Changing storage heaters to electric radiators

[Calscot]

I've been asked to remove two storage heater and replace them for electric radiators. The storage heaters are on their own dedicated circuits protected by 16A mcb. There is no RCD protection. It is currently on E7 but the customer is planning to move to a single tariff.

I will change the storage heater socket to a fused spur socket but would I also need to change the mcb to an rcbo?

It cannot be used as a plug socket so I can't see that it would need to be protected by an rcd other than the fact that I cannot determine whether the cables are buried at a depth of more than 50mm.

Apologies if it seems like an obvious question but I am newly qualified and want to know I've got it right.

 

[Octopus]

Fcu and no RCBO ....

Tin hat on

 

[westward10]

It is an existing circuit and providing the current devices give correct fault protection rcbos would not be necessary.

 

[Toneyz]

No you are not altering the installation which was wired to a previous addition of BS7671 .

 

[Calscot]

Many thanks.

 

[davesparks]

Be careful as older storage heaters may contain asbestos in the bricks.

 

[westward10]

For a storage heater to contain asbestos it would have to be over 40 years old as manufacturing removed use of asbestos containing materials in 1973/4.

 

[davesparks]

For a storage heater to contain asbestos it would have to be over 40 years old as manufacturing removed use of asbestos containing materials in 1973/4.

That's weird, any idea as to why they stopped in 1974?
Legal bans on various forms of asbestos didn't start until the 80's and the final total ban didn't happen until 1999, so i assume there was another reason to stop using it in storage heater bricks?

 

[Calscot]

Thanks for the warning. It was the first thing I checked as it makes disposal a little more tricky. Fortunately, they are all asbestos free.

 

[westward10]

That's weird, any idea as to why they stopped in 1974?
Legal bans on various forms of asbestos didn't start until the 80's and the final total ban didn't happen until 1999, so i assume there was another reason to stop using it in storage heater bricks?

No idea I know various restrictions have been imposed over the years and as you say a total ban didn't happen until 1999/2000 and that probably will surprise many people.

 

[richy3333]

Apparently as early as the 1970s Dimplex realised that by removing the asbestos the 'heaters' could perform even worse; so they did it!