Retired sparks- and I don't know this!

[discv]

Hi, recently retired and new to your forum. Have struggled for years with rubbish certificate formats, I am spending my time rewriting some of the worst. Starting with the NIC domestic visual condition. I mean- why in the world does 'Mr & Mrs Householder' care as to the current theoretically required to blow their main fuse sky high? All they want to know is that the level of protection fitted at the origin is correct. A simple Yes / No is all they want to read. And so on. To my question........

A split load board, 16th with 1 RCD, or 17th with 2 RCDs. We have a 'Main switch' and we have 'Circuit breakers'. But what are the Rcds heading up the sub sections called.

Sub main switches/ Secondary main switches? I really don't know.

I want to include these RCDs in my version of a visual condition check list. Are they correctly rated for the part of the installation they protect. Yes/No. Simple.

But what are they called?

 

[Manator]

Hello and welcome to the forum Discv.

You have indeed asked some very thought provoking questions, if I was to take the first point you have raised I would say that any certificate given to anyone who had no electrical training would be confused as to what it all means.

Certificates whilst given to the owner or user of the installation are not intended in principle for them, but for any person who is called upon to carry out any works or maintenance on those circuits covered by the certificate. They are also used to provide a reference for deterioration between intervals of inspections. Therefore the only wording on a visual or EICR that would have any meaning to them would be satisfactory or unsatisfactory. However I do understand your reasons and to some degree agree with a plain English version to to say.

Your next point is a little bit more complicated and I can see various views on the interpretation of what constitutes a switch,isolator or sub mains switch. It is conceivable to have a domestic consumer unit sub divided into main switch and sub main switches, however this would tend to overcomplicate the current system. Split RCD units control more than one circuit as a norm and on some boards could protect as many as 10 separate circuits, I have always disliked the terms 16th edition boards and 17th edition boards because in my view both are at best a compromise to the regulations and if each were taken word for word would still not comply.

I would prefer not to sub divide a consumer unit, but this debate will raise a good few responses, and looks like it will be a long thread.

 

[ProDave]

I have long agreed that certificates based on the BS7671 model forms mean diddly squat to the averge householder.

Most look at it blankly and say "what am I suppoed to do with that"?

No wonder most just get filed in the round filing cabinet never to be seen again and 99.9% of jobs I go to have no previous certificates.

 

[discv]

Thanks Manator for your input. Good points- well made.

However, I view the domestic visual as no more than a 'report' rather than a certificate. And I believe that this should be in a style understood by the end user. I believe it should ring bells- and advise the occupier to seek in depth advice on any issues flagged. Any Sparks worthy of the title would ignore a visual inspection report, other than to note the observations. I hope!

The domestic visual [NIC] asks the BS [EN] of the Primary Supply Over Current Protector. It suggests options including BS88 and BS EN 1361 etc. And then asks 'No. of poles' !!!!!

 

[Evans Electric]

Welcome Discv. You're forgetting that we live in a land of paper pushing meddlers who have to keep messing with the status quo to justify their jobs .

Next year the cert . will demand the make and age of the service fuse, the state of the incoming cable and the sort of wood the meter board is made from .

Thats a another new one on me BTW, The Primary Supply Over Current Protector which I guess is Ballcocks Speak for ..Main Fuse!!

Do we now call it the PSOCP I bet we do .

They'll have to run a course soon for us to learn all the new acronyms .