nic assesment....helpppp!!! pls

[egginyourface]

evening all,

i have my nic assessment in a few days and have a couple of questions.

1st of all it says i need memorandum of guidance on the electricity at work regs... does anyone know where i can get this.

2nd approved part p document... where can i get this?

3rd thing that is bugging me is Im using my parents house as example as ive changed their consumer unit, upgraded bonding and added a few new lights and sockets. I tested the whole install and found that there was no r1+r2 continuity on the existing upstairs lighting circuit.

do i just make a note of this on test sheet and point it out to the assessor? or is he gona say i need to rewire lighting before i can be accepted?

and what does it take for the assessor to turn around and say " this is a failiure!!"

 

[ezzzekiel]

label the db and write up test sheet as no cpc on lighting and only class 2 fittings to be used although ideally i would rewire or run in a new cpc - not difficult and good practice.

the documents you require can be downloaded , will check to see if i got copies but wouldnt worry about it they shouldnt be too concerned about them.

 

[Doomed]

I tested the whole install and found that there was no r1+r2 continuity on the existing upstairs lighting circuit.

And yet there was a cpc at the consumer unit? and you were happy with this?

Before we continue may I ask how long ago did you qualify from college and what course did you undertake, this knowledge will help us answer your question in the most helpful manner for your situation.

 

[bugsy]

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADP_2006.pdf Electricity at work: Safe working practices - HSG85

You will need these, he will want to see a copy of each , as with the install if there is a cpc you should get r1+r2

 

[alanl]

I found the assessment the hardest thing I have done for years. 2 hours of being grilled.
Get a notepad and make a list of where to find things in the OSG. I was fumbling back and forward trying to find things, getting flustered, then still not finding them!
Know your tester inside out. So you know what leads to use for any test, and how to do it without having to get the manual out.
Dont guess at a question. Say you are not sure, and you need to check in (usually) the OSG. This is where a few notes giving relevant page numbers helps - e.g. know where maximum Zs and Ze values are.
Get prepared at least a day in advance. Rushing round on the day will not help, it'll just hinder you.

Good luck.
alan.

 

[telectrix]

do you mean R1+R2? don't get mixed up r1 etc. refers to end/end continuity of a ring final. if it's R1+R2 not reading on the lights, it could be just down to a broken connection in a fitting or a fitting replaced without connecting the cpc. check all fittings and measure from one to another to find the break. before deciding whether to rewire the circuit.

 

[egginyourface]

I finished college about a year ago, did the level2 and 3 over 3 years course and have been in the game for nearly 4 and half years.

there was a cpc in the consumer unit. i connected r1 into earth bar...r1+r2 test. then went round to every point at lighting and switches and had nothing. changed all effected points to plastic switches and cieling rosses etc. checked every where and cant find any loose connections. told my dad we're going to rewire lighting before we put the old metal fan light fittings back up!!

everything else measures out perfect. example is when i began working on replacing board found 5x 2.5 in 1 32 amp mcb. in the end it turned out previous electrician who wired the kitchen didnt bother closing the kitchen ring circuit and found loose ends under kitchen cabinet. closed off ring. traced other 2 legs and found they were not closed off in some sockets either. and final was a radial circuit.

borrowed neutrals on lighting cicuits, no earth sleeving, grommets missing, and high resistance reading from some of the double sockets poss due to cheap sockets. sorted all of them out

was an absoloute nightmare.

 

[egginyourface]

sorry if i didnt make it clear, but the only circuit that didn't have a continuous earth reading was the lighting circuit.

 

[tonys]

What are the switch back boxes, metal are they?

 

[TPES]

there was a cpc in the consumer unit. i connected r1 into earth bar...r1+r2 test. then went round to every point at lighting and switches and had nothing.
was an absoloute nightmare.

So there is a CPC in the CU for lighting circuit, yet no reading at all from any light or switch. Try the very first light point from the CU. If there is still no continuity reading at the very first point then your CPC is more than likely broke at the board. My bet is right up tight where it's been striped back and sleeved over. Or snagged on entering the board.

That CPC must be going somewhere

 

[tony mc]

Looks like your going to get some valuable testing experiance and fault finding at your parents house.

Good luck with the assessment.

 

[egginyourface]

i checked every accessible point, no loose connection or earth sleeving. gf has continuity, only upstairs not continous. back boxes are metal with plastic screw lugs if u know wat i mean.

will the assessor see this as a big issue?

ive been looking for an excuse to rewire place, looks like this is it.

 

[tony mc]

No as long as you mark the CU with the approprate notice re the lack of CPC on the circuit.

The ESC have a free download re consumer unit change with no lighting CPC.

As long as you remove the class 1 fittings at the light and the switches you will be fine which you have done.

Make sure your CU has all the nessasary sticker RCD T etc and your bonding clamps are all on with lables.

Also document the above on the EIC.

 

[tonys]

back boxes are metal with plastic screw lugs if u know wat i mean.

I do mate, them boxes are about 50 years old lol

 

[Short Circuit]

View attachment MemoGEAW.pdf View attachment HSE.pdf View attachment Part P.pdf

hopefully these files are that you are looking for ( if i can manage to upload them!)

Good luck with the assessment

 

[pushrod]

i checked every accessible point, no loose connection or earth sleeving. gf has continuity, only upstairs not continous. back boxes are metal with plastic screw lugs if u know wat i mean.

will the assessor see this as a big issue?

.

So are you saying that all the lights are on one circuit and that there is a cpc at the CU but no continuity once you get upstairs? Or are you saying the upstairs has been wired in 2 core that does not have a cpc as was done for 13th(?) edition.

If it is the first case then this problem should really be dealt with before you change the CU and doesn't look good at all and very bad if there are class 1 fittings being used. If it is the second not so much of a problem as long as there are no class 1 fittings anywhere on the circuit and you are recommending a rewire.

 

[sonobit]

If there is an earth at the lights and switches start testing cont of earth in between all the lights and switches and board and you will then narrow down which leg of the circuit has the break, then try to put in a new leg or earth. Its obvious the break is in the first leg from the board you just need to figure out where the first leg goes and are there any other breaks.

 

[telectrix]

back boxes with plastic lugs were used when the lighting was wired in twin with no cpc. if you now have T/E then it's been rewired at some time. obviously the cpc is not continuous. get a long fly lead and measure from CU the nearest light ( or switch ) and go from there till you find the breaK.