Conservatories ?

[TPES]

Just got on with a company that do conservatories.

They have been using a sparky in the past but now got rid..

I think up untill today the original spark has not been complying to the regs much..

the reason im thinking this is because of the things the builders telling me and the price they were paying the original sparky per build.

What would you say is a minimum must when pricing up for a conservatory when complying with regs?

The obvious is RCD protect all circuits fed to conservatory..

Is it the same set of rules for going back to the board (EIC) as it is for the (MWC) adding to an existing circuit?

The reason i say this is that ive read that if theres only 6mm Main bonding then your still ok to continue with Minor Works or does every EIC or MW Cert issued have to have had bonding upgraded to 10mm

I just want to make sure i price for everything and not miss a thing.. on both scenarios of adding to existing circuit and a new circuit installed.

 

[sparky paul]

Just got on with a company that do conservatories.

You have my deepest sympathy

Joking aside ,i have worked for 3 or 4 of these outfits and and they can be a right pain,they dont understand whats involved,always pay late,they think it just RUNNING A FEW CABLES

I do work for one such guy but he is a mate and NEVER moans at my bill and to be fair i have got a few rewires through him in the past,

All they are interested in is getting the connie up and getting their dosh,the fact that no bonding or rcd`s are in place doesnt bother them and i myself felt at times VERY PRESSURED TO BYPASS THE REGS ,i allways tell em where to go thats probly why i only do work for the one

Good luck with it

 

[TPES]

they dont understand whats involved,always pay late,they think it just RUNNING A FEW CABLES

All they are interested in is getting the connie up and getting their dosh,the fact that no bonding or rcd`s are in place doesnt bother them and i myself felt at times VERY PRESSURED TO BYPASS THE REGS ,i allways tell em where to go thats probly why i only do work for the one

EXACTLY... This is the feel im getting..

I Have a strong feeling they will be going back to using there original "sparky" after I explain its done right or not at all..

when i said the work has to be notified to LABC he seemed to not get what i was on about..

So if 6mm main bond and less than 16mm earth are you still ok to carry on with the works? what ever the supply?

 

[empress]

Thought conservatories were not notifiable if you extend or modify circuts.
obviously have to fill out minor works form for each circut you've played with.
under sized earthing etc on deviations section .
thats the way i read it.

 

[TPES]

My neighbour is having a connie, they were told they dont need any planning permission for it but just make sure the electrical work is notified..

 

[sparky paul]

If you are extending a ring from say the living room into a connie then it wouldnt be notifiable,but if you come off the kitchen it would but the new sockets you are putting in still have to meet the requirements for rcd protection (assuming buried less tghan 50mm)


I am doing a connie at the moment ,3 double sockets,underfloor heating and a light,the existing sockets are in rubber cable so cant extend,the existing fuseboard is rewirables so only option (cost wise)is to fit seperate board just for the ring into the connie,then you have to have an isolator fitted by dno so both boards can be isolated with one switch,this was allso a requirement under the 16th but few bothered with it,so when you add alll this up it can come in quite expensive just for the few extra sockets req.

With regards to the earthing it is your responsibility to asses this ,,6mm on a periodic would be a code 4 so it doesnt comply(IMO)

 

[empress]

My neighbour is having a connie, they were told they dont need any planning permission for it but just make sure the electrical work is notified..

can't comment on the planning pernission, prob a lot to do with the size and hieght of the thing
just looking at the Elecsa example sheet & conservatories are not notifiable with circut extension /mod .

 

[TPES]

can't comment on the planning pernission, prob a lot to do with the size and hieght of the thing
just looking at the Elecsa example sheet & conservatories are not notifiable with circut extension /mod .

I agree, but is this the same for a new circuit, because its only notifiable due to its location isnt it?

So as said... if you feed from a special location (kitchen) then you altering the circuit in that special location, meaning notifiable.

If its a lounge (not special locatin) then you dont need to notify it.

 

[empress]

I agree, but is this the same for a new circuit, because its only notifiable due to its location isnt it?

thought all new circuts were notifiable as they come under major works
special location or not.

couldn't agree more with special location circut extension ie kitchen being notifiable.
just assumed it wasn't in this case, since there was no mention in the origional post.

 

[TPES]

I am doing a connie at the moment ,3 double sockets,underfloor heating and a light,

Sparky paul... Do you ever Use RCD FCU's to protect the connie., Or if unprotected is it always an RCBO or seperate RCD enclosure to the modified circuit? If your using a RCD enclosure are you always splitting the tails?

 

[sparky paul]

Nine times out of ten i go into a property to wire for a connie the c/u will be fine or if not they might agree to a new c/u

The customer im doing this one for didnt want a new c/u and with the old rubber cables i wouldnt have wanted to start messing with the old stuff anyway so fitting a sep 2 way c/u was the sensible option,be prepered aswell cause if your connie firm is like mine they wont even call you until the base is in,then you come along and throw a spanner in the works by telling them the bad news regarding rcd/bonding etc,then you get the old WELL IF I KNEW THAT AT THE START I WOULDNT HAVE HAD THE WORK DONE.off the customer,then your the BAD GUY


After a few heated debates with the bloke i do em for ,he now at least prepares the customer in advance by telling em extra work might be needed.


In answer to ya question,i dont fit rcd fcu`s,they wouldnt protect the whole circuit would they


And splitting the tails is rare,but sometimes its the only option.

 

[TPES]

i wouldnt have wanted to start messing with the old stuff anyway so fitting a sep 2 way c/u was the sensible option.


In answer to ya question,i dont fit rcd fcu`s,they wouldnt protect the whole circuit would they


And splitting the tails is rare,but sometimes its the only option.

Did you split the tails to feed the sep 2 way board then?

RCD FCU's would protect the whole of the addition to the circuit (the wiring in connie (3a spur for light) I hear a very mixed 50/50 views on only protecting the work your doing or protecting the whole circuit.

 

[TPES]

If conservatories are not notifiable only when fed from a non-special location or from the board, how come if you fit garden lighting fed from ANYWHERE in the house you have to notify it? that doesnt make any sense to me.. or have i got it wrong..

Also...

if a customer wants an internal garage converting into 2 rooms, a dining room and a small utility room with washer, dryer & sink,.. would this need notifying? NOT being fed from a special locationg.