PIR test of 1979 flat - what to expect?

ic

We're currently looking to let my partner's one-bed flat out, and about to get things like the gas safety checks and PIR test arranged. The electrics are original from when the flat was built in 1979. I'm wondering what to expect from the PIR?

My observations of what is there now are as follows:

• The consumer unit has wired fuses and no RCD protection.
• There are four circuits - 5A lights, 32A sockets, 16A (I'm guessing was the immersion heater but now the combi-boiler), 32A (I'm guessing the kitchen sockets). There are no high-power appliances like electric shower or old oven - current oven is just plugged in via standard 13A socket.
• There is one socket available in the outdoor locked cupboard next to the fusebox, useful for gardening.
• When replacing light fittings I noticed that the fittings in the bathroom and the kitchen did not have an earth connection, the rest did.

I've already replaced all the light fittings and light switches (just as part of a refresh). I'm thinking of replacing the remaining doubles like for like and the singles with double converters. I'm also going to replace the socket in the outdoor cupboard with one that has in-built RCD protection. Lastly I'm wondering whether I can replace the fuses in the consumer unit with these? In fact is that necessary or are fuses still "OK"?

Would these steps help to make the electrics more in-line with modern expectations, or are we likely to fail for anything here? I realise the test goes further and checks things like cable degradation which I won't know about until they do.

MX5huggy

I would get rid of the fuses, someone more qualified than me will say if those mini breakers are acceptable, but I would get the board replaced it not an expensive job.

Wired fuses could be an utter nightmare if you get a tenant that does not know what they are doing which is most people these days, you could be forever being called out.

ic

Yeah, that was my thinking if a bulb blows and takes a fuse with it then a tenant without a clue (and any fuse wire) will be making potentially expensive callouts.

I've just been to the flat and the fusebox is Wylex with a wooden back, mounted on a wooden board.


Looking on this page it says

The inspection takes into account all the relevant circumstances and includes the following

The suitability of the switch and control gear. For example an old fusebox with a wooden back, cast-iron switches, or a mixture of both will need replacing.

Does this mean that this fusebox would be flagged as dangerous (and presumably fail the test) or just a recommendation for replacement? What would such a small fusebox cost to replace?

fluffpot

I suspect also that the main equipotential bonding (earthing) to gas and water pipes would need to be upgraded as well (if indeed it's even in place). Best to get the PIR done first asap as there may be other problems (such as deterioration of cables - the install is now over 30 years old). You can then use that to get other quotes for the remedial work, including the fuse board which in my opinion should be replaced. More immediately, I can see that one of the fuse carriers is damaged and potentially dangerous as you could access the live pin of the fuse.

27col

Those Wylex re-wireable fuses can be swopped for MCB's so that they can then be reset if one happens to trip.

Homersimpson

As a very rough guess based on the above I reckon that the following items will be flagged up:-

A new consumer unit
Upgrade main equipotential bonding to gas and water
Change existing cabling to provide earth to lighting circuit.

This assumes that the property is wired in twin and earth, if any of the cabling is the old VIR (Vulcanised India Rubber) then you will be into more of a rewire.

Bear in mind that the installation should be tested to the wiring regs that were in force when it was installed not the current ones. Then anything that it needs to make it comply with current regs should be listed as recommendations (code 4 although this may have changed recently, haven't done any testing for a while!)

As your renting the property out and you mentioned a socket for outdoors use I would highly recommend a new consumer unit with RCD/RCCB protection as they arn't expensive and no only could it save someones life but it will make it easier for your tenant to turn the power back on if something trips it (like a faulty kettle), otherwise they might ring you to send round an electrician.

ic

Thanks guys - looks like we'll go ahead and get the PIR done, then do any work based on the outcome. I'll wait till after then before getting any breakers to replace the fuse, in-case we have to go with a full upgrade anyway.