TN-S Code Two??

[gap30]

Was talking to a friend earlier about the number of installs i have been to recently with no main earth, he told me that the NICEIC are now saying any TN-S with no soldered connection (earth clamp on metal sheath etc) should be made into a TT and Code 2 it, bear in mind this is for a large social housing company. I recently discussed this myself on my 12 month NICEIC renewal and was told roughly the same thing. Anyway i have reported this several times to Scottish Power on some consumer unit upgrades, when i have spoken to guys from Scottish Power about this they are happy with an earth clamp in most cases.

My friend reckons the NICEIC are soon going to insist on this.

I always thought another way around this was to use a Hepworth clamp (have never done so myself tbh)

Thoughts anyone?

 

[telectrix]

since when did niceic become responsible for DNO equipment?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Standard earth clamp will not provide a long term good connection and is possibly dangerous due to the pressure exerted on a lead sheath...(potential for fireworks is considerable if over tightened)....I agree with the NIC.

 

[chrish_1977]

Surely if the dno says that it's fine, and as we are not allowed to touch their equipment why are the nic sticking their mits where it's not their or our domain?

 

[ste77]

The DNO have their own regulations that the NICEIC have no input to, they can insist all they want but i bet they get ignored

 

[telectrix]

Standard earth clamp will not provide a long term good connection and is possibly dangerous due to the pressure exerted on a lead sheath...(potential for fireworks is considerable if over tightened)....I agree with the NIC.

i agree that it's not ideal, but it's DNO responsibility, not niceic. if DNO are happy.......

 

[gap30]

Just got me thinking, i will be honest i always install an earth clamp to make it a million times safer if there is no main earth

 

[Toby Kuhnert]

Surely the TN-S clamp is the property and responsibility of Scottish Power?... Thus not being within the NICEIC's "scope"? I was at a commercial job the other day where the TN-S had been taken off the lead sheath using a BS951 clamp. The DNO came in to look at the other main intakes in the building and also had a look at the TN-S connection, and didn't blink an eyelid and said it was fine. Maybe different DNO's may have different opinions on the whole BS951 vs Hepworth...?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

i agree that it's not ideal, but it's DNO responsibility, not niceic. if DNO are happy.......

Yes but the OP concerns coding an existing install....and I'd code the main earth with a standard clamp on a lead sheath a 2.

 

[telectrix]

well, i've never seen an incoming cable damaged by a BS951. not saying that it could not happen. here at home it's done that way and we're all still living. :20:

 

[gap30]

I have literally done it a thousand times and never had one comeback but always a little bit wary when i do it not to over tighten too much

 

[Deleted member 9648]

well, i've never seen an incoming cable damaged by a BS951. not saying that it could not happen. here at home it's done that way and we're all still living. :20:

My parents place has one too....but I've seen loads of 'em that are loose and I'll be ****** if I'm going to wind them up tight.

 

[Guest55]

let me get this straight........

Nic say if you find tns earth connection by means of compression clamp then you cant rely on the integrity of that connection and should convert to TT.

ok , understand that clearly.

then Nic say code it a 2 ??

well if you've then provided your own earth then surely no code for the tns clamp as the dno earth is no longer relied upon ??

not thought through well was it lol.

 

[telectrix]

the only thing niceic think through properly is ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££s

 

[trev]

Just got me thinking, i will be honest i always install an earth clamp to make it a million times safer if there is no main earth

Un bloody believable!