eicr queries

diditrain · Mar 14, 2012

Hi all, i would be grateful if i could pick your brains for some sections of the EICR report form that i am a little unsure of.

1. If you have cables concealed in walls or partitions without 30mA RCD protection is this a code 3?
2. If the service fuse is sealed, is this a lim or N/V and is futher investigation required
3. Concealed cables installed in prescribed zones. Are you required to put some kind of statement in section D?
4. If your cables do not incorporate earthed armour or sheath, or run within an earthed wiring system, or otherwise protected against mechanical damage from screws or nails and the like, are you required to put a statement in section D?
5. Is it worthy of a mention in the observations or a coding issue, if a property has smoke alarms but you are unable to verify a replace by date, but they pass funtional tests?

Much appreciated

Deleted member 26818 · Mar 14, 2012

1. C3,as long as the cables are in prescribed zones, and the lack of RCD protection complied with the then cureent Regulations at the time of installation.
However, if the cables are provided with another acceptable method of additional protection (such as an earthed metallic sheath, or are contained in earthed conduit or trunking) then there would be no code.
2. No not really, as the rating can be obtained through enquiry.
3/4. No, Section D is for the extent and limitations of the inspection. You would make an observation in Section K.
5. Smoke alarms are not really within the scope of BS7671. The fixed wiring of those that have it and the connection to the supply would be within the scope of BS7671.
It may be that the smoke alarms are listed as being part of the inspection in the extent and limitations, in which case, then yes a comment in Section K would be apropriate, but no code, as it would be something that requires further investigation.

diditrain · Mar 15, 2012

My next questions: RCD`S provided for fault protection. Can someone explain what it means?
I know that they provide earth fault protection so would you tick item 4.19 on the EICR

Item 5.10 concealed cables installed in prescibed zones. I presume that this would be N/V as you cannot verify the entire route

Apologies if these questions have been asked before.

Deleted member 26818 · Mar 15, 2012

Fault protection is protection against electric shock, what used to be known as protection against indirect contact, which is protection against contact with exposed-conductive-parts which have become live under fault conditions.
With TN systems, this fault protection is generally provided by means of an overcurrent device such as a fuse or MCB, which will provide both overload protection and fault protection by means of ADS.
With TT systems and in some cases TN systems, an overcurrent device will not provide fault protection, as the EFLI is too high.
In such cases fault protection is provided by means of an RCD.
Not to be confused with the requirements to provide additional protection by means of a 30mA RCD, for socket-outlets, locations containing a bath or shower or for cables concealed in walls.
In some instances, both fault and additional protection will often be provided by the same device.
You would normally only tick item 4.18, if you were inspecting a TT installation, or in some instances a TN installation, where Zs is too high for an overcurrent device to operate within the prescribed times, and an RCD had been installed instead.

You would normally use LIM for cables installed in prescribed zones, as one of the usual limitations is no dismanteling of the building structure.
Although with the advent of cable and stud finders, it may be that verification can be made