jason

[bathroomj]

hi iv just passed my testing and inspection, could not have started with a worse job
the first EICR I went to was in a flat in south London. at present I have no access to the supply board in the corridor which houses the main fuse so have no idea of fuse supply or earthing arrangement. spent a hour on the phone trying to get access. The supply cables to the meter from outside are only 6mm and 4mm earth. There are no rcds in flat and a old fuse board built into the wall. cant even get to the earth coming into the board as it is behind the main live in. where do I start ? :sad3:

 

[Richard Burns]

Welcome to the forum.
Welcome also to the fun and joy of electrical inspections!

You really do need access to the main incoming supply to verify earthing arrangements and fuse (possible) size, however if this is denied you then you need to specify this to the person ordering the report and indicate the level to which this limits the suitability of the report and note it in the agreed limitations section.

If you cannot remove the main earth then if you can get to the earth bar then you could just remove all earths and bonding and then use the earth bar as the main earth connection. But do note down that accessibility for the main earth connection is not good.

Because the location is on old flat in London then it is possible the flat has only a 40A supply which could account for the small tails size.
Remember that you can perform most inspections and testing of the circuits without too much difficulty, so start going through that, they will be the most likely things to have problems and are probably the most relevant.

Be prepared to meet similar again and possibly on a regular basis, unfortunately.

Good luck.

 

[bathroomj]

Thanks for the reply as this is a rented flat was going to recommend fitting a new board with rcd after speaking to napit today they informed me I would have to upgrade the meter tails and the tails entering the flat. If I did change the board without doing the upgrade how do I cover my self for notification.

 

[davesparks]

Thanks for the reply as this is a rented flat was going to recommend fitting a new board with rcd after speaking to napit today they informed me I would have to upgrade the meter tails and the tails entering the flat. If I did change the board without doing the upgrade how do I cover my self for notification.

Don't you think you should complete the ice before making these recommendations? After all it may come out in satisfactory condition

 

[bathroomj]

Will carry out report first when I can get into cupboard, As this is a rented property I thought it should have rcd as part of hmo.

 

[Octopus]

Thanks for the reply as this is a rented flat was going to recommend fitting a new board with rcd after speaking to napit today they informed me I would have to upgrade the meter tails and the tails entering the flat. If I did change the board without doing the upgrade how do I cover my self for notification.

So.... Napit say.... hum

the flat has BS3036 wired fuses, no rcd and the tails from the incomer are questionable.... so is changing the CU, adding RCD's and MCB's going to make it safer?

These so called schemes do have their heads in the sand.... some installations do have issues you can't resolve, BUT your responsibility is to make the situation safer.

Its called a judgement call, and for me making a site safer is VIP.

ALL certificates have notes or comments sections..... and a description of the works. Use these areas thoroughly and constructively.

Tin hat on.

 

[bathroomj]

I think I was a happier spark before I started testing !

 

[Richard Burns]

Napit have advised that the meter tails and the tails to the flat require upgrading, however Napit have no knowledge of the length of those tails or the protection that is at the service head so this may not be necessary.
Also upgrading the meter tails is not easy as whilst they may be the property theoretically of the owner in practice they are supplied and fitted by the electricity supplier, changing any of the tails may well require the suppliers attendance, though the tails to the consumer unit may be under the control of the building owner.
Upgrading the earth may be necessary, but it is on the verge of possibility that the supply is TT (not very likely at all in London) and so the earth may be OK.

Until you know the supply information you cannot make a judgement or a decision on what is required.

If all else failed then you could provide a 40A fuse (or 40A MCB, perhaps) at the incoming tails as backward fusing protection of the tails, but this would be unconventional in domestic and could cause problems.

Whilst providing 30mA RCD protection would be a good idea there is no requirement on the owner to do so, and until they agree to this I would not be planning to do it unless you have been given carte blanche to proceed with any changes you feel necessary!

 

[Hobsoni]

Perhaps I'm missing something........I have been away from UK electrical work for a few years. But why would there be no requirement for the owner to install an RCD?

 

[Richard Burns]

It would be very advisable for the owner to arrange 30mA RCD protection, but there is no requirement in BS7671 to upgrade existing installations to the current regulations.
There may be requirements from the owners insurance company, especially if the property is being rented out, that restrict cover unless observations on an EICR are resolved, but this would be down to specific circumstances.

 

[bigspark17]

Hi jason, is there equapotential bonding in place.? And if so is this taken to MET or emt in db.? I undertand you dont have access to dno cupbord, this should be discussed before work starts that you need access all areas.

 

[bathroomj]

managed to get into cupboard of db today all bonding is through conduit so no cable. supply fuse is a 60a type 2 cables that run to flat are only 6mm at best running in a conduit. They are designed to carry 41A according to table 4d1a. still havnt carried out any testing !