Minor works?

[Grant Naylor]

A friend has a detached garage with a dedicated circuit for the garage light and an outside security light.

From the notes under Part P it says:
Notification is not required if wiring to such outdoor equipment; (i) is not a new circuit, and (ii) passes directly through an outside wall in to the equipment, and (iii) is not an extension to a special location orkitchen circuit.

So since
i) = no it isn't as there is a dedicated 16A Type B MCB already here for an existing light circuit
ii) = outside lights attached to the outside of the garage and the wiring will pass directly into the accessory with appropriate IP ratings.
iii) = it is not an extension of a notifiable location (see i)

As I am not yet part of a registered competent person scheme I wanted to check if you think this is Minor Works? I am assuming it is

 

[Guest123]

You havn't actually stated what it is you intend doing......

 

[Grant Naylor]

Running off the existing light circuit in the garage, installing two outside lights attached to the garage wall (switch will be internal).

 

[telectrix]

looking at what you have got, the outside lights should come via a 3A or 5A FCU ( which can double as the switch) and it is not notifiable, just MWC.

 

[Grant Naylor]

Thanks. Can I ask why the need for the FCU as not come across this before for lights? The whole circuit has RCD protection and the cable can easily take the load for the MCB?

 

[telectrix]

if you are wiring in 1.5mm, that's just on the limit with a 16A MCB. don't forget that the MCB will hold at approx. 1.45 x rated current for an hour.

 

[c.j]

As telctrix has mentioned, on a good day 1.5 will cope with 16A, but check firstly size of cable and secondly whether the lights are the only items being supplied. If only lighting, either (as suggested by telectix) fit FSC or change MCB for 6A. MWC maybe needed

 

[flukey]

i thought garden lighting was notifiable ??

 

[telectrix]

i thought garden lighting was notifiable ??

not if attached to the building from which it is fed.

 

[Grant Naylor]

Again thanks, hand't appreciated that. Installation will be 1.5mm clipped direct (Method C) so I was assuming 20A. There is no thermal insulation, group etc.

 

[flukey]

not if attached to the building from which it is fed.

every days a school day, any chance of the reg on that please mate??

 

[telectrix]

most outside lights are designed for flex . flex is also better at resisting UV damage. if fused down to 3A/5A you can use 0.75mm or 1.0mm flex, and it looks better on the wall than T/E

 

[Grant Naylor]

every days a school day, any chance of the reg on that please mate??

It's not in the "regs" its part of Part P - see additional notes for Table 1 and 2.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

every days a school day, any chance of the reg on that please mate??

Under additional notes (page 8) notes e, and f indicate atteched and detached garages are not considered special locations.
Then on the next page under General guidance note i, it states:"The installation of equipment attached to the outside wall of a house (for example security lighting, air conditioning equipment and radon fans) is not notifiable provided there are no exposed outdoor connections and the work does not involve the installationof a new circuit or the extension of a circuit in a kitchen or special location or associated with a special location."

 

[Grant Naylor]

As telctrix has mentioned, on a good day 1.5 will cope with 16A, but check firstly size of cable and secondly whether the lights are the only items being supplied. If only lighting, either (as suggested by telectix) fit FSC or change MCB for 6A. MWC maybe needed

Hmm, well there were some sockets in there from an FCU that I assumed was 13A but didn't look at that as I was around there replacing the old security light as the PIR had failed. So won't be changing the MCB I guess. The old security light and current garage pendant light don't run off a 3A FCU should they be doing?

Oh and another thing... thought the lowest MCB for a socket was 20A or will the FCU take care of that?

Current cable is 1.5/1.0 T+E