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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

John Peckham
Today's job inspect and test a domestic installation in a sheltered housing flat. TN-C-S earthing system. Main protective bonding correct. 


Wet room for disabled occupant. Electric shower and extract fan supplied from a Wylex 2 way consumer unit  with BS EN 61008 30mA RCD main switch. Recently installed.


RCD does not trip on X1 RCD test but does trip on X 5 and operation of test button. RCD does not tip on a second and third test after X 5 test and operation of the test button.


Thinking about the Note to Regulation 643.8 are you content with this installation as there are no other observations recorded and prepared to issue a "Satisfactory" EICR?


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  • 0

    John Peckham:

    The changes relating to this requirement were the move of the 40ms at 150mA from Chapter 41 to Part 6. 


    The big change I strongly object to is testing RCDs only at x5 or higher. The higher bit is just stupid! I have heard one manufacturer recommending a test at 250mA. What is the purpose of this test is it to get the RCD to trip? Or should it be a test the RCD at a potentially lethal current and verify it will disconnect the supply in a safe time.


    Graham Kenyon posted a very good table on the old forum for testing of RCDS that I think should appear in the future AMD1 to the 18TH.


    I note that the sad posts by Zoom of a double fatality concerning a shower and GB post of a fatality in rented premises could have been prevented by RCD protection.




    Does the move from Ch 41 to Part 6 make finding it any easier or not?


    For me, the problem is that the reduction in the number of columns in the generic schedule encourages testing to be limited to one value.


    Testing an RCD 5 times (on auto) instead of 3 (or one?) is so little effort that I cannot understand why anybody would avoid doing it. The corollary is that if any of the values is a fail, then a remedy needs to be provided.


    I am a bit wary of the notion that the above fatalities could have been avoided if (functioning) RCDs were present. They are, after all, in a TN installation additional to ADS and not in place of it.

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  • 0

    John Peckham:

    The changes relating to this requirement were the move of the 40ms at 150mA from Chapter 41 to Part 6. 


    The big change I strongly object to is testing RCDs only at x5 or higher. The higher bit is just stupid! I have heard one manufacturer recommending a test at 250mA. What is the purpose of this test is it to get the RCD to trip? Or should it be a test the RCD at a potentially lethal current and verify it will disconnect the supply in a safe time.


    Graham Kenyon posted a very good table on the old forum for testing of RCDS that I think should appear in the future AMD1 to the 18TH.


    I note that the sad posts by Zoom of a double fatality concerning a shower and GB post of a fatality in rented premises could have been prevented by RCD protection.




    Does the move from Ch 41 to Part 6 make finding it any easier or not?


    For me, the problem is that the reduction in the number of columns in the generic schedule encourages testing to be limited to one value.


    Testing an RCD 5 times (on auto) instead of 3 (or one?) is so little effort that I cannot understand why anybody would avoid doing it. The corollary is that if any of the values is a fail, then a remedy needs to be provided.


    I am a bit wary of the notion that the above fatalities could have been avoided if (functioning) RCDs were present. They are, after all, in a TN installation additional to ADS and not in place of it.

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