new consumer unit certification

[neilyboy]

What certification do I need when replacing a consumer unit ?

Here are the details.

I am semi retired (electrician) and work for a company as the maintenance man which rents out flats as serviced accommodation, we are currently in the process of having the flats (25 of them) tested (fixed wiring testing EICR)

We have brought in an outside company to do the testing and one of the flats will require a board change.

The company have quoted for this and various other C1 and C3 fault rectifications and as well as that have said that the smoke detectors require work done to them as well.

I know that the smoke detectors are out with the scope of an EICR and together with some of the other "faults" they have flagged up I think they are trying to generate income.

Can I change the board myself ? if so what certification would I need bearing in mind all the fixed wiring has been tested and the results logged on the EICR.
We are in scotland and I've trawled tinternet for the answers but its very confusing, is it a minor works certificate needed ? building control informed ?EIC ?
Ta

 

[loz2754]

Your connecting all the circuits to a consumer unit, do you not test all those circuits? What do you put in the schedule of test results, do you just leave it blank... Thats the first time anyone has given that interpretation..

Yes I test all the circuits, but I don't inspect everything as thoroughly as would be required in an EICR.
Perhaps I read something into your post that wasn't there, sorry about that.

 

[Julie.]

AS I said at the start very very confusing ......

It isn't really, it is only when you start looking or getting information about other countries which causes confusion.

You need to look at the information from the Scottish government, all the building regulations are there and lay out when a warrant is needed, don't look at foreign countries, or information it is often different.

 

[neilyboy]

You need to look at the information from the Scottish government, all the building regulations are there and lay out when a warrant is needed, don't look at foreign countries, or information it is often different.

Yep that's exactly what I've done and my understanding is as quoted earlier ie notify building control and they may or may not decide to check it or charge to check it.
When you mean foreign countries do you mean "dan sarf"....

 

[Julie.]

really? I never new this.

It's laid out with the Scottish building regulations, explaining when is, or when isn't a warrant required.

 

[Julie.]

Yep that's exactly what I've done and my understanding is as quoted earlier ie notify building control and they may or may not decide to check it or charge to check it.
When you mean foreign countries do you mean "dan sarf"....

Any other countries other than Scotland!

For some reason people try to imply their local regulations apply wider than their own country, unfortunately there is lots of misinformation out there in the Internet as people write what they know, without explaining that they are applying 'US' or English, or whatever local regulations.

Really bad for DIYers who see nonsense on you tube and think it is OK for them. (Use US techniques or standards in the UK, or visa versa ).

 

[Julie.]

Your connecting all the circuits to a consumer unit, do you not test all those circuits? What do you put in the schedule of test results, do you just leave it blank... Thats the first time anyone has given that interpretation..

When you do a new installation then you must certify that everything is correct to the latest standards, everything from wiring colours, through cables in correct zones, testing etc etc. - you are 100% responsible for every aspect.

If you do a new cu installation, you are only certifying your work, so you can re-utilise the old (incorrect) colours, you don't guarantee that cables are in zones etc.

Obviously all testing is required, as is the proper design of circuits for volt drop, Zs, overload etc. Which may mean you have to split or reconfigure the existing installation if you can't meet the current standards etc.

You are 100% responsible for your work, but not responsible for existing aspects you can't reasonably change or check.

 

[Julie.]

For ease, this attachment shows when a building warrant is/is not required for electrical work.

 

[littlespark]

Before I go any further, I just want to point out, it’s not sweat, it’s pure Scottish talent seeping out our pores…..


Anyway… An EIC is required, but there is a box for “ scope of works” where you fill in it’s just a CU change.
Your EIC should be kept with the EICR to prove the work has been done.

What C1 faults are there? They should be priority for rectifying.

Yes, smoke detectors themselves don’t come under BS7671, just the mains wiring to them, but there are new scottish legislation that they may be bringing to your attention. You didn’t say there was any code against the smoke detectors.

 

[Julie.]

Before I go any further, I just want to point out, it’s not sweat, it’s pure Scottish talent seeping out our pores…..

And English talent, on loan....

 

[pc1966]

For ease, this attachment shows when a building warrant is/is not required for electrical work.

There are some odd things there, such as a warrant being needed for a new socket in a flat, but not for an electric shower (which is more likely to overload, and is in a special area for wiring regs)!

 

[pc1966]

Also can anyone help me parse this statement in @Julie. PDF example document:

Note 2 A building warrant is not required for rewiring where it is a repair or replacement works to a level
equal to the installation (or part thereof) being repaired or replaced.

The first bit "where it is a repair" makes some sense as you are repairing a damaged cable by replacement then hardly a big change. But what is the second aspect saying? To me it sounds like no warrant if you are rewiring to the same size/layout.

But at what point would a rewire be massively different to the original installation? Is it some convoluted way of saying you are putting in a new installation to a building without any significant wiring already?!

 

[Julie.]

There are some odd things there, such as a warrant being needed for a socket in a flat, but not for an electric shower (which is more likely to overload, and is in a special area for wiring regs)!

The overriding principle is that if the work could impact others, then a warrant is needed.

Whether a warrant is required or not, the work still must be done to standard, so the work on an adjoining wall, just like a shower has to comply to the same regulations (all aspects).

Not sure it's odd, as the obligation is the same in terms of standard of work.

 

[pc1966]

The overriding principle is that if the work could impact others, then a warrant is needed.

Yes, the aspect about work on shared walls, etc, makes perfect sense.

Whether a warrant is required or not, the work still must be done to standard, so the work on an adjoining wall, just like a shower has to comply to the same regulations (all aspects).

Agreed, no issue there.

Not sure it's odd, as the obligation is the same in terms of standard of work.

What I'm failing to see is how a new socket is a higher risk to adjoining property than a new electric shower! There will be many locations in a flat where a socket is not on an adjoining wall, and it could be surface mounted rather than chased in.

 

[Julie.]

I take it as pretty much what you are saying, if you replace like for like - perhaps slightly different cable run etc. Then no warrant.

But if the rewire is basically a new design, so say you refirb offices, with new layouts etc then this isn't like for like.

 

[Julie.]

...and it could be surface mounted rather than chased in.

In which case no warrant would be required.


A correctly fitted socket outlet is no different to a correctly fitted shower.

If you adversely impact the adjoining wall, for whatever reason, then a warrant is required