Vir cabling allowed for fuseboard change ??

[Electric Scott]

Hello all, I'm new to this but seeking some advice.
Just done an eicr, all lighting is white 1980s cabling, as is MOST of the power cabling. However, there are random 2-
3 sockets in old vir wiring, this is generally a no no to deal with, however, the consumer needs upgrading. Can I do this and sign off knowing that vir cabling is within the installation ??
Any advice is appreciated

 

[telectrix]

if the cables are in good cobdition with no disintegrated insulation, OK, but put a note on the cert.

 

[MJPD29]

Have you done any IR testing? If so what are the results? It’s well past its service life

 

[ipf]

Have you done any IR testing? If so what are the results? It’s well past its service life

If it's not taken much, load wise, and is undisturbed, it could be in good enough condition. The problems occur, because of age, with heavy use.
Problems could occur if disturbing, even for testing, especially at connection points.

 

[MJPD29]

If it's not taken much, load wise, and is undisturbed, it could be in good enough condition. The problems occur, because of age, with heavy use.
Problems could occur if

Strangely I have a 3 metre length under my stairs from when the house was rewired (buckle clips were too good quality to remove) and it’s in perfect condition. Other end of the same cable was completely falling apart.

 

[timhoward]

As above, the simple act of pulling an old CU over it and feeding it into a new one and forming it to where it needs to go can finish it off.
If it IR tests ok then you may get away with carefully feeding a new CU over it and wago’ing pvc onto it for final connection. I’ve done this a couple of times in circumstances where an immediate rewire wasn’t possible.

 

[Electric Scott]

As above, the simple act of pulling an old CU over it and feeding it into a new one and forming it to where it needs to go can finish it off.
If it IR tests ok then you may get away with carefully feeding a new CU over it and wago’ing pvc onto it for final connection. I’ve done this a couple of times in circumstances where an immediate rewire wasn’t possible.

Thankyou all for the comments. I don't think I was too clear - there is NO vir cables at the fuseboard, just white twin and earths, continuity tests out ok, didn't do an IR test in all honesty, the vir cables are just at a couple of sockets, no idea where they go or what they connect into. I did get a good earth loop reading on the vir sockets

 

[timhoward]

Friendly advice, before you start at least do a global IR L+N together to CPC bar at 250v.

Without it you have no idea if things are safe.
Also if adding RcD protection you want to know that earth leakage is within tolerable limits.

 

[Electric Scott]

Friendly advice, before you start at least do a global IR L+N together to CPC bar at 250v.

Without it you have no idea if things are safe.
Also if adding RcD protection you want to know that earth leakage is within tolerable limits.

Thankyou for the advice and will take that on board moving forward. There is currently an rcd main switch which trips within required times, so no issue there. The circuits are doubled up and I need to re run a 6mm for cooker so upgrading the board was the best option. It's just this vir in a socket that concerns me, as by changing the board, you re signing off the install

 

[pc1966]

Friendly advice, before you start at least do a global IR L+N together to CPC bar at 250v.

Definitely good advice!

250V means it should not complain about any surge protection built in to stuff that is still connected, and if you get a sensibly good global value you have far less to worry about.

Of course if it fails you do have an issue, but sometimes that is down to an RCD socket outlet or similar (that was designed to trip on open-neutral or reverse polarity fault, so it has a sense resistor to E).