Test and inspection of industrial premise

[gazroberts]

Hi, I am new to this forum and wanting some advise on coding for a inspection and test on a industrial installation. I am a C&G qualified electrician with 17th and 2391 qualification. it is quite old installation around 1950's to date and hasn't been inspected before it has a mixture of lead sheath, v.i.r's conduits and s.w.a's. One questions is how many sub mains is acceptable, ie I have the 1600A main switch in the sub with a 200A switch feeding a 200A board, feeding a 100A board, feeding a 32A board feeding a 15Amp board (of which gas rings mains off it (with 30A fuse wire in a 15A fuse). is this breaking any regulation? I would only normal run 1 sub main from the original board. Should each submain have its own isolator / main switch, these are the Bill or MEM type 3036 rewirables that don't have built in main switches, if so what code. What code would you give a horizontal run of conduit with insufficient supports i.e every 3m between purlins. this also has extra weight of light fittings on it and is physically bowing. I have S.W.A's with unrecognised installation method for example zip tied to pipes or conduits or anything else for that mater, that's if they are tied to anything. what would I record if a circuit has two types of wiring for example a 3 phase circuit consisting of 4 single M.I.C.C's joined to a Lead sheath cable of different conductor sizes, or a 4core 4mm S.W.A joined to a singles 2.5mm conduit system. to be honest a lot of it needs ripping out just trying to back up my argument. Any help much appreciated. Gaz

 

[gazroberts]

To be honest most of the faults im finding are due to poor workmanship, and bad practice.

 

[Guest55]

i'd get assistance from someone with additional inspecting experience to be honest.

 

[plugsandsparks]

Not fully sure what the issue is that you are describing but if you are doing industrial, you will get used to seeing cascading of boards often ending up with a small SP board. Yes discrimination can get lost on the way as you have found. C3 unless you can find some danger that may exist from the wrong board tripping.
As for containment and erection - depends whether it looks like its ready to fall down or not could be C1, C2 or C3. Just use your judgement, i.e. C1 danger immediately apparent, C2 dangerous under fault conditions, C3 improvement recommended.

 

[gazroberts]

So "cascading" of boards is Ok then (I have seen this done loads of times but that doesn't always make it ok, I have seen lots of thing done loads of time), should each board have its own isolator next to the board (so that it can be isolated locally) or is it acceptable to put a "isolate elsewhere" label on it. im just thinking a modern board would have its own main switch. As for two different types of wiring for example a 10mm pyro joined to a 10mm s.w.a (with different current carrying capacities) or a 4mm s.w.a joint to 2.5mm conduit without fusing down. (even if the fuse had been selected for the smallest cable) what code would you give that?

 

[gazroberts]

i'd get assistance from someone with additional inspecting experience to be honest.

T
Thats why I have come on here for advice. I am a competent electrician of 15 years. im just getting advice to make sure that im not being pedantic about a few things, its just I like things to be right if im putting my name to it. but thanks for the response anyway. :hurray:

 

[MDJ]

. I am a C&G qualified electrician with 17th and 2391 qualification.

Out of interest what actual Electricians qualifications have you got? Not being sarcastic at all honestly, just wondering??

 

[IQ Electrical]

So "cascading" of boards is Ok then (I have seen this done loads of times but that doesn't always make it ok, I have seen lots of thing done loads of time), should each board have its own isolator next to the board (so that it can be isolated locally) or is it acceptable to put a "isolate elsewhere" label on it. im just thinking a modern board would have its own main switch. As for two different types of wiring for example a 10mm pyro joined to a 10mm s.w.a (with different current carrying capacities) or a 4mm s.w.a joint to 2.5mm conduit without fusing down. (even if the fuse had been selected for the smallest cable) what code would you give that?

From the questions you are asking, it doesn't sound like you have any industrial experience-do you know anyone with industrial experience that can help you?

It's often the case on larger installations where the 'leg' from the DB will be a higher CSA before gradually reducing to allow for volt drop etc. as long as the protective device is rated to suit the lowest CSA then there is no code (why would there be?)

GN3:-

1.2 Required competence
The inspector carrying out the inspection and testing of any electrical
installation must, as appropriate to his or her function, have a sound
knowledge and experience relevant to the nature of the installation being
inspected and tested, and BS 7671 and other relevant technical standards.
The inspector must also be fully versed in the inspection and testing
procedures and employ suitable testing equipment during the inspection
and testing process.

Not 'having a go' but you are being paid for your expertise and experience.

 

[Guest55]

Out of interest what actual Electricians qualifications have you got? Not being sarcastic at all honestly, just wondering??

qualifications dont mean squat on an industrial inspection to be honest , no ticket will give you the necessary experience to undertake this kind of work.

 

[MDJ]

qualifications dont mean squat on an industrial inspection to be honest , no ticket will give you the necessary experience to undertake this kind of work.

Rollocks, you need to understand electrical installations to carry out this work Troll :sleep1:anyway that question was nothing to do with the answer you gave, just wondered thats all.

 

[Brightspark2]

As for two different types of wiring for example a 10mm pyro joined to a 10mm s.w.a (with different current carrying capacities) or a 4mm s.w.a joint to 2.5mm conduit without fusing down. (even if the fuse had been selected for the smallest cable) what code would you give that?

None. You can use more than one cable type in a circuit. CCC too as long as the OPD is correct for the smallest type.

Most of the other things are just bad practice but nothing actually wrong, like cable tieing SWA. It's just clipped direct basically if along another cable on a wall etc.

 

[gazroberts]

Out of interest what actual Electricians qualifications have you got? Not being sarcastic at all honestly, just wondering??

C&G 1, 2 and C certificate and ONC in electrical engineering, 16th edition and 17th update, test and inspection 2391, pat testing, Compex Ex1 - 4 and a 50 meter swimming badge. I have only ever done industrial.

 

[MDJ]

C&G 1, 2 and C certificate and ONC in electrical engineering, 16th edition and 17th update, test and inspection 2391, pat testing, Compex Ex1 - 4 and a 50 meter swimming badge. I have only ever done industrial.

Fair play, I was wondering as you were doing a HNC, interested in this myself, Thanks M8, how do you find the course?

 

[gazroberts]

None. You can use more than one cable type in a circuit. CCC too as long as the OPD is correct for the smallest type.

Most of the other things are just bad practice but nothing actually wrong, like cable tieing SWA. It's just clipped direct basically if along another cable on a wall etc.

Thanks this was the answer I was looking for

 

[MDJ]

C&G 1, 2 and C certificate and ONC in electrical engineering, 16th edition and 17th update, test and inspection 2391, pat testing, Compex Ex1 - 4 and a 50 meter swimming badge. I have only ever done industrial.

By the way I have my 1 mile swimming badge and am probably fatter than you :hurray: