Existing Consumer Unit close to vertical waste pipe

[Netzero1967]

 

[Netzero1967]

here View attachment 118750

IS there a minimum distance between the consumer unit and waste pipe. The waste pipe is on the left of consumer unit.

 

[littlespark]

Is this part of the EICR property from your other thread?

 

[Netzero1967]

Is this part of the EICR property from your other thread?

yes - so i need to replace consumer unit. However, does it need to be relocated to meet regs?

 

[westward10]

Would help if you kept this to the other thread.

 

[Tom256]

IS there a minimum distance between the consumer unit and waste pipe. The waste pipe is on the left of consumer unit.

Deleted content due to seeing message above re: keep to original thread. Will reply same if the thread continues

 

[littlespark]

We can leave the other thread as “electrician hasn’t given me the report” problem and have this one to discuss what’s actually cropped up on the report…

You don’t actually know what’s on it as you haven’t got it…. Was it just the tester saying you needed a new board without explaining why?

The two boards there could possibly be amalgamated into one, bring it over to the right hand side, away from the drain pipe.

Do you know any other faults?


A satisfactory EICR can have C3 coded faults. Simply means improvement recommended.
Unsatisfactory would be C1 - dangerous or C2 - potentially dangerpus.

As the property is a rental, there is also the safety of the tenants to consider.
A C3 may well be ok for the report, but perhaps should be upgraded anyway.

 

[Netzero1967]

We can leave the other thread as “electrician hasn’t given me the report” problem and have this one to discuss what’s actually cropped up on the report…

You don’t actually know what’s on it as you haven’t got it…. Was it just the tester saying you needed a new board without explaining why?

The two boards there could possibly be amalgamated into one, bring it over to the right hand side, away from the drain pipe.

Do you know any other faults?


A satisfactory EICR can have C3 coded faults. Simply means improvement recommended.
Unsatisfactory would be C1 - dangerous or C2 - potentially dangerpus.

As the property is a rental, there is also the safety of the tenants to consider.
A C3 may well be ok for the report, but perhaps should be upgraded anyway.

you are right, i do not have the EICR report. I have spoken since the the inspection, a number of times to person doing the inspection. He was adament that there needs to be a minimum of 300mm from waste pipe to consumer unit,

I believe in the pic, consumer unit on right is not used. Consumer unit on left is live.

I believe there will also be FI findings on the report.

 

[westward10]

Insist he submits the Report or tell him you are going to seek legal advise. I presume you had no contract.

 

[Tom256]

Deleted content due to seeing message above re: keep to original thread. Will reply same if the thread continues

No there is no need for 300 mm distance in BS 7671 . The NHBC Technical document requires 300mm from electrical consumer units and the edges of sink / basins. Building regs require 300mm distance from the edge of sinks / basins in Kitchens to reduce risk of splashes - is that where he is getting the distance from?. I have had this before from builders / electricians but it is not a BS7671 requirement.
Ask him to provide the regulation he has coded against as that way the discussion is set against the regulation not against someones subjective opinion. It should not be a case of an observation without the regulation for then there is nothing to challange against.

BS 6891 for low pressure gas does have a separation distance requirement but not for waste water pipes.

The BS 7671 2018+A2:2022 Regulations that refer would certainly be Regulations 528.3.3, 528.3.4

528.3.3 - Where an Electrical service is to be installed in proximity to one or more non-electrical services it shall be so arranged that any foreseable operation carried out on the other service will not cause damage to the electrical services or the converse.

[This is basic design ensuring electrical systems are fit for purpose in the environment they are intended to operate and is always a consideration that must be taken into account.]

528.3.4 - Where an Electrical service is located in close proximity to one or more non-electrical services, both the following conditions shall apply:
(i) The wiring system shall be suitably protected against the hazzards likely to arise from the presence of the other service in normal use (Bold mine)
(ii) Fault protection shall be afforded in accordance with the requirements od section 411.

This regulation clearly does allow for services to be in close proximity and if they are the (i) and (ii) then need to be complied with.

Section 411 relates to Automatic disconnection of supply. This protective measure is used in most electrical installations and is made up of two parts they being 1. Basic protection that is the insulation / barriers for live parts and 2. Fault protection which comprises protective earthing and bonding plus automatic disconnection under fault conditions.

If the coding relates to suitability to hazzard the above are the considerations. I cannot see a C2 observation relating to the waste pipe.

