Having a house re-wire, are old back boxes within new regs?

[Soultrader]

Hi,

Glad to have found a good forum to ask my electric related questions.

So my property had old vir cables nearly throughout and ceramic fuses. The company doing the rewire is 3/4 of the way through, but I have a few questions.

1. Are the original light switch back boxes still under current regulations, it seems they haven’t replaced any of the old light switch back boxes?

2. I understand that there must be 3 sockets in each room now, is this absolutely mandatory as they have left one out so far of one of the rooms? I can have them put this in if absolutely necessary.

3. I have asked that they provide the certifications before I pay in full but they have said that I need to pay first. What are the industry standards on this?

Thank you...

 

[Spoon]

They should be. I’m not going to pay until I see the building control and installation certificate. I will go to their premises and when I see them I will pay. I think that’s entirely reasonable.

Have you given them any money up to now?

 

[Soultrader]

Have you given them any money up to now?

No. I haven’t been asked at any point.

 

[Spoon]

No. I haven’t been asked at any point.

Ask them that you want to pay them some money for the work they have done up to now. It shows them that you are not trying to dupe them and you can also see their premises when you pay.
They may then be flexible on giving you the certs before final payment.

 

[telectrix]

They should be. I’m not going to pay until I see the building control and installation certificate. I will go to their premises and when I see them I will pay. I think that’s entirely reasonable.

it will take maybe 28 days to get the building control notification processed, so you should not withold monies awaiting this, unless it's asmall % , say 10%, agreed with the contractors beforehand.
as for back boxes, I would insist on new ones (25mm) for switches, otherwise if you want at any time to fit smart switches or dimmers, you're stuffed.

 

[Soultrader]

it will take maybe 28 days to get the building control notification processed, so you should not withold monies awaiting this, unless it's asmall % , say 10%, agreed with the contractors beforehand.
as for back boxes, I would insist on new ones (25mm) for switches, otherwise if you want at any time to fit smart switches or dimmers, you're stuffed.

Thanks.
However as stated by numerous people here some companies do provide all certificates before payment and the installation certificate is at least on the quote. We did have a brief conversation about it and he said something about paying half and getting one of the certificates then the other half before receive the final certificate which I now assume is building control. For me I’m not sure 10% is enough of an incentive and having look on companies house last night I am right to be somewhat careful here. I think paying 3/4 of the invoice should be satisfactory and then paying the remainder when I see the certificate.

 

[westward10]

Do the existing back boxes have earth terminals because if you have plastic light switches they will need them.

 

[Soultrader]

Do the existing back boxes have earth terminals because if you have plastic light switches they will need them.

No they don’t have an earth terminal. Is it a part of regulations that they must have them?

 

[westward10]

No they don’t have an earth terminal. Is it a part of regulations that they must have them?

Are you using plastic light switches because if you are the cpc terminates to the back box but for metal switches it terminates to the switch itself.

 

[Soultrader]

Are you using plastic light switches because if you are the cpc terminates to the back box but for metal switches it terminates to the switch itself.

Just standard white light switches. I can see they have put earths into a loose choc box terminal in the backbox

 

[telectrix]

Just standard white light switches. I can see they have put earths into a loose choc box terminal in the backbox

NOT GOOD. THOSE EARTHS NEED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE METAL BOXES.

 

[Soultrader]

NOT GOOD. THOSE EARTHS NEED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE METAL BOXES.

I don’t think those old boxes are metal though, I’m sure they’re plastic.

Do they have to be replaced with metal ones according to current regulations?

 

[SJD]

Do you have a photo of one of these old boxes?

 

[brianmoooore]

NOT GOOD. THOSE EARTHS NEED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE METAL BOXES.

I purposely didn't mention earthing terminals in my first post on this thread, to see if any one else picked it up.
A few weeks ago, I would have agreed fully with the quote above, but since then we've had the 'where can I get plastic 3.5mm screws' thread, which came to the conclusion that it's permitted to use metal screws with unearthed metal back boxes.
It's definitely OK to use unearthed metal boxes with earthed metal plate switches, as long as at least one of the box's lugs is non adjustable, since it's no longer considered necessary (not on my watch, though) to omit the fly lead between a socket and its box, so, taking the two examples together, the cpc must be present in the switch box, but, with a plastic switch, does it need to be connected to anything?

 

[brianmoooore]

I don’t think those old boxes are metal though, I’m sure they’re plastic.

Do they have to be replaced with metal ones according to current regulations?

These aren't going to turn out to be surface boxes, are they?

 

[DefyG]

it will take maybe 28 days to get the building control notification processed

It can be available 'instantly' if notified on the NICEIC website (and maybe other schemes too), are the contractors NIC approved? If so no excuse a delay in the Part P cert, which cant be notified (online) until the EIC is finalised (online), but with technology today can be done in a blink of any eye!