Old electrics & EICR

Heedtheadvice

Well said Ecto.

There is a big difference when a property is let rather than owner occupied. That is to prevent poor landlords ignoring safety to the detriment and risk of the tennant or anybody else involved in the property.

The cable may well be fine, some even older cable will pass an EICR....but the cable is not the whole story. As a single example, immersion heaters often get poor insulation after a number of years. Water electricity and people do not mix too well. A missing eathing bond (no flashes, fizzles etc.)....just a "slight tingle" accross the heart of 50uAmps and hello St Peter......

Risteard

bris said:

Ectophile said:

  By now, all rented properties should have had an electrical safety inspection, and should have been updated at least to the 2018 electrical standards.

Failing to carry out the inspection is a criminal offence.  Failing to fix any faults identified by the inspection is also an offence.

No totally incorrect. Yes they need by law to carry out an EICR every 5 years but bringing it up to 2018 standard, no.

It has to be safe, obviously but it needs to be safe to the regulations at the time of install. in this case no RCD protection is required except for exterior outlets. The EICR engineer will determine whether the protective devices will operate properly and with the time limits for the type of safety device installed or not, As far as it goes now it would be a  C3 improvement recommended unless there is any other issues picked up.

The Regulations at the time of installation are completely and utterly irrelevant. Periodic inspection and testing is always carried out with reference to current standards. Even compliance with earlier standards could result in dangerous conditions in certain circumstances, e.g. fused neutrals. The fact that it wasn't prohibited at the time of installation does not alter the fact that it is unsafe and it would be recognised as such in a competently carried out inspection.

bris

Well you are all so very wrong, expect a bit from other posters but Risteard, your supposed to be an electrician are you not?
Every situation is different but bringing everything up to 2018 standards, no. Next are they going to tell you you need to rip out all your black and red wiring? 
Here at least these guys know what they are talking about, sparks inventing work are just scum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_UN84w8brk

Risteard

bris said:

Well you are all so very wrong, expect a bit from other posters but Risteard, your supposed to be an electrician are you not?
Every situation is different but bringing everything up to 2018 standards, no. Next are they going to tell you you need to rip out all your black and red wiring? 
Here at least these guys know what they are talking about, sparks inventing work are just scum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_UN84w8brk

Where did I suggest that it needs to be "brought up to" current standards? I simply stated that the inspection is always assessed against current standards, and that compliance with earlier standards does not guarantee a free pass where there are safety issues given our further understanding of issues in the present day. I even gave the example of fused neutrals which are always considered to be unsafe now - irrespective of when they were fitted.

An observation regarding the safety or otherwise of a defect should not be different depending on when it was installed. It is either safe or (potentially) unsafe.

I can assure you that I am correct, am highly qualified in this area and frequently carry out periodic inspection and testing. If you disagree with what I have stated then quite simply you are completely misinformed.