 

[Netzero1967]

Deleted content due to seeing message above re: keep to original thread. Will reply same if the thread continues

Deleted content due to seeing message above re: keep to original thread. Will reply same if the thread continues

No there is no need for 300 mm distance in BS 7671 . The NHBC Technical document requires 300mm from electrical consumer units and the edges of sink / basins. Building regs require 300mm distance from the edge of sinks / basins in Kitchens to reduce risk of splashes - is that where he is getting the distance from?. I have had this before from builders / electricians but it is not a BS7671 requirement.
Ask him to provide the regulation he has coded against as that way the discussion is set against the regulation not against someones subjective opinion. It should not be a case of an observation without the regulation for then there is nothing to challange against.

BS 6891 for low pressure gas does have a separation distance requirement but not for waste water pipes.

The BS 7671 2018+A2:2022 Regulations that refer would certainly be Regulations 528.3.3, 528.3.4

528.3.3 - Where an Electrical service is to be installed in proximity to one or more non-electrical services it shall be so arranged that any foreseable operation carried out on the other service will not cause damage to the electrical services or the converse.

[This is basic design ensuring electrical systems are fit for purpose in the environment they are intended to operate and is always a consideration that must be taken into account.]

528.3.4 - Where an Electrical service is located in close proximity to one or more non-electrical services, both the following conditions shall apply:
(i) The wiring system shall be suitably protected against the hazzards likely to arise from the presence of the other service in normal use (Bold mine)
(ii) Fault protection shall be afforded in accordance with the requirements od section 411.

This regulation clearly does allow for services to be in close proximity and if they are the (i) and (ii) then need to be complied with.

Section 411 relates to Automatic disconnection of supply. This protective measure is used in most electrical installations and is made up of two parts they being 1. Basic protection that is the insulation / barriers for live parts and 2. Fault protection which comprises protective earthing and bonding plus automatic disconnection under fault conditions.

If the coding relates to suitability to hazzard the above are the considerations. I cannot see a C2 observation relating to the waste pipe.

so i have finally received the EICR report today. So there are only 5 off C2 findings.

One is the distance of the consumer unit from the waste pipe.
C2 "consumer to near waste pipe " << is all he has written on the report.

 

[littlespark]

Now you can take the report to any other electrician to quote for remedial work.

All codes should be accompanied by a relevant regulation number… and fit into one of the statements pre listed on the report.

Are the other coded items just as fictitious?

 

[Netzero1967]

Now you can take the report to any other electrician to quote for remedial work.

All codes should be accompanied by a relevant regulation number… and fit into one of the statements pre listed on the report.

Are the other coded items just as fictitious?

K. OBSERVATIONS
Item No Observation Classification Code
1 cables concealed due to floorboards up C3 << heat pump just installed so not an issue.
2 consumer to near waste pipe C2
3 bathroom downlight no correct ipx4 permitted C2
4 socket on fault high reading line to cpc C2
5 cpc on ring no reading from db1 C2
6 reading high on ir sockets C2

There are more codes lower in the report, including 1 C1.

 

[Netzero1967]

K. OBSERVATIONS
Item No Observation Classification Code
1 cables concealed due to floorboards up C3 << heat pump just installed so not an issue.
2 consumer to near waste pipe C2
3 bathroom downlight no correct ipx4 permitted C2
4 socket on fault high reading line to cpc C2
5 cpc on ring no reading from db1 C2
6 reading high on ir sockets C2

There are more codes lower in the report, including 1 C1.

Also what does not make sense then he has marked installation as satisfactory. lol

General conditions of the installation
Does Complies with bs7671
Overall Assessment of the Installation
Satisfactory

 

[Tom256]

Also what does not make sense then he has marked installation as satisfactory. lol

General conditions of the installation
Does Complies with bs7671
Overall Assessment of the Installation
Satisfactory

The report is nonsense and he does not know what he is doing. The installation could be fine , may not be, may not be and have nothing to do with what he has 'garbled out'.
I have been inspecting for a long time and what you have SIr is not uncommon and quite a disgusting stain on this industry I love and have pride in.

The inspection is conducted against the current edition of BS7671 if it complies with BS 7671 there would be no C2 codings; that and it cannot be satisfactory with C1, C2 or F.I.

As for the wording on those codes - oh dear!
I could go through them all, subjective nonsense, example point 6. What reading is high? What does he mean by 'high'?

What is the C1 ? - what was done at the time of the inspection to make this C1 safe?

I certainly would be very concened about letting this person touch the installation

Can I ask if you have any electrical experience / background? You seem to have some insights.