Replacement service head

garyrcross · Apr 15, 2011

Just done a consumer unit change in a domestic property. PSSC was 2.4kA, PEFC was 880A. The problem is that the service head is a 30A BS3036 with a Short circuit capacity of 1kA. Recorded this on the certificate advising the customer to contact the supply company to have the service head upgraded.

They have come back to her saying it will cost her between £1500 and £3000 to install a new service head. Since the service head is their property should she have to pay?

Advice greatly appreciated.

Knobhead · Apr 18, 2011

My first house was fed from an OH supply via a 30A re-wireable cut-out the neutral fed via a Henley block. Not happy with this I had a rummage around the stores at work and found an ancient Henley 60A combined cut-out, better than the one fitted to the house. So I changed it.
If any of you recall http://www.electriciansforums.net/electrical-forum-general-electrical-forum/21227-tingley-taps.html I had to get the supplier in to deal with a fault.
The engineer checking my meter cupboard commented “you don’t believe in seals then?” A bit later he’s giving me strange sideways looks, “I can’t remember NWEB fitting these cut-outs either!” OK I came clean, I’d changed it, and at least I gave him the old one back! He was laughing when he called me a bl**dy idiot and said he would arrange a new 100A unit to be fitted. He was as good as his word, 2 days later they arrived to fit the new unit. But they didn’t give me my unit back.

garyrcross · Apr 18, 2011

Just spoken to NICEIC tech helpline and was pointed in the direction of the ESQCR 2002 regulations Part VII Regulation 24 paragraph 1 (a,b&c) which puts the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the DNO as follows:

24.—(1) A distributor or meter operator shall ensure that each item of his equipment which is on a consumer’s premises but which is not under the control of the consumer (whether forming part of the consumer’s installation or not) is—

(a)suitable for its purpose;

(b)installed and, so far as is reasonably practicable, maintained so as to prevent danger; and

(c)protected by a suitable fusible cut-out or circuit breaker which is situated as close as is reasonably practicable to the supply terminals.

I wonder if I quote this to them they will give in?

Thanks for everyones comments

Gary