EICR's and previous editions of Regs

[Devonchris]

Reading the recent post about the barber shop and no RCDs I was wondering,

If an installation was satisfactory under a previous edition of Regs. And if no alterations have been made to it, or no other problems are evident, since installation, is it still satisfactory and therefore can't be coded C1 or C2?

If someone carrying out the EICR has no knowledge or experience of previous editions of the regs, then how would they know if it was satisfactory?

Or are previous editions dealt with on the short courses for testing and inspection qualifications?

Should someone carrying out an EICR be overly concerned about what may or may not be plugged into a socket, to the extent that they would code the installation unsatisfactory even though it was previously ok.

I'm not getting involved in any of this, it's just that there seems to be a lack of any concensus of opinion. Which from a customer's point of view is disappointing.

 

[westward10]

The reason for so many mixed messages is probably because a huge percentage of people doing EICRs are not competent or experienced enough to be doing them. That is clear from this forum by the questions of "how do you Code this that and tother", questions you shouldn't even be asking.

 

[suffolkspark]

you test & inspect to the current edition of the regs, the most important point to remember is you want to sleep at night

 

[Octopus]

a C1 has nothing to do with the version of the regs - this is some immediately dangerous..................

 

[Ian1981]

Reading the recent post about the barber shop and no RCDs I was wondering,

If an installation was satisfactory under a previous edition of Regs. And if no alterations have been made to it, or no other problems are evident, since installation, is it still satisfactory and therefore can't be coded C1 or C2?

If someone carrying out the EICR has no knowledge or experience of previous editions of the regs, then how would they know if it was satisfactory?

Or are previous editions dealt with on the short courses for testing and inspection qualifications?

Should someone carrying out an EICR be overly concerned about what may or may not be plugged into a socket, to the extent that they would code the installation unsatisfactory even though it was previously ok.

I'm not getting involved in any of this, it's just that there seems to be a lack of any concensus of opinion. Which from a customer's point of view is disappointing.

Not strictly true that you can't code a C2 from earlier editions that complied once as long ago double pole fusing was acceptable where now it's potentially dangerous.
I'm going back a bit, well before my time and you might be hard pushed to find any installations with that arrangement but you get my drift?

 

[Ian1981]

Deleted

 

[Stspark]

Interesting thread. As @westward10 says, a proper eicr should only be completed by experienced and competent electricians.
It's quite concerning with the recent dumbing down of 2391 course, a course which used to only be attempted by electricians with significant practical experience is now being undertaken by trainee's and by person's with little or no practical experience. Eicr is becoming on par with Pat testing.

 

[leep82]

Ive not carried out many EICR's despite having my 2391 for 5 years or more. Im more than happy testing my own work or any new installations but have to admit to feeling a little overwhelmed on the few EICR's ive done. As already mentioned experience is key but how do you get experience if you dont do them, sometimes you have to throw yourself in at the deep end and forums like this can provide an excellent source of useful knowledge and information.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

you test & inspect to the current edition of the regs, the most important point to remember is you want to sleep at night

You clearly shouldn't do a EICR to the current regs. If the installation complys to the regulations in place when it was tested then an improvement can be advised as a C3. However as stated above something which was in those regs which is clearly dangerous can be advised as a C2.

 

[suffolkspark]

You clearly shouldn't do a EICR to the current regs. If the installation complys to the regulations in place when it was tested then an improvement can be advised as a C3. However as stated above something which was in those regs which is clearly dangerous can be advised as a C2.

You test & inspect it to the current edition of the regulations. You wouldn't just pass an installation "because it was alright at the time" would you? what about changes in RCD requirements, updates to max EFLI values, non-combustible consumer units? these things all potentially need codes whether C2 or C3.