Shock Likelihood at Switch.

perspicacious:
The installation certificate should say that the lack of a CPC is a non-compliance, to quote the ESF Best practice guide I linked to above:
10.9. On completion of the work a record of any non-compliances, including the lack of protective conductors on the lighting circuits, must made in the Comments on existing installation section of the electrical installation certificate issued to cover the work

I just checked the ESF guidance on un-earthed Class 1 fittings and their guidance is C2 and an unstatisfactory report. 


Aren't these two mutually incompatible?


Regards


BOD

 

Plastic light switches without a CPC is a non-compliance and should be noted on the installation certificate as such.


Installing a replacement consumer unit to provide RCD protection is an improvement, so should not be discounted out of hand, but it doesn’t mean that class 1 metal light switches on a circuit without a CPC are considered safe.


So coding class 1 metal light switches as a level 2 risk remains reasonable.


The last time I had to deal with this issue was whilst undertaking inspection and testing in a HMO preparing an EICR for submission to the council for renewal of the HMO licence, I managed to pull in a CPC in a couple of places that resolved many issues and replaced some metal light switches with plastic switches. The stupid part of it was that when the house was converted to a HMO a new consumer unit was installed along with a LD1 smoke alarm system that meant all the floors were lifted to install the new circuit, but the lighting circuit was not replaced at the same time, some people are just stupid.


Andy B.

perspicacious:
The installation certificate should say that the lack of a CPC is a non-compliance, to quote the ESF Best practice guide I linked to above:
10.9. On completion of the work a record of any non-compliances, including the lack of protective conductors on the lighting circuits, must made in the Comments on existing installation section of the electrical installation certificate issued to cover the work

I just checked the ESF guidance on un-earthed Class 1 fittings and their guidance is C2 and an unstatisfactory report. 


Aren't these two mutually incompatible?


Regards


BOD

 

Plastic light switches without a CPC is a non-compliance and should be noted on the installation certificate as such.


Installing a replacement consumer unit to provide RCD protection is an improvement, so should not be discounted out of hand, but it doesn’t mean that class 1 metal light switches on a circuit without a CPC are considered safe.


So coding class 1 metal light switches as a level 2 risk remains reasonable.


The last time I had to deal with this issue was whilst undertaking inspection and testing in a HMO preparing an EICR for submission to the council for renewal of the HMO licence, I managed to pull in a CPC in a couple of places that resolved many issues and replaced some metal light switches with plastic switches. The stupid part of it was that when the house was converted to a HMO a new consumer unit was installed along with a LD1 smoke alarm system that meant all the floors were lifted to install the new circuit, but the lighting circuit was not replaced at the same time, some people are just stupid.


Andy B.