NICEIC Certification Scheme Help interpreting NICEIC report

[wouldlikeacuppa]

(Hi, first post, not an electrician, just looking for advice, I hope thats allowed but mods please let me know if it isn't)

Looking to buy a place and our surveyor recommended we get the electrics checked. So the electrician has sent us his NICEIC test report. The summary is:

"No earth continuity on upstairs lighting circuits. Borrowed neutral on lighting circuits. No mains service bond to water/LPG at point of entrance to building"

He's rated these three things as "C2" which seems to mean "might not be immediate risk but urgenct action needed to remove potential danger"

I understand that these things are problems but how big or unusual a problem are they? For example, would this sort of stuff be common in older properties due to changing regulations or is this some seriously dodgy wiring by anyone's standards?

(Would be useful to get a handle on this so we can negotiate with seller)

Many thanks

 

[Englishman]

I would get them done before you buy.

 

[wouldlikeacuppa]

I would get them done before you buy.

Ok, thanks. Is this sort of thing normal for older properties or is this a sign of cowboy electrics?

 

[Andy78]

Your first point of reference should be the electrician who undertook the inspection. He should explain fully any issues and coded observations contained within the report.

He would be best placed to estimate the cost and scale of any remedial works associated with providing an installation with no C2 issues, that you can use in any negotiation.

 

[Andy78]

Ok, thanks. Is this sort of thing normal for older properties or is this a sign of cowboy electrics?

All these issues are commonly found in older properties.

No CPC on the lighting... this could indicate a pre 1966 installation with no earth installed. It could also indicate a newer installation with a fault on the earth path. The risk from this situation increases if metal accessories are in use.

Borrowed neutrals are very common in older installs.

Lack of bonding is also not uncommon to find.

 

[Flanders]

Its probable not been install by cowboys sounds more like it due to the age of the installation as said get the electrician who did the the report to do you a quote to rectify the code 2 observations you can use this as a bartering tool when buying the house

 

[davesparks]

A lack of earth continuity is possibly a sign that a diyer may have changed some light fittings or added an extra light etc.
Borrowed neutrals present a significant danger to anyone working on the circuits affected, it has never been permitted in the regulations as far as I know.
Main bonding is essential to ensure that you are protected from receiving electric shocks of a fault occurs on any circuit or on the suppliers network.

 

[wouldlikeacuppa]

Thanks chaps this is really useful context. We will talk to the electrician about a quote.

Further down the report also says:
"Earth fault loop impedance value greater than that required for operation of the protective device within the time prescribed in the version of BS 7671/IET Wiring Regulations current at the time of installation"

Again: Is this a common problem with older properties?

 

[Flanders]

No you don't normal get High earth loop readings in houses , if this is the case it will also need correcting

 

[Pete999]

(Hi, first post, not an electrician, just looking for advice, I hope thats allowed but mods please let me know if it isn't)

Looking to buy a place and our surveyor recommended we get the electrics checked. So the electrician has sent us his NICEIC test report. The summary is:

"No earth continuity on upstairs lighting circuits. Borrowed neutral on lighting circuits. No mains service bond to water/LPG at point of entrance to building"

He's rated these three things as "C2" which seems to mean "might not be immediate risk but urgenct action needed to remove potential danger"

I understand that these things are problems but how big or unusual a problem are they? For example, would this sort of stuff be common in older properties due to changing regulations or is this some seriously dodgy wiring by anyone's standards?

(Would be useful to get a handle on this so we can negotiate with seller)

Many thanks

Hi Dealing with this type of problem remotely can be a bit tricky, but from your description it seems that lighting circuit may not have a cpc (Circuit Protective Conductor, earth wire to the layman)

The second issue "no bonding the the Gas and Water basically means that when the property was wired the rules did not require this to be done, not a difficult job if you have removable flooring.

As others have said get the Electrician who did the report back and ask for a price / estimate for remedial works and an explanation of the coding he has given you.

 

[Englishman]

Ok, thanks. Is this sort of thing normal for older properties or is this a sign of cowboy electrics?

I apologise for the short comment, I was barely able to breathe and suffering from sever chest pains at the time so that was all I could muster. Others have explained it more than well enough while I've been recovering though.

 

[uksparks]

I would get them done before you buy.

If I was the home owner I'd tell you to sling your hook, sold as seen. You do t buy a car and say I want to modify it so you pay for the mods before I part with my cash.

i had a similar issue lately with someone. They are selling their house and the people buying it said their mortgage company won't issue it unless the fuse box is upgraded and various other stuff.

i said why are you paying out for modifications to your house to satisfy them? They insisted it was st the sellers cost. They did get it done by another electrician but if it was me I'd say look, this is the house take it or leave it.

 

[Englishman]

If I was the home owner I'd tell you to sling your hook, sold as seen. You do t buy a car and say I want to modify it so you pay for the mods before I part with my cash.

i had a similar issue lately with someone. They are selling their house and the people buying it said their mortgage company won't issue it unless the fuse box is upgraded and various other stuff.

i said why are you paying out for modifications to your house to satisfy them? They insisted it was st the sellers cost. They did get it done by another electrician but if it was me I'd say look, this is the house take it or leave it.

Well I think that if you either knew what you were doing, or had a mechanic look over the car before you bought it, and some strange things were noticed that needed further inspection as they could affect safety, then you'd be right to walk away.

Stupid response in all honesty, why the hell would you buy a house where the electrics were potentially dangerous, and you'd need to spend money to put it right, without negotiating a discount from the seller.

 

[Midwest]

If I was the home owner I'd tell you to sling your hook, sold as seen. You do t buy a car and say I want to modify it so you pay for the mods before I part with my cash.

i had a similar issue lately with someone. They are selling their house and the people buying it said their mortgage company won't issue it unless the fuse box is upgraded and various other stuff.

i said why are you paying out for modifications to your house to satisfy them? They insisted it was st the sellers cost. They did get it done by another electrician but if it was me I'd say look, this is the house take it or leave it.

No be it could be reflective in the price of the property, like avocado bathroom suite or wood chip wallpaper in every room. Its always been a buyers market. If the vendor doesn't like the offer, they can tell em to shove it, depends how desperate you are to sell.

 

[Blademan_98]

This has happened to a work colleague recently.
The buyer has said fix it or we don't buy it.
He is desperate to sell so is getting it fixed.

Cheers
B