RCD Protection for lighting within communal parts

[Thomas Simons]

I'm due to start working in a building which houses lots of flats over 6 floors with 2 internal communal stairs. I'm due to replace 13 ceiling lights per floor/stairs from a halogen bulkhead to a ELD 17w LED microwave/emergency bulkhead.

Each floor is fed from a Square D B6 QOE MCB on a 3 Phase board.

Regulation 411.3.4 requires that all luminaries within domestic (household) premises are to have additional protection by a 30 mA RCD when installed in an AC final circuit. Note that the regulations refer specifically to "domestic (household) premises"

My question is, would you suggest that these bulkheads require RCD protection? I suppose its up to interpretation of the regulation, although they are within a domestic environment under Part P and the Building Regs would you suggest that the communal parts constitute a "domestic (household) premises".

The only RCBO's that I can find that are compatible are £60 a pop and ill need around 10 of them otherwise i'd just stick them in anyway.

 

[westward10]

If you are not altering the circuit just replacing fittings then it is not relevant.

 

[telectrix]

what he says ^^^^^.

 

[bill01803]

You are altering the circuit as the load has changed

 

[snowhead]

You are altering the circuit as the load has changed

The circuit is still the same, the load doesn't change that.

The same as plugging in 2 x 3kw fires instead of 1 x 3kw fire?

Or a 60w lamp instead of 40w.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

It’s the circuits which require RCD protection not the lights.
It’s the opposite to sockets.
If you were to extend or alter the wiring, then yes RCD protection would be required.