Departures from bs7671, certification.

[odawire]

Hi, I have always made sure my installs have no departures from bs7671 but I'm doing a ccu change next week and have done some preliminary testing and the heating circuit (boiler and heating controls) has low IR readings, had a look in all obvious places and cant find any problems, had trouble breaking the circuit up as its a bit messy, client has just decorated so he doesn't want any damage to the house, seeing as its all fixed equipment (I'm unsure on the cable routes but id guess its buried less than 50mm at some point) is it acceptable to leave this circuit unprotected and note it on the departures section? all the earthing/bonding is mustard. Any experience on this would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Plonker 3]

In one part of the document it says rcd protection should be required for buried cables, but in another part (and in the regs) it says C3 can be connected to a new CCU, that is a contradiction.

1.No where in the regs does it say that it can be a C3 on a EICR

2. You will be filling in a EIC not a EICR so that totally contradicts what you are saying.

 

[odawire]

1.No where in the regs does it say that it can be a C3 on a EICR

2. You will be filling in a EIC not a EICR so that totally contradicts what you are saying.

I'm refering to it as a C3 (quicker to write) code as it says a fault not causing an imeadiate danger, and thankyou I'm well aware of what certificate I need to fill out, however an EICR is acceptable for a fuseboard change, but NIC says EIC and that's the only reason I do an EIC, BS7671 asks for a EICR.

 

[richy3333]

Typical guidance contradicting itself, once again, this was a question about departures being noted on certificates, and talking about me being in court for leaving dangerous situation, is it impossible to have a normal conversation on this forum?

Yes it is...

 

[richy3333]

I'm refering to it as a C3 (quicker to write) code as it says a fault not causing an imeadiate danger, and thankyou I'm well aware of what certificate I need to fill out, however an EICR is acceptable for a fuseboard change, but NIC says EIC and that's the only reason I do an EIC, BS7671 asks for a EICR.

It's irrelevant what the NICEIC say. A CU change generates an EIC.

 

[Heisenberg]

BS7671 asks for a EICR.

For a board installation In the 'Merry Old Land of Oz' maybe, but not here.

 

[odawire]

For a board installation In the 'Merry Old Land of Oz' maybe, but not here.

Everyone Ive ever spoken to in the industry outside the NIC has maintained a cu change should be a periodic (EICR now) not an EIC I remember being told this at college and also when I did 2391, personally I think either is ok, I don't have the regs in front of me but if memory serves they say something like "suitable certificates should be filled prepared"

 

[Guitarist]

Sorry odawire, but CU change is EIC. Not sure what publications you're reading...

 

[odawire]

Sorry odawire, but CU change is EIC. Not sure what publications you're reading...

I agree with you, but after having this discussion many times with people over the years I've never heard anyone really give a good reason why, the only argument I can really give is beacause im changing the protective device it should be EIC, I'd love if you could clear this up with something from bs7671

 

[DPG]

Surely the clue is in what the acronyms EIC and EICR actually stand for. The clue is right there is it not? Daz

 

[odawire]

Surely the clue is in what the acronyms EIC and EICR actually stand for. The clue is right there is it not? Daz

The new cu is being installed, but the wiring is not, I guy from the EIT told me you should do both! That seems a bit melodramatic to me, also its notifiable work so that's another argument for the EIC

 

[Richard Burns]

If your are installing a new consumer unit then the certification that is required for that job is an Electrical installation certificate.

The process of changing a consumer unit can be fraught with problems because of the state of the attached circuits (as you have found) therefore the ideal situation is to do an EICR on the installation before changing the consumer unit in order to identify any problems. Since most customers will not pay for this the reality is that at least some basic checks will be carried out to identify major problems (usually without any sort of certificate going to the customer but the electrician should record the values).

Advice can then be given to the customer about further work required before the Consumer unit is changed, this allows the electrician and/or customer to decide not to go ahead if they wish and gives full transparency of the process.

Once the Consumer change is agreed the electrician can undertake the work, and then complete an electrical installation certificate for the change (possibly using some of the values obtained from earlier testing where no changes have been made (although the protective devices will have changed)).
And then notify building control through his scheme.

 

[odawire]

If your are installing a new consumer unit then the certification that is required for that job is an Electrical installation certificate.

The process of changing a consumer unit can be fraught with problems because of the state of the attached circuits (as you have found) therefore the ideal situation is to do an EICR on the installation before changing the consumer unit in order to identify any problems. Since most customers will not pay for this the reality is that at least some basic checks will be carried out to identify major problems (usually without any sort of certificate going to the customer but the electrician should record the values).

Advice can then be given to the customer about further work required before the Consumer unit is changed, this allows the electrician and/or customer to decide not to go ahead if they wish and gives full transparency of the process.

Once the Consumer change is agreed the electrician can undertake the work, and then complete an electrical installation certificate for the change (possibly using some of the values obtained from earlier testing where no changes have been made (although the protective devices will have changed)).
And then notify building control through his scheme.

Agreed

 

[Guitarist]

Agreed

Even though everyone you've ever spoken to outside the NIC has told you that it should be an EICR?
You are confusing me now...

 

[Lee Marshall]

Is it not right to do an EIC for the CU change and an EICR for the testing and inspection afterwards? Also if IR test is 7MΩ, it shouldn't be tripping should it?

 

[jeremy]

Changing a CU alters the characteristics of the installation, therefore some form of installation certificate should be issued. It's not a minor works, so it must be an Electrical Installation Certificate ( the clue's in the middle word). You're not reporting on the condition, you're certifying your installation.