Non compliant Meter tails replacement with a non compliant fix!

[bobdabuilda]

Hello all, I am desperate for some advice on a job I had done yesterday by an electrical contractor.

The job was a meter tail replacement and routing to the cu but apparently it does not meet the 17th ed regs. For the sake of brevity the thread I started with relevant pictures of the install, is on this forum Damaged a meter neutral feed cable to CU - DIYnot.com - DIY and Home Improvement.

There have been all manner of answers and irrelevant posts but could a qualified electrician tell me if this install is safe and compliant please?

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 26818]

It doesn't look like the installation complies with current Regulations.
The capping does not look sufficient to provide protection from penetration of the cables from nails and screws, as it appears that the capping is fixed using nails.
It is questionable whether the cables will be at a depth greater than 50mm from the surface of the wall, once the plasterboard is replaced.
The cables are not run in safe zones if they are not at a depth greater than 50mm, and the capping does not provide protection from piercing by nails and screws.
It also appears that there is no 30mA RCD protection, which would not be applicable in any event, as the cables are not run in safe zones.

 

[bobdabuilda]

So it basically contravenes every point of 522.6.6 and 522.6.7 of the 17th edition regs under which it will fall as it has been renewed?

Out of interest his original plan was to tape it with insulation tape and cap it- if he had done this would it have still fallen under 17th edition regs?

 

[DoBBY]

As already stated cables do not look like they are ran in correct zones. The neutral cable must be replaced, not patched with tape. Does not look like cables are 50mm from surface - must be rcd protected. If spark done this call him back

 

[bobdabuilda]

Thanks dobby, the capping isn't earthed either. It was indeed done by a sparks from a national contractor.... Scary eh?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

A repair to the cable would have meant that it did not fall under the current Regulations.
However, the installation never complied with the Regulations, as even the 16th edition which came into force in 1991 required cables at a depth less than 50mm to be in safe zones.
The capping is not required to be earthed, unless it is an exposed-conductive-part.

 

[mechelec]

I would have thought that as you are only repairing the damage you are not altering the circuit so there is no requirement to bring it up to 17th edition regulations. That said it did not comply with 16th edition regulations either (cables run in safe zones). As it is your own house i would suggest you either get the damage repaired properly or run new tails externally from your meter box to the consumer unit in conduit.

 

[bobdabuilda]

Spinlondon- doesn't the metal capping fall under (i) of this?

522.6.6 A cable concealed in
a wall or partition at a
depth of less than 50 mm
from a surface of the wall or
partition shall:
(i) incorporate an earthed
metallic covering which
complies with the
requirements of these
Regulations for a protective
conductor of the circuit
concerned, the cable
complying with BS 5467,
BS 6346, BS 6724, BS 7846,
BS EN 60702-1 or BS 8436, or
(ii) be enclosed in earthed
conduit complying with
BS EN 61386 and satisfying
the requirements of
these Regulations for a
protective conductor, or
(iii) be enclosed in earthed
trunking or ducting
complying with BS EN 50085
and satisfying the
requirements of these
Regulations for a protective
conductor, or
(iv) be mechanically
protected against damage
sufficient to prevent
penetration of the cable by
nails, screws and the like, or
(v) be installed in a zone
within 150 mm from the top
of the wall or partition or
within 150 mm of an
angle formed by two
adjoining walls or
partitions. Where the cable
is connected to a point,
accessory or switchgear on
any surface of the wall or
partition, the cable may be
installed in a zone either
horizontally or vertically, to
the point, accessory or
switchgear. Where the
location of the accessory,
point or switchgear can be determined from the reverse
side, a zone formed on one
side of a wall of 100 mm
thickness or less or
partition of 100 mm
thickness or less extends to
the reverse side.

 

[bobdabuilda]

Thanks mechelec, is there no option other than external tails?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

No, the BS numberes all refer to SWA except for the last which refers to a cable such as flexishield.
The capping falls under:
"(iv) be mechanically protected against damage sufficient to prevent penetration of the cable by nails, screws and the like,"

 

[mechelec]

Thanks mechelec, is there no option other than external tails?

Yes repair the cable to a standard that is as good as or exceeds the original condition and draw some plans of its exact location and leave a set at the CU position and meter box. As far as im concerned you are not doing this for a customer and all you need to do is make sure it is "safe". Thats all I would do in my own house anyway.

 

[johnboy6083]

with regards to the capping spin i would disagree with you on that mate. i reckon i would drill straight through capping, and not even know it was there. that reg IMO is suited to something more substantial, ie steel conduit, steel trunking, or some form of steel plate

 

[Deleted member 26818]

He's not doing it at all mechelec.
He's getting it done by the original house builder, as the didn't do it correctly in the first place.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

with regards to the capping spin i would disagree with you on that mate. i reckon i would drill straight through capping, and not even know it was there. that reg IMO is suited to something more substantial, ie steel conduit, steel trunking, or some form of steel plate

Sorry not explained my self properly.
I have already posted that I do not believe the capping used is suitable as mechanical protection to prevent the cable being penetrated by nails or screws, as it appears to be fixed in place with nails.
The OP stated that 3 layers of capping have been used, and I assume that the installers are of the opinion that this will satisfy the requirement to offer sufficient mechanical protection.
The OP then stated the capping is not earthed.
There is no provision within Regulation 522.6.6 for earthed capping.

 

[bobdabuilda]

Thanks Spinlondon much appreciated.

Mechelec- as spinlondon rightly says, this install has been done by a national electrical contractor for a national builders firm and was done badly to start with. This is their solution.
I am not paying for this as it is down to them to get it right to start with and the same goes for their next attempt at rectification.