Markc
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- Reaction score
- 147
Had our first annual MCS inspection today. Very different from the first application assessment. Nice guy from the NICEIC and I thank him for raising some points I will post here:
1, It is important to test the properties smoke detectors prior to installations and after commissioning of a PV system. It is being investigated that in certain circumstances smoke detectors have failed to operate after a PV installation. The NICEIC claim the fire service is conducting its own investigation to this as well as other regulatory bodies.
2, Installation of inverters to communal RCD protection devices. Unless it can be confirmed in writing by the manufacture a inverter must not be installed to a communal RCD at 30mA where any other outgoing circuits requiring a disconnection time of 0.4s due to the time taken for voltage degradation by the inverter. G83 only requires inverters to drop to 0V in 5 seconds meaning any circuit that requires a disconnection time of 0.4s now has the ability to retain a voltage for a full 5 seconds. The example used was a 17th edition board, 2 overall RCD devices of 30mA. No none RCD protected ways. Final circuits being sockets, shower, cooker, lighting spread over two RCDs. One spare way used for the inverter protected by one of the two installed communal RCDs. This is none compliant and in direct contradiction to BS7671.
3, Ongoing test results of panels. All panels must be tested (as we all know) however it must be recorded and logged to the serial number and a location map detailing where a particular panel is on the roof on completion.
4, MCS Easy is not liked but accepted by the bodies. It pays to read it if you have it. Not wanting to upset the apple cart and I’m not knocking MCS EASY. Good luck to them and this comment is not against them it’s against those who have this system, have filed it and expect to pull it off the shelf in a few months’ time and wave it under the inspector’s nose. You will have a shock coming to you! YOU WILL be expected to pull any and all information out of the QMS and demonstrate as detailed within it you can source the information, document, file or folder easily and quickly. If you don’t know what your QMS says about where your sub-contractor agreement is kept I suggest you read it.
As I wrote our own QMS I received a comment that he was very impressed I knew my way around it.
5, Overall we did get a couple of N/C but for items that had been in our original assessment. I’m happy with the result and all the NC’s have been addressed and nothing more than paper work points.
Also we did have to do some testing this time which was great. At last they showed an interest in what we had DONE and not WRITTEN.
1, It is important to test the properties smoke detectors prior to installations and after commissioning of a PV system. It is being investigated that in certain circumstances smoke detectors have failed to operate after a PV installation. The NICEIC claim the fire service is conducting its own investigation to this as well as other regulatory bodies.
2, Installation of inverters to communal RCD protection devices. Unless it can be confirmed in writing by the manufacture a inverter must not be installed to a communal RCD at 30mA where any other outgoing circuits requiring a disconnection time of 0.4s due to the time taken for voltage degradation by the inverter. G83 only requires inverters to drop to 0V in 5 seconds meaning any circuit that requires a disconnection time of 0.4s now has the ability to retain a voltage for a full 5 seconds. The example used was a 17th edition board, 2 overall RCD devices of 30mA. No none RCD protected ways. Final circuits being sockets, shower, cooker, lighting spread over two RCDs. One spare way used for the inverter protected by one of the two installed communal RCDs. This is none compliant and in direct contradiction to BS7671.
3, Ongoing test results of panels. All panels must be tested (as we all know) however it must be recorded and logged to the serial number and a location map detailing where a particular panel is on the roof on completion.
4, MCS Easy is not liked but accepted by the bodies. It pays to read it if you have it. Not wanting to upset the apple cart and I’m not knocking MCS EASY. Good luck to them and this comment is not against them it’s against those who have this system, have filed it and expect to pull it off the shelf in a few months’ time and wave it under the inspector’s nose. You will have a shock coming to you! YOU WILL be expected to pull any and all information out of the QMS and demonstrate as detailed within it you can source the information, document, file or folder easily and quickly. If you don’t know what your QMS says about where your sub-contractor agreement is kept I suggest you read it.
As I wrote our own QMS I received a comment that he was very impressed I knew my way around it.
5, Overall we did get a couple of N/C but for items that had been in our original assessment. I’m happy with the result and all the NC’s have been addressed and nothing more than paper work points.
Also we did have to do some testing this time which was great. At last they showed an interest in what we had DONE and not WRITTEN.