confirmation before contacting NICEIC

[switch10]

Im currently at a friends property, he has just recently had a consumer unit replaced, which he supplied as when he had his gas boiler etc connected the electrician on the job said the fuseboard was faulty.

so he supplied a 4 way non mcb fuseboard, the earth is a tt rod directly below the consumer unit.

however i have noticed that there has been a mains isloation switch fitted with a rcd, but there is no rcd protection fitted on the consumer unit. Just a mains switch, and 4 pull out fuses. looks like an old wylex c/u with the dominoe fuses (sorry cant remember the correct wording)

similar to his old type which is attached. http://www.ctm.co.uk/gallery/Electric/Periodic_inspection_and_testing/Inspection%20The%20consumer%20unit.jpg

what im getting at has this person done wrong as there is no RCD protection on the tt installation? he has noted it on his certificate however that one should be installed. the electrician is with the NICEIEC.

 

[Doc Hudson]

however i have noticed that there has been a mains isolation switch fitted with a rcd, but there is no rcd protection fitted on the consumer unit.

Are you saying there is an RCD isolator switch prior the the CU? in which case the installation is RCD protected. But its not the best practice having only one for whole installation. Can you add a picture Switch10?

Doc H.

 

[switch10]

yes thats correct there is an rcd isloator switch before the c/u , thats what i thought, however i believe he was actually assessed on this property which is why im so concerned that this was allowed. i will try and upload a picture from my phone as havent got camera with me

 

[Andy™]

regs do state that a fault on one circuit should not effect another (or something like that). so an RCD covering everything doesnt comply. but neither does a dual split (and a split load never did comply with 16th).

but from the OP, the most concerning part is

so he supplied a 4 way non mcb fuseboard,

 

[switch10]

please find attached pictures of what there is at the property mentioned. as you will see a very old rcd situated just to the left of the c/u .

 

[switch10]

alos a 3 way consumer unit, not 4 way. and only 2 circuits are used. downstirs/upstairs lights on 1, lights up and down on the other

 

[wozz]

now he is in trouble that isnt a RCD!

 

[PC Electrics]

Can't access those pics, 10!

Also, post #6 would suggest the house only has lights and nothing else. Care to illucidate?

 

[Andy™]

where's the pics?

 

[switch10]

will try and upload pics again, sorry i meant one for upstairs/downstairs lights, and other for downstairs/upstairs sockets.

 

[Andy™]

who installs a fusebox box with 3036's these days?!

 

[switch10]

exactly my point, the installer who was there doing the connections for gas etc, installed it, but im not sure if there is actually a prob with it

 

[Andy™]

what was in before he changed it?

whilst no sane person would install one of these, it can still be compliant with 7671

 

[PC Electrics]

That is not an RCD, it's an old voltage operated earth leakage breaker. They went out of favour in, what, 1982? Way back anyway. Bottom line is they do not comply.

You need to replace it with an RCD toute de suite, mate.

 

[Andy™]

That is not an RCD, it's an old voltage operated earth leakage breaker. They went out of favour in, what, 1982? Way back anyway. Bottom line is they do not comply.You need to replace it with an RCD toute de suite, mate.

^ what he said (second pic wasnt there when i posted earlier).

the CU may comply, but it doesnt have an RCD, so installation doesnt comply.

what does the EIC say?

you should make a complaint to installer first before going to NICEIC (is he definately NIC reg'd or just using the name/logo?)

 

[switch10]

i am currently drafting a letter to the installer, the eic says something along the lines of. Consumer unit supplied by customer installed as emergency work, due to connection to gas boiler was unable to be made due to original consumer unit falling to pieces.

however my friend seems to think the installer ws assessed by someone 2 weeks after installing this. unsure though weather it was NICEIC, although he had NICEIEC logo on I.D badge

 

[PC Electrics]

i am currently drafting a letter to the installer, the eic says something along the lines of. Consumer unit supplied by customer installed as emergency work, due to connection to gas boiler was unable to be made due to original consumer unit falling to pieces. however my friend seems to think the installer ws assessed by someone 2 weeks after installing this. unsure though weather it was NICEIC, although he had NICEIEC logo on I.D badge

I cannot believe that he was assessed by NIC to be either a DI or AC based on this installation. The installation doesn't comply and those words on the EIC really don't cut it.

Have a look at the ESCs BPG for CU changes esp section 7.3 on page 6:

http://esc.org.uk/pdfs/business-and-community/electrical-industry/BPG6_09.pdf

 

[PC Electrics]

Can you attach a scanned copy of the EIC for us to see?

Obviously block out serial numbers and names.

 

[Andy™]

Can you attach a scanned copy of the EIC for us to see?

this should be fun....

 

[switch10]

i have left my friends house, i will try and get him to send me a copy over, or i will most certainly get a copy over the next couple of days,