18th ed Arc Fault Devices - £120 each!

[Gavin John Hyde]

Just watched this video on the GSH youtube channel
Crabtree have released there 2 module Arc Fault device, reckon they will be £120 each and needed on basically all non light circuits.
They dont say specifically but were 'hinting' as the video was likely made last week and would be interested if anybody has there 18th edition books already (mine come early this week) what it actually says.
I can see £120 per circuit adding quite a bit of money to the cost of a new CU.. will be a hard sell to the customer... hopefully the 6 month grace period means they will come down in price quite quickly.

 

[sparkdog]

Sounds like good news.

 

[sparkdog]

Nah, its just domestoc.

 

[westward10]

Nah, its just domestoc.

Agreed, Section 7002.

 

[Risteard]

We need to start a "movement" to block the mandatory introduction of these devices

IMHO and for starters manufacturers should NOT be allowed to advise on ANY of the regs changes

It's an interesting point. I know that the Technical Committee TC2 responsible for the Wiring Rules in the south of Ireland has always prohibited manufacturers from being part of TC2.

Perhaps JPEL/64 should adopt a similar position.

 

[Scotty R]

The Electrical Surveyors at our company have been on seminars regarding the 18th edition and the impending changes. Apparently the TT'ing and Arc protective devices have been put back to amd 1 with the wording changed to "they may be used" due to the controversy caused by having wylex/Crabtree etc honchos on the council deciding the changes and it's getting accused of being a money making scam. Allegedly the arc protective devices are only compatible with the miniature rcbos too which is an added expense.

 

[netblindpaul]

The "TT'ing", well at least adding a supplementary earth rod on all installations regardless of supply type or location, has definitely been put back to Amd1, but it's too late now to prevent that happening.

 

[Octopus]

Perhaps JPEL/64 should adopt a similar position.

There is no perhaps....

Manufacturers should not be involved in any way....

Who chairs JPEL?

 

[JK-Electrical]

I let him get as far as Glasgow, couldn’t be bothered to watch any more.

Ditto. Quite why he felt need to mention the fire at the Glasgow Art School is strange given that the cause of the blaze was flammable gases from a foam canister. Maybe amendment 1 will require Arc Fault Detection Devices to be fitted to cans of expanding foam.

 

[Dillb]

Maybe amendment 1 will require Arc Fault Detection Devices to be fitted to cans of expanding foam.

Be carful of what you say in jest

 

[mattg4321]

There is no perhaps....

Manufacturers should not be involved in any way....

Who chairs JPEL?

Time to bend their ear I think. If enough of us send the same letter/email they may have to take notice.

 

[Octopus]

Time to bend their ear I think. If enough of us send the same letter/email they may have to take notice.

Hum - take a read of this link ....

Interview with John Bradley, Chair of JPEL/64 - https://electrical.------.org/wiring-matters/issues/55/interview-with-john-bradley-chair-of-jpel64/

And pay close attention to the response to this question:

"Can you please take us through your background through to your appointment as Chair of JPEL/64?"

Words like "conflict" and "interest" spring to mind

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Be carful of what you say in jest

Tell me about it.
I really wish I hadn’t mentioned AFFDs to Mark Coles now.
Just cos he’s the IET technical regulations manager now, thinks he knows it all.

 

[netblindpaul]

Spin,
Don't be hard on yourself, the manufacturers were pressing for AFDD's and between them and Certsure, they are the controlling interest on JPEL64.

 

[netblindpaul]

Time to bend their ear I think. If enough of us send the same letter/email they may have to take notice.

Only if it is done during a DPC cycle, else they will take no notice, they are not allowed to, and the DPC cycle for this, the 18th, and Amd1 has already finished.
You will need to watch for the DPC for Amd2 and see what you can influence.
I personally put in over 100 comments on the 18th DPC, but Amd1 was sneaked in under my radar.

 

[mattg4321]

I commented on the 18th, and what a nightmare that was. Designed to be awkward to comment on in my opinion. I doubt they even bother reading the comments, much less consider them.