certification

[MWE]

Need you're help on issuing a cert. In september last year i did a PIR on a property and all inspection and test results were well within spec.Since then I have recently installed a new CU and on testing i now have a N-E IR fault on the lighting circuit. Out of goodwill and no charge I have spent a day trying to locate the fault and have put this down to a short or cross connection at a JB located within the ceiling etc etc. Just on the IR point all loads dimmers everything possible were disconnected and just to double check a 250V test was also carried out with phases to earth conductors were disconected from the CU main switch isolated. What i want to know is if i can still issue an EIC on completion if the lighting circuit is not protected by an RCD as the owner is not willing to rectify the fault as they are saying i should of known about it???? Any ideas or help greatly appreciated.... Back to the cert can i issue one if so what do i state on it???

 

[IQ Electrical]

Your EIC will be limited to 'installation of new consumer unit only' and the fault will be listed in 'comments on the existing installation'.

 

[MWE]

HI THANKS FOR REPLY IS THIS ACCEPTABLE THOUGH AS I HAVE HAD TO FIT THE LIGHTING CIRCUIT TO THE UNPROTECTED SIDE OF THE CU??? wHAT DO I PUT IN THE DETAILS OF DEPARTURES FROM BS7671 2008??

 

[Deleted member 26818]

You don't put anything under departures.
Unless you intend installing something that departs/doesn't comply, but offers the same degree of safety as would be achieved if you were to comply.
If this fault is existing, then as IQ has already stated, it is just noted on the EIC under comments about the existing installation.
Have you tried putting both lighting circuits on the same RCD to eliminate a possible borowed neutral?

 

[IQ Electrical]

Good advice from Spin on the borrowed neutral possibility.

 

[MWE]

HI there is only one lighting circuit supplying the 3 floors, I explained to the owner it would be wise to break the circuit down to cover each floor or at least 2 but not interested same old it worked before!!!.

 

[Octopus]

Out of interest what is the IR reading on the faulty circuit? and it sounds like you were lucky installing a high integrity board and having non RCD protected space available.

 

[PC Electrics]

Since then I have recently installed a new CU and on testing i now have a N-E IR fault on the lighting circuit.

So you've already installed the CU?

What is the IR reading you're getting?

If the fault is a low enough resistance to cause RCD tripping (<10k ish) then you cannot finish the job as you will be unable to ensure compliance by connecting the circuit to an RCD (there are bound to be buried cables). You will have to leave the circuit disconnected - or you shouldn't have done the CU change without agreement to rectify.

 

[MWE]

IR Reading is .000 N-E 172 L-N 204 L-E Out of interest what is the IR reading on the faulty circuit? (MURDOCH) and it sounds like you were lucky installing a high integrity board and having non RCD protected space available. HI Integ wylex boards have space for non RCD protected circuits after the main switch???

 

[MWE]

(PC ELECTRICS)If the fault is a low enough resistance to cause RCD tripping (<10k ish) then you cannot finish the job as you will be unable to ensure compliance by connecting the circuit to an RCD (there are bound to be buried cables). You will have to leave the circuit disconnected - or you shouldn't have done the CU change without agreement to rectify. The reason the job got started was previously i had done a pir on the property and all the circuits were within spec,just goes to show a few month down the line and a fault occurs. Conflicting information on certification then can i or cant i

 

[Octopus]

Even if the circuits were OK you need to inform your client that faults may be found and costs may be higher.

Did you install a high integrity CU?

 

[tony mc]

Since the PIR they hav't had any light fittings or switches fitted or maybe some decoration as its always possible the neutral is nicked at the switch or faulty light fitting causing the N-E low IR

 

[Simon81]

(PC ELECTRICS)If the fault is a low enough resistance to cause RCD tripping (

 

[1shortcircuit]

just goes to show a few month down the line and a fault occurs

Shame you haven't yet diagnosed the fault because imagine if it turned out to be damaged caused by another tradesman that has done work on the property? Obviously when asked I'm sure it would be the sort of thing to slip the owners mind

 

[MWE]

Hi i have been through every switch every light fitting checking resistance,somewhere in the ceiling void there are JB'S as there are no loops on any of the light fittings only 1 T&E to each one. Belive there is a nuetral connected to earth or vice-versa... The question still remains though the owner does'nt want to incur any other cost in fault finding and disruption throughout the property... So am i able to issue a cert??? conflicting information on here ???

 

[2391bob]

Need you're help on issuing a cert. In september last year i did a PIR on a property and all inspection and test results were well within spec.Since then I have recently installed a new CU and on testing i now have a N-E IR fault on the lighting circuit. Out of goodwill and no charge I have spent a day trying to locate the fault and have put this down to a short or cross connection at a JB located within the ceiling etc etc. Just on the IR point all loads dimmers everything possible were disconnected and just to double check a 250V test was also carried out with phases to earth conductors were disconected from the CU main switch isolated. What i want to know is if i can still issue an EIC on completion if the lighting circuit is not protected by an RCD as the owner is not willing to rectify the fault as they are saying i should of known about it???? Any ideas or help greatly appreciated.... Back to the cert can i issue one if so what do i state on it???What's rhe N-E fault IR test results?

 

[MWE]

What's rhe N-E fault IR test results? .000 METREL 61557

 

[tony mc]

You really need to come off IR testing range and see what the reading is when set on Ohms as on the IR range it will not read anything under 10000 Ohms it will just give you 0.00

When fault finding this will give you a better idea of where to look on the cct as the nearer the fault the lower the reading will be.
230/0.03 = 7666 Ohms

So if your reading is around that or lower there is a good chance the RCD will not hold.

Hope that makes sense