Brian_L
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- Nov 22, 2024
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Good morning all. My first posting here and looking for some guidance please.
I have just had a bathroom refitted and part of the refirb. was removal of the existing centre light and fitting of three ip rated LED downlights. So the existing wiring to the former centre light was reused to feed the first of the three downlights and then the second and third lights linked off the first one (Fairly normal so far!). We had an electrician arrive to carry out a minor works test and provide a certificate. He says my existing consumer unit installed under 16th edition when the house was built has to be replaced as A} Its plastic cased and more so B) The lighting circuit feeding the bathroom is via a upper floor MCB and no RCD is in the lighting circuit. Just for note a RCD is in the circuit for three MCBs for all power sockets though.
What should have been a simple and not too expensive minor works test on an altered existing circuit is now a £840 complete replacement of the consumer unit to comply with current 18th edition.
My question is.... Is he correct in demanding that the consumer unit is upgraded to full Anti Surge/RCBOs or RCD for the lighting circuits MCBs or can the bathroom Downlights be tested under a Part P Minor Works heading as it's an alteration to an existing circuit with a C3 note for the existing consumer unit? While upgrading the consumer unit to meet 18th edition requirements is a good idea, I really can't afford the cost of such works currently!
Your views most welcomed.
Regards
Brian
Edit to correct spelling error
I have just had a bathroom refitted and part of the refirb. was removal of the existing centre light and fitting of three ip rated LED downlights. So the existing wiring to the former centre light was reused to feed the first of the three downlights and then the second and third lights linked off the first one (Fairly normal so far!). We had an electrician arrive to carry out a minor works test and provide a certificate. He says my existing consumer unit installed under 16th edition when the house was built has to be replaced as A} Its plastic cased and more so B) The lighting circuit feeding the bathroom is via a upper floor MCB and no RCD is in the lighting circuit. Just for note a RCD is in the circuit for three MCBs for all power sockets though.
What should have been a simple and not too expensive minor works test on an altered existing circuit is now a £840 complete replacement of the consumer unit to comply with current 18th edition.
My question is.... Is he correct in demanding that the consumer unit is upgraded to full Anti Surge/RCBOs or RCD for the lighting circuits MCBs or can the bathroom Downlights be tested under a Part P Minor Works heading as it's an alteration to an existing circuit with a C3 note for the existing consumer unit? While upgrading the consumer unit to meet 18th edition requirements is a good idea, I really can't afford the cost of such works currently!
Your views most welcomed.
Regards
Brian
Edit to correct spelling error
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