This is not a drive by

Ned Gibbons · Mar 19, 2021

So I'm a tenant, just had the letting agent's electrician perform an eicr.

Would anyone like to guess what the test consisted of?

Quick hint, they arrived at 4pm on a Friday.

i=p/u · Mar 19, 2021

Its widely accepted

Mike Johnson · Mar 19, 2021

Ned Gibbons said:
I'm still not sure how I'm going to procede with this. But I'd be interested to know how long people would think it would take to do properly.

The house is a 3 bed semi, built in 1999. It's as far as I can tell completely as built. Gas heating, 2 ring finals (kitchen and rest of house), two lighting rings and 3 radials for cooker, tube heater in air cupboard and smoke alarms. No downlights, just a single pendent in each room.

At least one whole day to carry out all the checks and then a few hours to fill out the paperwork.

i=p/u · Mar 19, 2021

If they have maintenance regime in place, this allows them to create there own check sheets, and the jobs you see for testing, some are looking 6 a day..

Mike Johnson · Mar 19, 2021

i=p/u said:
If they have maintenance regime in place, this allows them to create there own check sheets, and the jobs you see for testing, some are looking 6 a day..

And you need to qualify that as a nonsense and can not be done correctly in that time, unless they are checking at least once a month and ensuring no modifications have taken place.

i=p/u · Mar 19, 2021

Health and safety check I call them.

westward10 · Mar 19, 2021

Ned Gibbons said:
I'm still not sure how I'm going to procede with this. But I'd be interested to know how long people would think it would take to do properly.

The house is a 3 bed semi, built in 1999. It's as far as I can tell completely as built. Gas heating, 2 ring finals (kitchen and rest of house), two lighting rings and 3 radials for cooker, tube heater in air cupboard and smoke alarms. No downlights, just a single pendent in each room.

Four to five hours on site an hour for paperwork.

mattg4321 · Mar 19, 2021

Ned Gibbons said:
I'm still not sure how I'm going to procede with this. But I'd be interested to know how long people would think it would take to do properly.

The house is a 3 bed semi, built in 1999. It's as far as I can tell completely as built. Gas heating, 2 ring finals (kitchen and rest of house), two lighting rings and 3 radials for cooker, tube heater in air cupboard and smoke alarms. No downlights, just a single pendent in each room.

2-3 hours on site minimum to do a reasonable jobs if in good general condition.

Anything under a couple of hours will be very rushed. Anything under an hour is a waste of everyone’s time.

Ned Gibbons · Mar 28, 2021

Ok just had the report back, was expecting C2 because the board is plastic (I know it should be C3).

But nope, nothing listed at all. So apparently my 22 year old installation is fully compliant with the 18th edition.

i=p/u · Mar 28, 2021

That's good.

telectrix · Mar 28, 2021

Ned Gibbons said:
Ok just had the report back, was expecting C2 because the board is plastic (I know it should be C3).

But nope, nothing listed at all. So apparently my 22 year old installation is fully compliant with the 18th edition.

it does not need to be compliant with 18th. it's tested to current regs. and coded accordingly. e.g. a plastic CU is not to current regs. but as long as it's safe for continued use, then it does not warrant coding as unsatisfactory. might attract a C3( improvement recommended), or a comment.

Micktw68 · Mar 28, 2021

Ned Gibbons said:
I'm still not sure how I'm going to procede with this. But I'd be interested to know how long people would think it would take to do properly.

The house is a 3 bed semi, built in 1999. It's as far as I can tell completely as built. Gas heating, 2 ring finals (kitchen and rest of house), two lighting rings and 3 radials for cooker, tube heater in air cupboard and smoke alarms. No downlights, just a single pendent in each room.

For me thats 4-5 hours of testing and inspecting (I do both).
I’m sure theres lads and lasses on here that are faster .

Des 56 · Mar 28, 2021

Look on the bright side,they have supplied you with a piece of paper that really only needs to be issued to the person ordering the work

Dave OCD · Mar 28, 2021

The tenant is also legally entitled to a copy of the EICR , although in this case it might only be of any use if the bog roll runs out.

Dave OCD · Mar 28, 2021

Ned, is the EICR from a firm registered with the NICEIC or Napit ? If so I'd voice my concerns- and put it in writing !

Ned Gibbons · Mar 28, 2021

Dave OCD said:
Ned, is the EICR from a firm registered with the NICEIC or Napit ? If so I'd voice my concerns- and put it in writing !

I haven't checked all the schemes, but they're not NIC EIC. I've found a not very professional Twitter account. I get the feeling it's a one man band property maintenance company who's trying to make a quick buck.

Dartlec · Mar 28, 2021

Ned Gibbons said:
I haven't checked all the schemes, but they're not NIC EIC. I've found a not very professional Twitter account. I get the feeling it's a one man band property maintenance company who's trying to make a quick buck.

What was on the test results sheet? lots of LIMs, or have they used 'generic 90s install.pdf'? What about Ze? Even the meter changers have a a plug in socket tester that would have verified polarity!

In my experience, supplementary bonding wasn't bothered much with during those periods, so likely to be at least a C2 with bathroom lighting (unless Class 2 fitting and plastic pipes maybe - but a picture of the consumer unit wouldn't tell anyone that).

What you have is the equivalent of the old dodgy MOT certificate. Ticks a box and everyone hopes that nothing happens. Landlord should be aware that's the risk he's taking though.

As usual those of us that do it properly and want to prove a safe installation will end up either being undercut or will only see the properties that are well maintained anyway - and the whole exercise will leave the worst houses no more safe than they were when the legislation came in....

Dartlec · Mar 29, 2021

Ned Gibbons said:
I'm still not sure how I'm going to procede with this. But I'd be interested to know how long people would think it would take to do properly.

The house is a 3 bed semi, built in 1999. It's as far as I can tell completely as built. Gas heating, 2 ring finals (kitchen and rest of house), two lighting rings and 3 radials for cooker, tube heater in air cupboard and smoke alarms. No downlights, just a single pendent in each room.

A lot depends on access and number of circuits - but I honestly don't see how it's possible to do a useful report in less than 2-3 hours on site (less if there are multiple people perhaps).

The first hour is often taken up working out what the circuit that is labelled 'unknown' does, discovering that downstairs and upstairs lighting are reversed, that the one socket in Timmy's room is actually on the kitchen ring, and trying to find the mains water stopcock (seriously, why do so many tenants NOT know where this is?)

Maybe it will be better the next time round when there is a previous document - who am I kidding - no-one will be able to find it by then or it will be quickly obvious that it was a drive by and less than useless as a starting point!

Soi disant · Mar 29, 2021

telectrix said:
it does not need to be compliant with 18th.

The law says it does.

Mike Johnson · Mar 29, 2021

Soi disant said:
The law says it does.

That would mean the regulations are retrospective which they are not.

radiohead · Mar 29, 2021

Soi disant said:
The law says it does.

The EICR is required to be carried out to to requirements of the 18th, that does not mean the installation is required by law to be compliant with the 18th.