Fitting a socket?

aaronstuart · Sep 19, 2009

Hi,
If you're adding any accessory, extra socket, light etc, do you heve to upgrade tails to 25mm and earth to 16mm, if they are only 16mm and 10mm? Or can you just note it down on Minor works cert if client doesnt want the work undertaking?

Thanks in advance

Mark.W · Sep 19, 2009

Hi

I don't think you have to upgrade the tails for minor works, I thought you only needed to ensure that the bonding was up to scratch!

V · Sep 19, 2009

are you keeping the same db ?

leekemp85 · Sep 19, 2009

elecsa told me if doing any minor works you don't have to upgrade tales or bonding if its a minimum of 16mm for the tails, 10mm main earth and 6 mm to gas and water.

electricAl · Sep 19, 2009

Previous post ^ above pretty much sums it up - as, by its nature, most Minor Work is not going to add significantly to the overall loading of the tails, then providing existing are atleast 16mm there wouldn`t normally be a requirement to increase their size - even if the DNO insists they should be 25mm or more. As many distributors won`t sanction us to upgrade anyway, & they don`t seem to be exactly rushing to upgrade all the puny tails still in existance themselves, you`re left to think "why should i worry?". If you`ve informed the customer of the current requirement of 25mm min but they`re not willing to pay you to do what the DNO should be doing then you`ve done all you can.
However, this regulatory body approved guidance presumes that the person carrying out the work has reasonably assessed the existing installation as being safe to carry the likely load. If you haven`t you`d be fairly considered negligent in re-energising after adding further loading. Remember, we can`t leave the installation in a less safe condition in which we found it...