PIR Electric Safety Check

badaz52

We are currently Pxing our home that was built in the 1970s for a brand new one with TW. As part of the PX we were required to have a successful home buyers report which was successful and now we are required to provide a "satisfactory" electrical periodic inspection report/certificate.

We have recently had an NICEIC engineer in the house who has flagged the following issues based on a code of urgency:

Code 1 - Urgent attention needed
Code 2 - Requires improvement
Code 3 - Further investigation
Code 4 - Does not comply with BS7671 (as amended) meaning the latest 17th edition dated 2008

1. Omission of all Records - 4
2. Omission of cables and wiring schedules - 4
3. Omission of circuit protective conductor at metal light switch in kitchen - 2
4. Lighting circuit protective conductor is not continous - 2
5. Socket in study unable to test, wrong polarity or no CPC DO NOT USE - 1 (Now fixed)
6. Ring Main conductors not continous - 2
7. R.C.D protection not fitted - 4
8. Short circuit capacity of rewirable fuse incorrect - 2
9. Socket outlets have an earth loop impedance that does not comply with regulations BS7671 - 1
10. No isolation or functional switches fitted to kitchen - 2
11. Eroninous extensions to the ring main are to be removed or protected by correct fuses to the capacity of cables - 1 (Now fixed)
12. Incorrect size of cable for main earthing conductor - 4

The key thing to note here is if the installation is "safe" then a satisfactory certificate should be provided right? as far as I can see the regulations have changed that much over the years that there is no legal obligation to upgrade fuse boxes and such to new consumer units. Our equipment may not be up to the new standards but this does not mean it's not safe?

Basically what I'm getting at is I have contacted numerous electricians after the report was done to get a second opinion and they are suggesting to me that unless I upgrade my system to comply with the latest standards as amended in 2008 a satisfactory report will not be granted? surely this can't be right?

In theory if we get any points marked number 1 seen to should we be granted a satisfactory certificate?

The characteristics of the primary supply are to standard BS1361 Type 2

DVardysShadow

My take on this

[STRIKE]1. Omission of all Records - 4[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]2. Omission of cables and wiring schedules - 4[/STRIKE]
3. Omission of circuit protective conductor at metal light switch in kitchen - 2 Correct this
4. Lighting circuit protective conductor is not continous - 2 Correct this
[STRIKE]5. Socket in study unable to test, wrong polarity or no CPC DO NOT USE - 1 (Now fixed)[/STRIKE]
6. Ring Main conductors not continous - 2 Correct this
[STRIKE]7. R.C.D protection not fitted - 4[/STRIKE]
8. Short circuit capacity of rewirable fuse incorrect - 2 Correct this
9. Socket outlets have an earth loop impedance that does not comply with regulations BS7671 - 1 Check whether this complies with requirements at the time of installation and correct if not
10. No isolation or functional switches fitted to kitchen - 2 Correct this
[STRIKE]11. Eroninous extensions to the ring main are to be removed or protected by correct fuses to the capacity of cables - 1 (Now fixed)[/STRIKE]
12. Incorrect size of cable for main earthing conductor - 4 Check whether this complies with requirements at the time of installation and correct if not

badaz52 wrote: »

As part of the PX we were required to have a successful home buyers report which was successful and now we are required to provide a "satisfactory" electrical periodic inspection report/certificate ...

Basically what I'm getting at is I have contacted numerous electricians after the report was done to get a second opinion and they are suggesting to me that unless I upgrade my system to comply with the latest standards as amended in 2008 a satisfactory report will not be granted? surely this can't be right?

In theory if we get any points marked number 1 seen to should we be granted a satisfactory certificate?

Homer Simpson is the guy for this problem. My own understanding is that you get a certificate for new works, but a report for an existing installation.

For your report to be satisfactory, I would say that you need to eliminate all codes 1, 2 and 3. On the list, Item 9 looks like it never complied and Item 12 looks like it may have complied. If Item 9 did once comply, then it should be a 4 and if Item 12 never complied then it should be a 1.

badaz52

Thanks for your advice. I'll have to check if 9 and 12 complied at time of installation. I'm assuming they must have been as my parents have owned it from new since 1976.