Addition to 40 flats

[dave2]

I've been asked to quote for 40 existing flats.

Customer wants 2 extra double sockets and a light switch to be moved as 1 room has been turned into 2.

However the board is an old Wylex and no rcd in sight.I've explained to the customer that the sockets will need to be rcd protected and also that as the light switch will be moved and the cable is to be buried then that cct. will need to be rcd protected also.

He is adamant that i am wrong and has had this confirmed from a friend who, believe it or not, is a 17th edition lecturer and has his own contracting business. This was not even worth an argument and i told the customer to get him to do the job as I only do work correctly.

This would have been a good little earner with plenty more work on the horizon and its a shame to loose this work.

The easiest and cheapest way to do this I believe, would be to put 2 x 30mA rcd fcu external to the wylex board and then alter the cabling accordingly.

Any othe ideas?

Dave2

 

[Zeespark]

Small 4 way board with a 100 amp main switch and relevant sized RCBO's.

Andy

 

[ProDave]

There is in fact a proposal in the forthcoming amendment, that minor works that make a circuit "no less safe" will be exempt from the RCD requirement.

So wait until later in the year, and if that is adopted in the amendment, then you can proceed with the modifications without changing the board.

If it's not adopted, then you will need RCD protection.

Perhaps this is what the lecturer is on about.

But until adopted, we have to abide by what's in the regs now, so at the moment you do need RCD protection.

 

[PaulSC]

Wise words Dave

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Older flats were often wired in steel conduit ?

 

[ProDave]

Older flats were often wired in steel conduit ?

But so would the new wiring to avoid the need for an RCD

 

[scrag]

Extending any circuit does not make it less safe. Rcd protection. It's either mandatory or not. Would you sign it off. Very ambiguous this rcd stuff. Amendments or not IEE regs need to clarify this. I for one would not be happy for the BRB to leave this decision down to installer. It's open for trouble if it ended in court. Sorry for bad English. Done on phone. Lecturer should know better. What subject????? Did he teach. Kitchen fitting maybe

 

[steptoe]

competent is competent,

looks like this lecturer is a case in point,

got all his quals but not competent.

 

[ProDave]

Extending any circuit does not make it less safe. Rcd protection. It's either mandatory or not. Would you sign it off. Very ambiguous this rcd stuff. Amendments or not IEE regs need to clarify this. I for one would not be happy for the BRB to leave this decision down to installer. It's open for trouble if it ended in court. Sorry for bad English. Done on phone. Lecturer should know better. What subject????? Did he teach. Kitchen fitting maybe

I think that's what they are proposing in the amendment.

The DPC, if that's what is adopted for the amendment IS going to clarify this.

411.3.3 © states that additional sockets not already protected by an RCD are exempt from needing an rcd fitted where the designer is satisfied there is no increased risk from the alteration to the circuit.

It seems to me like the (almost blanket) requirements for RCD's have been leading to people fitting stand alone rcd's or doing CU changes, just to allow the minor works to proceed, and the IET have decided this is not what they intended. Hence they are introducing this exception.

However, as always with the wiring regs, things are not that clear cut. This exception specifically refers to SOCKETS. So a new or altered lighting circuit STILL needs an RCD fitted (unless someone can find another exception in the DPC) I wonder if that's what the IET actually intended, or have they, once again left it too ambiguous?

 

[Sidewinder]

The DPC is not yet the ammendment.

We'll have to wait & see if I get an early look at the ammendment I'll report back.

 

[steptoe]

hearsay and rumours are not the law.

 

[Andy™]

Extending any circuit does not make it less safe.

im sure you can easily extend a circuit and make it less safe.

 

[Riggy]

In my experience, the extending of a circuit is the most effective way of making it less safe, particularly if the extension is done by DIY Bob.

 

[Ali]

[quote name='Andy