garage 3 way unit needs changing IEC or not

[kyranocat]

Hi quick question our garage 3 way unit is broken beyond recognition if i get a guy in to sort it does it need IEC its feeding 2 circuits sockets and lights from 32amp breaker (main consumer unit).
would appreciate advice

thanks

 

[londonlec]

Whats an IEC? Do you mean EIC, Electrical Installation Certificate?

If you do, then yes you should get an EIC.

 

[Plonker 3]

I am thinking you mean a Electrical Installation Certificate, not a IEC?

Then yes it does. It is also notifiable under Part P of the building regulations.

 

[telectrix]

not if it's a straight forward replacement, same rating of OCDs

 

[kyranocat]

EIC sorry thats what i meant , according to niceic any change in consumer units is notifiable and requires an EIC. but getting mixed messages from people

 

[Plonker 3]

Page 8 of the Part P document says,

Consumer unit replacements are, however notifiable

 

[Plonker 3]

Although the sentence before does say

Replacement, repair and maintenance jobs are generally not notifiable, even if carried out in a kitchen or special location or associated with a special installation.

So make of that what you like. :book:

 

[Octopus]

For what its worth a consumer unit change is often an oldish BS3036 rewireable type unit being replaced with a unit with RCD's and MCB's.

From what you've said you need a driect replacement for an old CU, so as long as the new CU uses identical MCB's then its not, IMHO, notifiable. An EIC would be in order though.

Post a photo!

EDIT: Call me cynical but is this yours are are you trying to avoid part P for a client?

 

[spark 68]

The way I read it was, originally in part P it said :

Replacement, repair and maintenance jobs are generally not notifiable, even if carried out in a kitchen or special location or associated with a special installation.
​

and people were replacing CU's as non notifiable, this was a mistake in the original Part P document and this was later amended to say CU replacement is notifiable regardless.

Part Pee, need I say more ?​

 

[Guitarist]

It is extremely unlikely that a CU will be completely like-for-like. On nearly every occasion it will be done to either add RCD protection, upgrade from rewireable to MCB OCP, or simply allow the addition of circuits. Even if it were like-for-like, the characteristics of the RCD would be different..
EIC every time...

 

[needasparks]

Can't see a problem issuing an EIC even if is not required, how else are the test results going to be recorded.
Its not a big deal writing a cert for the cost it takes.

 

[Tonkatoy27]

As needasparks says, an EIC is definatly neccassary to check the safety of the existing circuits and It shouldn't take more than 15 or 20 minutes to fill one in with the required infomation. Whether the job is Part P notifiable however is another question and a debatable one at that. Personally, I would notify it to be on the safe side. Why wouldn't you want paperwork that proves that your existing installation is safe and the replacement has been fitted by a (supposedly) competant tradesman? An extra half an hour and a part p notification shouldn't put more than about £30 on the whole job (inc VAT)

 

[Guitarist]

As needasparks says, an EIC is definatly neccassary to check the safety of the existing circuits and It shouldn't take more than 15 or 20 minutes to fill one in with the required infomation. Whether the job is Part P notifiable however is another question and a debatable one at that. Personally, I would notify it to be on the safe side. Why wouldn't you want paperwork that proves that your existing installation is safe and the replacement has been fitted by a (supposedly) competant tradesman? An extra half an hour and a part p notification shouldn't put more than about £30 on the whole job (inc VAT)

Indeed. It is only a power circuit and a lighting circuit afterall.