Electrical certificate

Annie1960

At what point can an electrical certificate be issued for new work in extension and kitchen?hre

There will be a new fuse box, and the first fix has already been done for the sockets and appliances.

Do all the appliances/sockets need to be completely installed before the certificate can be issued?

MisterP123

The appliances don't need to be in. In fact it's favourable if they're not as they may need to be moved etc.

But the installation needs to be complete, sockets, lights etc. The inspector will carry out a number of dead tests before energising the fuse board and then will complete their live tests before signing off.

Annie1960

So I need to have bought all the lights but not things like cooker and hob?

What about the doorbell?

MisterP123

The inspector can only test what's there. When filling out a test certificate they'll often state that they have excluded all appliances etc. If you have a wire hanging from your ceiling where a light should be, it'll fail. If you have cables sticking out of the wall where a socket should be, it'll fail. etc etc. It needs to be finished. If there are appliance outlets, the inspector will test to that point, even without the appliance.

If a new circuit is added later on, say for a doorbell, then it should be inspected and a new certificate issued for that install. If a radial circuit is already there, but no doorbell then that won't matter and it'll be tested at the time of the initial inspection provided a spur or some such item is installed and not just a bit of cable poking out of a hole (which will fail)

Usually what happens is; the work is completed, all the covers are in place, dis. board is buttoned up, lights look nice. Then the inspector turns up and starts taking covers off, disconnecting cables, etc etc.

Annie1960

All of the first fix is done, including the doorbell.

I have bought the lights.

I am almost sure what cooker, hob etc I want, and need to order them, but they may not be here in time.

Ditto the doorbell. There is cable sticking outside of the wall where the doorbell will be, and I'm not sure what's there for the actual chime, which I need to get. I think I am saying if the doorbell is there but the chime is not, can a cert be issued?

By 'inspector' do you mean the electrician?

I have the same electrician coming back to do the second fix, presumably it would be impossible for a different electrician to do the second fix and issue a certificate if they have not done the first fix?

MisterP123

Approved electrician? To carry out the inspections they need to hold the valid qualifications, the certificate will then need to be signed off by their qualified supervisor.

For a certificate to be issued, the signature of the designer, the installer and the inspector need to be present, these can be the same person.

Assuming the cable for the chime is extra low voltage via a transformer, I probably wouldn't worry about it. I wouldn't fail it for that....

Annie1960

And what will happend in practice about the certificate? Will it be given to me, to the council or to the builder who is project managing?

Risteard

Annie1960 wrote: »

And what will happend in practice about the certificate? Will it be given to me, to the council or to the builder who is project managing?

It has to be given to the person ordering the work, which may well be the builder.

Owain_Moneysaver

Annie1960 wrote: »

So I need to have bought all the lights but not things like cooker and hob?

What about the doorbell?

If you haven't got your decorative light fittings yet the electrician can fit a standard ceiling rose and pendant and test to that.

For the doorbell, this shouldn't be directly mains operated but run via a transformer. The electrician will test up to the fused connection unit supplying the transformer but the transformer itself must not be tested as part of the installation.

If you have lights fitted after the Installation Certificate is provided the electrician fitting the lights should give you a Minor Works cert which will apply only to the lights and check they are wired up the right way and earthed etc.