Is this a Part P failure?

[glennuk]

Hi all,

New to the forum! Quick background on me: I have a degree in electrical engineering and spent many years working with qualified electricians on house re-wires. I never qualified as an electrician as I went down the IT route but I can rewire a house with no concerns - not that I would as I'm not qualified!!

A friend of mine asked me to review the electrics on his new extension as he is not happy with the work. Here is what I found:

1. None of the back boxes are earthed. Not a failure but poor practice

2. Loose socket back box and broken light box (missing lug).

3. Ring main cable passing through back of lighting back box ( switch box is level with socket in kitchen).

4. Breakers labelled wrong on the new DB.

5. Live wire sticking out the wall with no termination block! I fixed this one as super dangerous.

6. Live wires sticking out the ceiling with no termination block. Also dangerous but out of reach. Not fixed.

7. Armoured cable missing gland and outer casing not earthed.

8. Light switch in bedroom not screwed in to back box. I fixed this one as dangerous.

Photos attached of some of these. The builder did the electrics and signed it all off. There are a number of issues with the extension- not just the electrics. If I was an inspector I would not have passed it! However, poor practice does not necessarily equate to a Part P failure. So my question is do any of the above actually constitute as a failure?

Thanks in advance,
Glenn

 

[timhoward]

Like you say, there are many issues present, but: the 3m rule isn't a reg

Just to clarify, I wasn't meaning DNO rules about tail lengths.
I was talking about the stuff in section 433 regarding position of an overcurrent device, which does mention 3m. (The same bit that allows you to run small conductors from a bus bar chamber to a switched fuse in certain circumstances). Not a regularly cited reg for sure but it's there.

But we unsurprisingly agree that whatever the finer points are it's not up to scratch!

 

[ipf]

nyyj would have single phase colours in 3 core.

Yes, the cable's been prepared before installation, it seems.

 

[brianmoooore]

The best the builder could issue is a EICR with a C2 for the Sub-main

Which is my whole point in #35. The single insulated cables are a C2 with no possible argument.
One C2, and the whole EIC is invalid.

 

[brianmoooore]

Earlier in the thread, the OP refers to the 100A incomer. That ancient electricity meter is clearly marked "40A Max", so that should be the size of the DNO fuse, and the maximum capacity of the supply.

 

[mainline]

There are several issues there but head and shoulders above the others is:
-Supplier fuse is OCPD device for a sub-main (which presumably exceeds 3m) (questionable CCC)
-lack of earthing/correct installation of SWA
-single insulated conductors accessible

Also, the DNO won't like the actual meter seal being cut, he probably was able to wriggle the head fuse carrier out as the top seal has a lot of play that's if he bothered pulling it.

Yeah, don't worry mate I'll sort it jobs a good un.
Happy days.

 

[mainline]

Just to clarify, I wasn't meaning DNO rules about tail lengths.
I was talking about the stuff in section 433 regarding position of an overcurrent device, which does mention 3m. (The same bit that allows you to run small conductors from a bus bar chamber to a switched fuse in certain circumstances). Not a regularly cited reg for sure but it's there.

But we unsurprisingly agree that whatever the finer points are it's not up to scratch!

I agree depending on what's on the end of the Swa and the length at least regarding overload it could be compliant.

 

[mainline]

Earlier in the thread, the OP refers to the 100A incomer. That ancient electricity meter is clearly marked "40A Max", so that should be the size of the DNO fuse, and the maximum capacity of the supply.

People often miss something that's staring you in the face.
Well spotted.

 

[littlespark]

Am I missing something?

There is not an incoming neutral to the meter??

 

[westward10]

It's fed by a split concentric cable.

 

[littlespark]

It's fed by a split concentric cable.

Ah ok... so a split con from the top of the fuse head into the black box with the warning on it just under the meter?

I've just never seen that done around here. always just regular 6181Y tails

 

[brianmoooore]

I've just never seen that done around here. always just regular 6181Y tails

Makes it difficult to shove a meter bypass wire up the incoming live. Have to take it straight from the service head instead.

 

[timhoward]

Am I missing something?

There is not an incoming neutral to the meter??

A few months back I stared for minutes at a similar one and arrived at same conclusion!

 

[westward10]

Yep or it is more likely concentric.

 

[freddo]

Those are standard anti-theft cable assemblies. A selection is shown here.

 

[Dave OCD]

The other amateurish oversight is using the black of the SWA as neutral and grey as the cpc, I come across this fairly often, very irritating.