Consumer unit change

[the_mouse]

Hi all,

I am going to do a consumer unit change in a mates house and use this as my assesment job, and hope you can clear up some points for me.

1. Do i need to use a domestic electrical installation certificate or would a normal EIC do?
2. I intend to place the CU directly on the wall with a length of trunking on the top side of the unit and drop the cables through slots directy into the CU, and the tails taken in through the units cut outs on the bottom, Would this satisfy the IP requirements IP4X for the top and IP2X for the bottom?
3. This is the long winded one! A spark has repaired a cable in the dining room by chopping the plaster and jointing the cable with choc block and covered the hole with a single socket outlet no back box just the socket sitting there doing nothing, my mate wants a proper repair doing and the hole plastered but this cable is not in a safe zone, have suggested putting in a socket to create one but he doesnt want this, do i note this on EIC? as i thought only PIR could have fails!

sorry its a bit long winded!

mouse

 

[telectrix]

re: cable repair. as joint is choc blocked it must be accessible so a back box and blank plate would comply. if he wants it plastering over, the only solution is to chop it out and replace, at least to a junction box under the floor.

 

[chiplard]

You can crimp and sleeve the joint then plaster over it. This is classed a a permanent connection and so does not require future inspections.

 

[the_mouse]

Hi telectrix, i inteded to crimp and heatshrink the damaged cable, its the cable not being in prescribed zone which i my concern, i have suggested putting in a socket either at faulted position or cable spliced and a socket fitted lower down , to create a safe zone, but he wont go for this.

 

[malcolmsanford]

If it's an assement then I wouold use the EIC downloaded from the BS7671-2008 with the Schedule of Inpsetcions and results.

Yes no problems with that. Of course if you use metal CU or trunking you will have to make sure you protect the cables from sharp edges by sleeving around the slots. If plastic just make sure the edges are clean.
When you bring the tails through the knockouts I would put an open grommit in makes the talis fit snugly and also looks good.

Well to do a proper job would be either solder or crimp that repair, heat sleeve and then cover with a piece of oval conduit for protection and then can replaster.

The board change will be your EIC, you could do a PIR for the circuits but it's not necessary. The repair can be covered on a MWC again if you wish but as it's a maintenance or repair there is no need to certificate it, and of course as it's not notifiable the assesor will not be looking for it.

Don't forget for the assessor labels labels labels. make sure all you earthing and bonding is up to the REgs

 

[Jimmy Boy]

I was speaking to an experienced installer who kindly has offered to pre- inspect my work prior to my registration inspections..on a recent NIC inspection the guy was honest and told him "I can't find anything wrong, but I have to if I can" so he pulled him on not having circuit charts left in the dwelling for for future reference showing circuit arrangements BSEN numbers etc..Apparantly the NIC now sell these..Coincidence ? I'll let you decide.
ATB S

 

[Ponty Massive]

I use these to ID the circuits. Look good with your name on them!

 

[Amp David]

Will need to start putting in larger consumer units soon to fit all the stickers on them