Old switchboard

Mahdi1 · Aug 28, 2021

Hi
I have a question. When you want to do an electrical work on a switchboard and you realize that some cables are which are not double insulated are bare out of enclosure, do you have to fix it ? Does it consider a fault for the last electrician working on the switchboard even if it wasn't your fault?
If yes, is it in the as/nzs standard ?
Thanks

Mahdi1 · Aug 28, 2021

Example

pc1966 · Aug 28, 2021

Can you post a photograph?

Most of the folks on this forum are UK but we have a few Aussies (like @KennyKen) who will be more familiar with the rules and regulations down-under.

Mahdi1 · Aug 28, 2021

pc1966 said:
Can you post a photograph?

Most of the folks on this forum are UK but we have a few Aussies (like @KennyKen) who will be more familiar with the rules and regulations down-under.

MJPD29 · Aug 28, 2021

That looks horrendous

pc1966 · Aug 28, 2021

That is rough as a badger's posterior!

Certainly under UK regs it would fail an inspection (C2 code, potentially dangerous) as primary insulation is exposed.

Also at least a C3 code (improvement recommended) for a mix of components (6 different brands, really?!) though they all seem to work in the same way and no modifications or overheating seen to give it a C2 code.

Dartlec · Aug 28, 2021

Definitely some issues with that setup, though those cables could be singles, and hence double insulated.

Not sure what the Aus standard requires, but I suspect they are at least based on ours. In which case technically working on an unrelated circuit might well be ok to do in theory.

However, IMO anyone working on that board would have a duty to explain the other issues issues (mix and match switchgear, various holes, poor terminations etc) and should not finish the job without fixing them (or if the owner refuses, consider whether any work on it can be done safely and leave things at least no more dangerous than they were).