tests on pir

[aldo95]

Hi there. Doing a pir at the moment and have discovered that all cpcs ,including main earth are connected together wrapped around a nut and bolt in the DB. The neutrals are not marked either. There is no way to tell which wires go together to make each circuit. What would you do in these circumstances in reguards to testing? And what would you write down on the schedules? I had already told the client that marking and identification of DBs are very poor. Any advice welcome. THANKS!

 

[malcolmsanford]

Unlike an EIC the PIR as per the GN3 the tester will carry out tests he fees that arel relevant and therefore you must decide what tests you want to do.

A PIR does not want you to dismantle the installation or if you need to then it's the bare minimum.

Even though the earths are not on a bar and the neutrals are not marked, or even in the right order, what would you normally do? If the cables are T+E then with a bit of fiddling about and great care you should be able to identify what is what. If they are older than T+E ie VIR then you may need to sit down with your client and recommend a rewire.

You set your limitations with the client and do as many tests you can. If there are some circuits you can't identify then you say that on your PIR and code them perhaps a 2 or 3

If you have identified the majority of the cables and ciruits then you should be able to do a fair amount of testing.

The type of CU you have found was very common in the 60's and so the chances are your installtion could be 40-50 yrs old if that board is still in use

 

[Des 56]

http://www.esc.org.uk/pdfs/business-and-community/electrical-industry/BPG4_08.pdf

Take a look at page 8 ( code 3 ) paragraphs 1 and then 5
The presence of a cpc can be confirmed by looking at the circuit
The R1+R2 can be measured without taken the bunch of earths apart
As stated by Malcolm, the Pir is not about stripping down an installation

Code 1 Immediate danger No
Code 2 Improve it because its a potential danger No
Code 3 Not really suitable for domestic Pir and we got a reading that we needed No
Code 4 Doesn't comply,but no big deal,its not going to cause any problem Yes

Thats my opinion and others may interpret things different and may be more correct
But thats what a Pir is,an opinion nothing more

 

[Deleted member 9648]

http://www.esc.org.uk/pdfs/business-and-community/electrical-industry/BPG4_08.pdf

Take a look at page 8 ( code 3 ) paragraphs 1 and then 5
The presence of a cpc can be confirmed by looking at the circuit
The R1+R2 can be measured without taken the bunch of earths apart
As stated by Malcolm, the Pir is not about stripping down an installation

Code 1 Immediate danger No
Code 2 Improve it because its a potential danger No
Code 3 Not really suitable for domestic Pir and we got a reading that we needed No
Code 4 Doesn't comply,but no big deal,its not going to cause any problem Yes

Thats my opinion and others may interpret things different and may be more correct
But thats what a Pir is,an opinion nothing more

Sounds good to me.....

 

[SimpleSimon]

You could still do an insulation resistance test on the whole system. If wiring is that old as stated by Malcolm than that could be a worth while test. Everything can remain in place for that.

I think when you do this each individual circuit is treated in parallel? Can't entirely remember.