Meb

[jcarlie]

Alright gents, just a quick one.If i am just carrying out alterations or additions and im only filling out a minor works certificate am i obliged to upgrade meb to 10mm if the existing meb is 6mm?

 

[Mac]

16mm mate,or 10mm on a TT systemHi and welcome to the forum as well10mm to the utilities.

 

[jcarlie]

Hi Mac,thanks for the welcome,i know what size meb and main earth conductor should be for new installations,but what im asking is if i am carrying out minor works,additions or alterations and im only completing a minor works certificate,do i have to upgrade the meb to water and gas to 10mm if it is already done in 6mm?

 

[Mac]

Hi Mac,thanks for the welcome,i know what size meb and main earth conductor should be for new installations,but what im asking is if i am carrying out minor works,additions or alterations and im only completing a minor works certificate,do i have to upgrade the meb to water and gas to 10mm if it is already done in 6mm?

Yes you do.All the earthing and bonding will need upgraded

 

[jcarlie]

Cheers Mac,i have been doing anyway but a lad i know was telling me that if you are only doing minor works cerificates and the meb is "not to current standards" then all you need to do is give recommendation to upgrade,you are not obliged to upgrade it as part of your adition or alteration.You would however need to upgrade it if a new circuit or c.unit was being installed,ie when an electrical installation certificate is to be issued.

 

[andekoch]

I thought that if the main bonding was 6mm you could leave it as is. Can't remember where I read that though.

 

[electricAl]

Cheers Mac,i have been doing anyway but a lad i know was telling me that if you are only doing minor works cerificates and the meb is "not to current standards" then all you need to do is give recommendation to upgrade,you are not obliged to upgrade it as part of your adition or alteration.You would however need to upgrade it if a new circuit or c.unit was being installed,ie when an electrical installation certificate is to be issued.

Well, the lad you know did actually know what he was talking about. If you`re with a regulatory body Andekoch, you might want to double check with em, but i`m pretty sure they`ll all tell you as i`ve been told before - as above really... advise your customer of the current requirements, but if they don`t want the bonding upgrading, you can still do the Minor Works providing Earthing conductor is 10mm min M.E.B is min of 6mm
Hope it helps

 

[andekoch]

agreed electricAl. Let the customer know what needs to be done and if it is unsafe then walk away. I recall that the old wylex (rewirable) consumer units dont take an earth larger than 10mm. I remember this from a case where I upgraded the main earth and bonding but had to put a 10mm from the MET to the board since the 16mm would not fit into the earth bar. More advising.

 

[jcarlie]

Cheers lads,i have heard exactly the same as yourself electricAL but have also been told that it had to be upgraded to 10mm as you couldnt leave it in a "sub standard" condition,so i have been upgrading it just to cover my back really.However,since my mate reiterated this point last week it has got me thinking.There have been 2 different opinions on this thread already!

 

[High Tower]

I was under the impression it was subject to a satisfactory calculation??? if a equation was made and it said that a 6mm earth was sufficient then it may remain.

NICEIC confirmed this at the most recent tech talk,

Am i wrong guys ?????