technical about it. He said you could argue that its like for like and therefore classed as maintenance, however, he did recommend that each circuit should have been tested properly before the circuits were re-energised and so an EIC should be issued!

 

[pushrod]

I guess the sellers aren't too impressed - paying to have mcbs put in and then paying again for an EIC. I bet they're tempted to put some old rewireables back in and sell their mcbs on ebay !!!

 

[roukel01]

Never thought of putting the old ones back in!

 

[kkc35348]

That's unusual - the previous owners buying back their house!

Before 2005, you could walk into B&Q or Wickes and buy a set of replacement plugin breakers to substitute for your rewireables, and not have the hassle of pointless certificates!
No hassle, just withdraw the rewireables and plug in the new breakers and enhance your old fusebox!
No certificate is required for anything that can be fitted and removed without any tools!

 

[flukey]

That's unusual - the previous owners buying back their house!

Before 2005, you could walk into B&Q or Wickes and buy a set of replacement plugin breakers to substitute for your rewireables, and not have the hassle of pointless certificates!
No hassle, just withdraw the rewireables and plug in the new breakers and enhance your old fusebox!
No certificate is required for anything that can be fitted and removed without any tools!

i thought the bases were different, therefore requiring removal and refitting of a screw

 

[Spudnik]

The fuse carriers are different for the plug in MCB's from the standard rewireables.

 

[flukey]

hi jason,

thought as much