immersion on a non dedicated radial

[cprfenom]

I went to a job that the owner felt was a bodged job. It was basically a radial circuit wired at the start in 4.0mm T&E, and then it goes to a few sockets that is supplying a washing machine and tumble drier. From there it goes upstairs to the airing cupboard where it feeds a single switched socket that the owner has to swap either the immersion or his shower pump, and then the circuit goes up to the loft where it feeds the boiler. All the wiring apart from the first leg of the radial is 2.5 T&E and fed from a 16amp MCB 60898

I was always under the impression that from the 60's immersions were on dedicated circuits and in most cases fed off of a DP isolator.

I rang Napit and they have said that although its bad design its doesn't breach any regs and that in an EICR it could only be coded a 3 as it is on a radial and not a RFC.

This doesn't sit well with me as it goes against everything I have been taught and told to date.

Opinions please

 

[cprfenom]

As I have said, I have done nothing. I refused on the basis I am not happy, but I spoke to napit out of interest of the immersion not being on a dedicated circuit and they said that although bad design, it didn't breach any regulations.

The issues is that there is no local point that I can hardwire the shower point on to that isn't also feeding the immersion without extensive work, but the customer doesn't understand why I just won't hard wire the pump on to the same circuit.

 

[ImpededLoop]

Ultimately you're the one who has to sign your work off. If you're being asked to do something that you don't agree with just walk away.

 

[Risteard]

I used the C3 point as that is the way Napit told me to justify it. Its not breaking any regs and its not dangerous, but it is bad design.

If it is "not breaking any Regs and is not dangerous" then how can you apply any code to it?

 

[davesparks]

Why do they need the immersion heater if they have a boiler?

 

[Guest77]

If it is "not breaking any Regs and is not dangerous" then how can you apply any code to it?

Because the women at the end of the phone centre who works for napit said so :biggrin:

 

[Geoffsd]

What is the definition of a 'lighting circuit'?

 

[cprfenom]

If it was a woman, then they had a very deep voice. In terms of the C3 I'm going with its because these days it would be bad design.

Like I said, I'm only repeating what Napit said to say that it is ok, but bad design and that if he were doing an EICR on the same property, then he would code it C3.

All I wanted to know is how many people would ever design a circuit like this and was I wrong to not be happy with the circuit.

 

[Risteard]

If you don't believe that any Regulations have been contravened then you cannot apply any code. BS 7671 makes this perfectly clear.

 

[Octopus]

If you don't believe that any Regulations have been contravened then you cannot apply any code. BS 7671 makes this perfectly clear.

You could argue that the immersion should be on its own circuit.

Not sure a C3 is correct - there are countless houses wired this way, and older ones have 1 RFC including the immersion. Are you going to C3 them all??

A comment on the EICR is the way to go

 

[Risteard]

You could argue that the immersion should be on its own circuit.

I wasn't expressing an opinion on this. I was simply pointing out that the OP stated that no Regulations were contravened but that he intended to code it, which is clearly impermissible.

 

[cprfenom]

NO I am not coding it! Napit said they would code it a C3, after I rang them up to see if older versions of the regs allowed it. I have said I don't like the design, but left it as it is.

I was just looking for a consensus as I would never put an Immersion on a shared circuit, and was always told it should be dedicated.

 

[Octopus]

NO I am not coding it! Napit said they would code it a C3, after I rang them up to see if older versions of the regs allowed it. I have said I don't like the design, but left it as it is.

I was just looking for a consensus as I would never put an Immersion on a shared circuit, and was always told it should be dedicated.

On a new install - yes.

 

[Risteard]

I rang them up to see if older versions of the regs allowed it.

With respect does whether previous Editions permitted it affect the safety of it now?