surge protection or not

[prospark]

1/.please can anyone clarify whether it is now mandatory to install surge protection devices in domestic installations for new installations and or rewires.
2/.Also is it correct that if a lightening protection system is in place you need both type 1 and type 2 surge protection ?

 

[Richard Burns]

In the UK the chance of lightning strikes is below the level that require an SPD so in the main there is no requirement for SPDs.
If there is sensitive equipment that needs protection from transient over voltage then SPDs can be installed.
If you are protecting equipment from lower voltages then a type 1 SPD will not protect this equipment if there is a lighting generated over voltage so type 2/3 SPDs may be required in this case. If there is no sensitive equipment and the SPDs are specified for a different reason then Type 1 alone may be sufficient.

 

[prospark]

so for domestic there is no need to install when doing a rewire then?

 

[Richard Burns]

No not unless the customer has some seriously expensive computer kit he wants to protect!
It would normally only be installed for expensive electronics or life saving equipment in commercial high value installations.

 

[prospark]

many thanks for the quick response richard, have a good evening,steve