CU change. What would you do about these tails?

[brman]

I've got a CU change in a couple of weeks. I did a pre survey and everything looked ok except I have just realised I take much notice of the tails. :sad_smile:

The trouble is the CU is in what was the garage however the garage has been turned into a room by plasterboarding the walls - hiding completely where the tails go. Meter is external at the usual waist high, CU is about 30cm from the ceiling inside, about 2m horizontally from the meter.
So....

a) I have no idea where the tails are behind the plasterboard. As it was originally a garage they were likely to be surface mounted I guess but it is quite likely this doesn't align with the correct zones in the present room and the almost certainly aren't 50mm deep.

b) I can't be sure but I suspect they might be a slightly over 3m long.

So I guess the question is, what would you do?

I am thinking I really should be trying to trace where they go and do something about it if they aren't to the regs. On the other hand I am changing the CU, not the tails and I don't know that they are wrong. For all I know they are mechanically protected where I can't see them and ripping out tails that have worked fine for 20 years and potentially fitting a switched fuse because of the length feels a bit of an over-reaction.

what do you reckon?

 

[Geoffsd]

If anything, I would just make a note in the exceptions stating what you suspect and that you cannot tell where they run and advise it should be checked.
Letting everyone know it wasn't you who did it.
It's the same as all the other cable runs, really.

It's not actually part of the job, is it?

Edit - I should have said departures, not exceptions

 

[sedgy34]

i dont see why your concerned tails could be in the cavity for all you know, the CU is your concern and bonding and as long as tails are correct size to the fuse get on with it.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Wouldn't be able to list this under departures,
one, a departure should offer the same degree of safety as would be achieved by compliance with the Regulations,
two, the OP is not installing the tails.
This would have to be listed under 'comments on the existing nstallation', if anywhere.

 

[Guest55]

I reckon theres issues that need to be resolved prior to changing CU.
Firstly you have tails hidden in a wall , probably not in permitted safe zones , not rcd protected , and unable to determine whether they are mechanically protected.
Personally i'd assume they are not protected until proven otherwise.
Secondly if the tails are longer than 3mtrs as you suspect , then many DNO's require these to be fused by the consumers own device.
Tread carefully with this job.

 

[Welchyboy]

They are normally run up the cavity from the external box, just note it on the cert

 

[brman]

Thanks Guys.

I think my dilemma is summed up nicely by both Biff55 and Geoffsd - perhaps there isn't a straight answer to the question. Welchyboy; I agree they are normally in the cavity but I have a feeling this is a single skin garage, I could be wrong though.

As Geoffsd said it isn't really my problem. I didn't put them there. On the other hand if they were undersized on a normal install I would be updating them along with the CU change, same as I would bonding etc. So I don't feel too happy pretending a problem doesn't exist just because I can't see it.

It sounds like that, on balance, I am best to warn the customer it could get messy and have a bit more of a dig when i am there. If it is turns out they are in the cavity then I think I might not worry if they are a little more than 3m long but if they are running out of zone where shelves might get put then I should probably suggest a replace and re-route job.

On the plus side the customer is the sort of guy who wants it done right so I shouldn't have any problems if it does need more work.

 

[Guest55]

If theres no room above the garage its highly unlikely that the outside wall will be double skinned / cavity.

 

[brman]

If theres no room above the garage its highly unlikely that the outside wall will be double skinned / cavity.

Indeed, trouble is I can't remember if there is or not. I check with the owner as that might put my mind at rest.

 

[Guest55]

.....it isn't really my problem.

thats not entirely true.
Issuing a cert with your work ? then a paper trail leads back to you if theres a problem later.

 

[brman]

thats not entirely true.
Issuing a cert with your work ? then a paper trail leads back to you if theres a problem later.

True enough. But I wouldn't say I needed to rewire a ring while putting a extra socket in just because it wasn't all run in the zones.
I know what you are getting at, it is why I asked the question in the first place, but I'm trying to see just how I should go to "get it right". I guess I could always get advice from my scheme if I am still unsure when I do the job. At least then I can claim I got advice from the "experts".

 

[Guitarist]

It may be worth asking the owner if he remembers where the tails were. He may even have boarded them over himself.

 

[Spudnik]

Correct me if im wrong, but, dont the new EICR also include meter tails and earthing as part of the remit??

IF thats the case then it should be noted as stated, and a phone call to the DNO?

 

[Guest55]

Correct me if im wrong, but, dont the new EICR also include meter tails and earthing as part of the remit??

IF thats the case then it should be noted as stated, and a phone call to the DNO?

that is correct.
I'm of the opinion that tails should remain accessable , not covered with dot and dabbed plasterboard.

 

[brman]

It may be worth asking the owner if he remembers where the tails were. He may even have boarded them over himself.

unfortunately not. done by the previous owner I believe.