3rd amendment board

[Jason Shawcross]

hi all,

i recently did some work for a customer and when quoting i gave them the option of either having a rewire done or just carrying out remedial work and the changes they wanted. they went for the second option as it was more economical.

the work i carried out was the removal of various electrical items and dead end cables and similar things,

i removed the mess of wiring in the garage back to a single socket at the start of the circuit where it entered the garage (the garage is connected to the house) and replaced it with a metal clad socket then added two more in a radial, fused spur for lighting and a fused spur for the boiler.

upstairs i replaced the light fittings, added new cable in between them, moved two sockets and spured a shower from the sockets (shower was heated from central heating but it had lights and a controller)

outside i took the feed from the shed (the shed was disconnected) and terminated it into an adaptable box where it came out the house and used that circuit to feed the outside lights.

i also changed the sub board in an out building and reinstalled two circuits.

however they he had an electrician come in to do their kitchen and the electrician has told them that i should have upgraded their consumer unit to a metal board. as far as im aware since i have only modified the circuits and not added any additional circuits to that board it is fine as is and doesnt "require" an upgrade and the regulations aren't retroactive in this case, am i correct? (the original board is dual rcd plastic) also the room which they are turning into a kitchen has a separate socket circuit in there and a supply to an electric shower which could be used to supply a cooker instead so i cant see a new consumer unit being required in that case either so is the new electrician just trying it on to get more work at their expense?

 

[ProDave]

No it does NOT require an upgrade, just because it is not metal.  It does appear from other threads that some electricians (either through ignorance or other motives) are now telling cutomers they must have a new CU.

I assume the old one has sufficient rcd protection for the alterations you have done? if so there is no requirement to change it.

IF you are changing a CU for any reason, then the new one fitted now must meet Amd 3
 

 

[Sidewinder]

@Jason Shawcross, the "other electrician" either isn't an electrician, is a ****, or is trying to rip them off.

IF, you go on the Electrtical Safety First website, I know that they are not the be all and end all, but, their advice is ratified by all of the "bodies" in the "industry" you can get information to prove that you are right and "he" is wrong.

So, have a good few days off with your family, friends or whomever, and sleep tight in knowing that you are right, and the other person is wrong.

 

[binky]

This is very common BS from some electricians, I've never quite worked out if it is deliberate money grabbing or ignorance, The requirement for metal is also dependent on location within the property,

 

[Andy™]

it would need to be metal if you replaced it, but there is no requirement to change it. I would (and have) add new circuits to a plastic one if there was space

 

[Sidewinder]

it would need to be metal if you replaced it, but there is no requirement to change it. I would (and have) add new circuits to a plastic one if there was space

That is also legitimate Andy, as you are well aware!

 

[Blue Duck]

Adding a new cct to an existing board is only an deviation and should be recorded in the eic.

FWIW

 

[kerching]

As we work to BS 7671 get them to ask the other 'electrician' ( and when i say electrician I actually mean ignorant W️) to,quote the Reg number that says it HAS to be changed! I fear you will have a very long wait

 

[Evans Electric]

Its the usual case of when the Regs change ,  whatever went before must be ripped out and done again to the 15 the  ...16th ...17th   editions.  

We just finished a new build kitchen .     We ran the new circuits through the old house last year ,  so that bedrooms could be re-floored and populated by kids and fitted a new plastic board .    Just last week fitted out and connected.     Did not feel the need to rip out the board we have just fitted to replace with  metal .  Amazingly the board we fitted was still intact after a year , no signs of burning , no smoke rising from it  :C

 

[Tony S]

It happens every time there is a change to BS7671, the sharks scent money to be made.

Your fuse board is illegal, dangerous, a fire risk, will kill your children is perfectly OK.

 

[steptoe]

I had my assessment earlier this year, 

Used a complete domestic rewire, with a plastic CU under the stairs,

Assessor couldn't see an issue, the rewire was started 9years ago on the 27th December 2007, it was designed prior to regs change and I had used a 3 signature form to allow for variations in dates, BTW, I still have more circuits to add, and I won't be changing the board,

 

[ProDave]

I had my assessment earlier this year,

Used a complete domestic rewire, with a plastic CU under the stairs,

Assessor couldn't see an issue, the rewire was started 9years ago on the 27th December 2007, it was designed prior to regs change and I had used a 3 signature form to allow for variations in dates, BTW, I still have more circuits to add, and I won't be changing the board,

That's a useful tip. My new house has a semi plastic CU (Hager, metal back, plastic front) It was installed last years and still only has one circuit, but I "designed" the install last year so I will use the 3 part EIC with appropriate dates.
 

 

[binky]

I like those boards, very useful when you have an odd SWA cable to fit, but still a nice looking  plastic front.

 

[ProDave]

deleted (repeatng myself )