Distribution Board Not compliant with 17th edition

[Dave1982]

Hi everyone.

Can anyone advise me on what to do?

I have been asked to change a consumer unit of a flat. install a seperate ring main for a newly fitted kitchen replace like for like socket outlets and light switches
I've done an inspection a nd test on all circuits and found no problems.

My problem is I have inspected the mains distribution board located on the ground floor which feeds 3 flats. each of which have fused switches protecting the cable run from the inlet to theindividual properties.

the cable is not an SWA but an imperial equivalent of what i would say was maybe 10mm Twin and earth. the cable run is approx 12mtrs. The earthing appears to be 6mm cable.

My question is if the regs require 16mm main earth cable is it my responsibility to upgrade this or the properties management companies.

The tails from the meter are 16mm not 25mm.

 

[Dave1982]

A few photos to make things clearer.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g4fz9gWE0C0F74lp_sjy2pc6fO7wa3BWfpA11pg2i5U?feat=directlink

 

[telectrix]

can only see 1 pic. what is the earthing arrangement?

 

[Dave1982]

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iLHKwDaYvo34oTX3HFL2_pc6fO7wa3BWfpA11pg2i5U?feat=directlink

 

[Dave1982]

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OT9ZnvRaosHPcRMjmvSx3Jc6fO7wa3BWfpA11pg2i5U?feat=directlink

 

[gpz900jim]

could you not just run an additional earth to bring that up to regs? I think you would probably have trouble getting the management co to do anything. A lot of them spend a minimum amount of cash on maintenance.

 

[bugsy]

Depends whi is resposible for what? is the flat meter in that riser if so whats the size of the MET from SWF to MET and from SWF to CU

 

[Dave1982]

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pvB7PhOrnETMFL7pLarRQZc6fO7wa3BWfpA11pg2i5U?feat=directlink

 

[Dave1982]

looks like TN-S earthing I think. The cable just dissapears in the back of the switched fuse box. To run a new earth would be near impossible i think.
Three flats from this supply.

 

[Dave1982]

the earths are 6mm i would say from main distribution board to second distribution board then to switched fuse and then to CU

 

[Dave1982]

If the tails and earth need upgrading shurely then all the flats in the complex would have to be upgraded...don't see that hapenning. where do i stand? can i go ahead with the work within the flat or not? Anybody had any expearience with this senario?

 

[coxy84]

you must make sure the the exsiting install is safe before under going any additions, you should upgrade main earth and incoming tails.

 

[Dave1982]

Thats fine coxy but the tails are 16mm from the meter which is sealed. so I guess the supplier should do that. The earth may be 6mm from the distribution board to the switched fuse but the cable run from there is Twin and earth (imperial) god knows what size earth on that. The main earth dissapears behind the switched fuse box to god knows wherthen reappears in the back of the CU in the flat.

 

[Dave1982]

Photo of CU in flat just shows the supply cable entering the back of the unit through the gromet.
tails are no longer there as these supplied a separate fuse box no longer required.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_4LWLGGugJ6g7-mRhNQO_5c6fO7wa3BWfpA11pg2i5U?feat=directlink

 

[coxy84]

it sounds like a right pain mate, but you have got to make sure the earthing upgraded before you change the board, there is always a way its just a case of how much it costs.