Rolec EV installation

[Nuttyoak]

Hi all, after some advise please.

I work as a maintenance engineer at a school and recently we had an outside contractor come in and fit an external Rolec EV unit to the outside of our workshop under the grant scheme.

I don't know much about the installation of these units but I did do part P several years ago so I have some electrical understanding. Consequently I do have some concerns about the installation which may be an issue or maybe more likely just my lack of knowledge!

The EV unit has the internal RCD for the AC supply, and the seperate RCD module for any DC injected back into the circuit. It has been installed with an internal isolator, meter and comms box which all seems fine.

However,

1) The contractors installed a new circuit in our DB for the EV supply but there is no test certificate to show results.

2) The unit is installed in our yard where we store gas cylinders and fuel. The charging unit has been installed directly above a metal storage unit that contains gerry cans of petrol. Gas cylinders are housed in a cage about 2 meters away.

3) The earth from the EV unit has been connected to the building's steel rainwater downpipe which goes under the ground but I've no idea how deep the pipe goes.

Are these issues cause for concern?

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Many thanks.

 

[westward10]

I do this all day every day and I wouldn't say anything about it - if I saw this during an inspection I'd just assume it was a bond to the electrical earth as would my colleagues

That could well be a natural assumption, do you never verify this. Would this not be deemed an important part of the inspection??

 

[davesparks]

Do you have a 12 monthly test of the LPS.

Our LPS is required to be tested on an 11 monthly cycle to keep track of any season variations.
Ive never known if this is normal or a peculiarity of our storage license.
[automerge]1575067988[/automerge]

I do this all day every day and I wouldn't say anything about it - if I saw this during an inspection I'd just assume it was a bond to the electrical earth as would my colleagues

But it appears to be undersized for the size of the installation and its above ground when it should be below ground level at an earth rod termination.

 

[Robson689]

That could well be a natural assumption, do you never verify this.

We don't have enough time really, some days I have 5+ inspections to do and if something isn't going to affect the LPS I can't justify investigating further

My view is that it's down to the electrician who made the connection to determine whether it's safe or not

 

[westward10]

It is a requirement of the E&WR 1989 I believe.

 

[davesparks]

We don't have enough time really, some days I have 5+ inspections to do and if something isn't going to affect the LPS I can't justify investigating further

My view is that it's down to the electrician who made the connection to determine whether it's safe or not

How can you thoroughly inspect 5 sites in a day?
How do you know if it isn't going to affect the LPS if you don't investigate?

 

[westward10]

We don't have enough time really, some days I have 5+ inspections to do and if something isn't going to affect the LPS I can't justify investigating further

My view is that it's down to the electrician who made the connection to determine whether it's safe or not

I find that an odd reply as few electricians are conversant with the Regulations you are testing to. I would suggest time factors are not relevant. So knowing the relevant requirements is this an acceptable situation.

 

[Robson689]

Our LPS is required to be tested on an 11 monthly cycle to keep track of any season variations.
Ive never known if this is normal or a peculiarity of our storage license.
[automerge]1575067988[/automerge]


But it appears to be undersized for the size of the installation and its above ground when it should be below ground level at an earth rod termination.

11 monthly is correct to BSEN 62305 to account for seasonal changes in ground conditions as you say.

I don't know if it's undersized because it's for the earthing of the EV charger nothing to do with the LPS but we would connect an EQ bond wherever possible you can't always get it underground.
[automerge]1575069932[/automerge]

How can you thoroughly inspect 5 sites in a day?
How do you know if it isn't going to affect the LPS if you don't investigate?

You just develop the speed over the years. Lightning Protection can be complex on things like refineries which can take weeks to inspect but general systems for example a block of flats with 15 downconductors it would take 30-40 minutes to inspect the air termination network and maybe another 30-40 minutes to test the earth rods. With the recent obsession with compliance testing we are flooded with work and you wouldn't last if you couldn't keep up.

I don't know how to answer your other question, not much shy of vandalism will stop LP from working if it's maintained.
[automerge]1575070401[/automerge]

I find that an odd reply as few electricians are conversant with the Regulations you are testing to. I would suggest time factors are not relevant. So knowing the relevant requirements is this an acceptable situation.

I don't know if it is acceptable or not. I wouldn't bat an eyelid if I saw this on a job but that being said, it is not really appropriate to connect it where it is as it's likely to get disturbed which I guess could cause the EV charger to not be earthed?

 

[Midwest]

Hmmm, interesting. We have a lightning system. In the 15 months I’ve been there, never seen it tested. Are all LPS the same, or is the testing only required for petrochemical establishments for example?

 

[davesparks]

Hmmm, interesting. We have a lightning system. In the 15 months I’ve been there, never seen it tested. Are all LPS the same, or is the testing only required for petrochemical establishments for example?

The BS quoted above covers all installations, so yes they are all the same.

 

[Midwest]

Best I have a look at the CMS then.