Unnecessary electrical work? EICR codes

cognosco

Dear all:

I recently had my the new Electrical Installation Condition report (EICR) undertaken at my rental apartment. The electrician reported a total of 6 C2 codes (i.e. potentially dangerous) all relating to the absence of RCDs. He also issued a number of C3 codes relating to fire safety (basically not having a mains smoke/heat detector and fire-rated lights).

He recommended changing the consumer unit altogether to remedy the C2 codes. I was surprised. My apartment is new-ish, built in 2006, and the consumer unit appears to have several RCDs already. I attach a photo of the consumer unit panel. The cost of remediation of the these C2 and C3 codes is 1500GBP. If I change only the consumer unit, it will be 700GBP. Both seem high.

My questions are:

1. Does my consumer unit not already have sufficient RCDs that cover the circuits in the apartment? 
2. If my consumer unit does not have sufficient RCDs, is the only remedy to change the consumer unit or can RCDs be installed without changing the unit?
3. Is the absence of an RCD on a circuit a C2 violation? The circuits in question relate to ceiling lighting among others.

Thank you

Nearlyold

You only have 1 RCD protecting the green circuits on the right, I don't understand the C3 for no mains smoke detector as circuit 6 appears to be for the smoke alarm(s) is the leccy suggesting a heat sensor as well?

The non fire rated lights issue, is that for ceiling recessed spots that don't have fire hoods?

You can add RCD's to an existing unit but you may not have enough ways to fit one if its intended to split the lighting and or other circuits- you only have one spare way

Those quotes seem on the highest side to me, what work is  the £800 above the new consumer unit cost for.

Have you been given a written quote and specs, if so check out prices for the extra fittings, new consumer unit etc and work out how much is being charged for labour in the quote and see if you thinks its reasonable for how long you were told it would take to do 

grumbler

Nearlyold said:

You can add RCD's to an existing unit but you may not have enough ways to fit one if its intended to split the lighting and or other circuits- you only have one spare way

Can replacing MCBs with RCBOs be a solution?

Nearlyold

grumbler said:

Nearlyold said:

You can add RCD's to an existing unit but you may not have enough ways to fit one if its intended to split the lighting and or other circuits- you only have one spare way

Can replacing MCBs with RCBOs be a solution?

Yes, guess you could do that, although they're £30+ a pop should be cheaper than a new board, wonder if the leccy is recommending a change to a metal board as well.

grumbler

In fact the cheapest are £10-20 at SF.

cognosco

Thank you for the clear answers. The electrician is charging 400 pounds plus vat for the labour of upgrading the consumer unit. Then 120 pounds for the consumer unit. Wireless I think he said. 

I like the idea of changing the MCBs to RCBOs. Will that remedy the C2 violations? And I take it this requires a qualified electrician to do? 

grumbler

AFAIK, they are the same size and are very easy to replace with. Possibly, an hour work for an electrician that should cost nowhere near £500.

BTW, this dual RCD CU is just £60 at Toolstation -

Call me cynical, but I'd look for another electrician

missile

Electrical Installation Condition report (EICR) seems to be a license for unscrupulous electricians to fleece the owner. I would get a quote from another electrician.

Ectophile

cognosco said:

Thank you for the clear answers. The electrician is charging 400 pounds plus vat for the labour of upgrading the consumer unit. Then 120 pounds for the consumer unit. Wireless I think he said. 

I like the idea of changing the MCBs to RCBOs. Will that remedy the C2 violations? And I take it this requires a qualified electrician to do? 

I'd love to see a wireless consumer unit.  That would make the job of electricians so much easier!

Switching to RCBOs would fix any C2s from a lack of RCDs, since an RCBO is a curcuit breaker with a built-in RCD.

As others have said, if you think you're being ripped off, speak to another electrician.

cognosco

Thanks. I think I will look for another electrician either to change the CU or to replace the MCB with RCBOs.

And there was a typo. The Consumer Unit brand my electrician recommended was Wirelex (sp?), not wireless!!!!

molerat

cognosco said:

Thanks. I think I will look for another electrician either to change the CU or to replace the MCB with RCBOs.

And there was a typo. The Consumer Unit brand my electrician recommended was Wirelex (sp?), not wireless!!!!

Wylex ............