New Electrical Socket Installation

muckybutt

I would disagree with the part p requirement, table 1 states that it is not notifiable work if you are : changing / replacing any fixed electrical equipment be it socket outlets or control switches and ceiling roses which does not include the provision of any new fixed cabling.

Nothing there about changing like for like ie plastic for plastic so changing from plastic to metal imo would not be notifiable.

Justicia

muckybutt wrote: »

I would disagree with the part p requirement, table 1 states that it is not notifiable work if you are : changing / replacing any fixed electrical equipment be it socket outlets or control switches and ceiling roses which does not include the provision of any new fixed cabling.

In the literal wording of the current version of Approved Document (2010 Amd), I would agree that it does exclude this work, as the OP appears to have cpcs already in situ, for use. I do disagree with the "like-for-like" statement that was made however.

You may be referring more towards other posts that made more of a Part P mention however and if so, ignore me!

muckybutt wrote: »

Nothing there about changing like for like ie plastic for plastic so changing from plastic to metal imo would not be notifiable.

Personally I would definitely get them tested though for continuity/EFLI, if nothing else, though with such a change - to be absolutely sure that there are no nasty surprises waiting...

jbainbridge

Justicia wrote: »

Not convinced it works like that TBH - I could replace a 7.5kW shower with a >10kW and then argue that as it's still a shower, it's like for like and nothing else needs doing...

Work in the bathroom, kitchen and outdoors is however notifiable.

fluffpot

Replacing a 7.5kW shower with a 10kw shower is NOT like for like. Replacing a 13A socket with another 13A socket is like for like. Ditto light switches

You sound like to know much more than the average DIY'er, so just crack on!

Justicia

jbainbridge wrote: »

Work in the bathroom, kitchen and outdoors is however notifiable.

I know that. That wasn't what I was referring to

Justicia

fluffpot wrote: »

Replacing a 7.5kW shower with a 10kw shower is NOT like for like. Replacing a 13A socket with another 13A socket is like for like. Ditto light switches

Where does it state that (considering the discussion here is a plastic cover being replaced with metal (thus increased requirements for an earth path), not just a socket for an exact same socket?

Or is that your opinion, like my comment is mine...?

Part P (sorry to digress, for those that have moved on from it!) states that replacement/repairs are not necessarily notifiable; not that they are deemed "like-for-like."

ETA: As you are an electrician, I would genuinely welcome your opinion on my statement regarding testing, however. Out of interest, would you suggest the same to a client of yours?

fluffpot

I am a sparks, yes.

And all sockets, whether metal or plastic have an earth terminal, so it makes no difference to how you wire them up... the earth goes in the same hole.

Ideally yes, get them tested, but I'm a realist and in the grand scheme of things the OP seemed to know what he/she was talking about - not like some of the DIY jobs I come across!

baldelectrician

VSynth wrote: »

how do you know that this existing earth wire actually goes to earth?

Without testing the earth connection though, you may have created a dangerous installation.

.

Without going down the Part P route I see the point and partly agree

I have had Scottish Power out 9 times this year due to a bad earth and they even dug the road up a couple of times (cable earth had rotten in ground over the years)

The chances are remote, but as the OP will only risk his and his family the risk will be minimised.

Roundabouts

VSynth wrote: »

Assuming that the backbox already had an earth wire connected, how do you know that this existing earth wire actually goes to earth?

Fitting a wire between the faceplate and back box is not a requirement of the regulations but is considered good practise.

Without testing the earth connection though, you may have created a dangerous installation.

Also since you have not replaced like with like (you have swapped a plastic fascia with a metal one) this work comes under part p and requires certification.

Thanks for all the advice, it's certainly got me thinking. When I moved into the property there were several light switches (and one socket) that were metal fronted ones. That's what gave me the idea to replace the rest of the white plastic sockets and light switches with metal ones as they look much better. During conveyancing I didn't receive any certification for the existing metal fronted light switches and socket. So maybe they were done before Part P was introduced?

There was already an earth connection in the light switch mounting box as you can see in the 2nd picture. I merely added the yellow [and green - you can't see the green in the picture) section of wire to connect the existing earth terminal to the metal faceplate. So I haven't altered the existing earth connection as such, just connected an additional piece of wire to it. Surely I can assume that the existing earth connection was sound when I moved in? The house is only 10 years old and has modern wiring. Or is that me being too presumptious? I do mave digital multimeter, maybe there's some quick way to test the earth connection myself?

baldelectrician

Roundabouts wrote: »

Surely I can assume that the existing earth connection was sound when I moved in?

Having a reliable earth connection is one of the most important things to have.

I have been to a house (that was 7 years old at the time) and found the earth was connected at the meter end, but was lying below the floor near the consumer unit.
The client had someone install a shower previously and they never noticed.

I had another client who had all the pipework in her house at nearly 230V as there was a poor earth connection

Went to another property where the client was getting shocks off the sink to find someone had disconnected the main earth to stop the lights tripping, once it was reconnected the lights tripped straight away. The problem was fixed before we left

Did an inspection and test for a rental property last week and found that 80% of the kitchen sockets had no earth. There was 140V between the kitchen sink and the washing machine drum

Informed the letting agent of the problem (legally we can't disconnect dodgy electrics) and waiting to hear back.