EICR Coding

hightower · Nov 9, 2016

Thought I'd start a general thread on this as I'm currently making my way through this and have some questions (Except I'm reading AMD3 version). Anyhow, it makes pretty clear in the book that EICRs should be carried out with regards to the latest version of the regs. Fair enough. Then it goes on to say (well in to the book) in the list of items to check:

"In accordance with Regulation 421.1.201 of the third amendment of BS7671:2008, the unit and assembly of a consumer unit installed in a domestic premises should be made of a non-combustible material."

Now I've seen the many discussions on this matter within the forum, but what is the official stance? I suppose the two questions I have are:

1) Do we code EICRs based on the latest version of BS 7671?
2) Does coding based on the latest version mean that any plastic CUs need to be coded regardless since they don't compky with 421.1.201?

Bobster · Nov 9, 2016

IMO a C3 with a note saying that so long as it's in decent condition there is nothing wrong, other than meeting the newest amendment.

I know a lot will probably say no code, but if you have it as an assignment or exam question, this will probably be what they are looking for.

hightower · Nov 9, 2016

Rob said:
IMO a C3 with a note saying that so long as it's in decent condition there is nothing wrong, other than meeting the newest amendment.

I know a lot will probably say no code, but if you have it as an assignment or exam question, this will probably be what they are looking for.

Thanks Rob, but this raises more questions than it answers - if it's a C3 "because college are asking" then surely it should be a C3 all the time and regardless of "ticking a box for college" otherwise it's a fruitless exercise?

Bobster · Nov 9, 2016

Real world with common sense > City and guilds.

Having never once actually completed an EICR, maybe someone else would be better indicating what actually happens in the real world.

Personally I would mark as C3 with a note, certainly nothing to fail an installation on and if it was still sound certainly wouldn't recommend replacement.

hightower · Nov 9, 2016

Rob said:
Real world with common sense > City and guilds.

Having never once actually completed an EICR, maybe someone else would be better indicating what actually happens in the real world.

Personally I would mark as C3 with a note, certainly nothing to fail an installation on and if it was still sound certainly wouldn't recommend replacement.

Sorry, just to clarify - this isn't for C&G. Like I say, just making my way through the NICEIC/Elecsa guide shown in my first post and stating what they say. I know people will say "NICEIC don't make the rules", hence my questions: do we inspect to latest regs, and if so why aren't we coding plastic CUs as standard"

Leesparkykent · Nov 9, 2016

This is what best practise guide 4 says

Richard Burns · Nov 9, 2016

An EICR is you making engineering judgements to assess the installation to determine if it is undamaged and not so deteriorated or installed as to be safe for continued use.
In order to perform this assessment then you need to be able to apply safety standards to the installation and the most appropriate are the current edition of the wiring regulations.
You are then making a judgement on whether or not a particular item will give rise to danger such that the installation may be unsafe for use.
The current edition of the wiring regulations specifies that domestic consumer units should be made of non combustible material to restrict the spread of any fire that may occur in the consumer unit.
Therefore if you have a plastic consumer unit you need to assess whether this will present a danger, i.e. location, potential for spread of fire, likelihood of fire occurring, benefits to be gained from changing to (say) a metal unit.
Then you can determine your choice, maybe guided by Leesparkykent's advice above, to apply an appropriate classification code.