This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Social Housing EICR Contract

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
OK. Id be very grateful for some experienced testers opinions regarding how they would proceed if they were in my shoes.


I accepted a contract carrying out EICR's for a social housing contract.


Now, I havent been doing EICR's since 2015. Back then I would charge a day rate and test every circuit 100%.


Probably the biggest part of how I used to do things was disconnecting every last piece of current using equipment and doing I.R between neutral and line, line and earth and neutral and earth. It used to take a lot of effort to find every piece of equipment and often things were found which the customer, despite living in the property all their lives didnt know existed.


Here I have 1.5 hours per property, we arent allowed to leave FI, C1 or C2 problems (withing reson of course but generally theres a lot to sort out)


1st question - If your R1 + R2 value is lower than either your RN or your R1 continuity tests - What would that tell you and what would you do to prove the circuit is ok for continued use in its current state?


2nd question - If you had either excessively high, or no continuity on R1, RN or R2 end to end readings, how can you quickly and simply prove the circuit is stilll safe for use without getting deep in to further investigation?


3th question - When doing an I.R test whereby........ line+neutral are connected together and tested to earth - Is there any electronic or electrical device which, if connected, could result in a test failing the circuit? I had one today 0.79 ohms


Parents

  • Daniel Hughes:

    I accepted a contract carrying out EICR's for a social housing contract.



    So you are where you are. Let's get on with it!

    Now, I havent been doing EICR's since 2015. Back then I would charge a day rate and test every circuit 100%.

    Every circuit needs to be tested, but you can sample. A good inspection history and a clean environment (unlikely in social housing?) lowers the sampling rate. See GN3 3.8.4 (17th Edn).

    Here I have 1.5 hours per property, we arent allowed to leave FI, C1 or C2 problems (withing reson of course but generally theres a lot to sort out)

    Next time I get an MOT, I shall tell my man, John, that he cannot fail or make advisories. Legally, I would say that you can void the contract for unreasonableness if you cannot grade FI, C1, or C2, or have to fix any issues for no extra fee.

    1st question - If your R1 + R2 value is lower than either your RN or your R1 continuity tests - What would that tell you and what would you do to prove the circuit is ok for continued use in its current state?

    R1 + R2 = (r1 + r2)/4 so that wouldn't worry me. (OSG 10.3)

    2nd question - If you had either excessively high, or no continuity on R1, RN or R2 end to end readings, how can you quickly and simply prove the circuit is stilll safe for use without getting deep in to further investigation?

    I don't think that you can. (I spent a large part of a morning recently testing a large ring, which was previously satisfactory. It turned out that a spreader (or the householder) had removed a socket and simply taped the ends loosely together. It was all hidden behind some boards. Seriously!)

    3th question - When doing an I.R test whereby........ line+neutral are connected together and tested to earth - Is there any electronic or electrical device which, if connected, could result in a test failing the circuit? I had one today 0.79 ohms

    I imagine that this is a typo for 0.79 MΩ. I wouldn't rule it out. Surely that's an FI!
Reply

  • Daniel Hughes:

    I accepted a contract carrying out EICR's for a social housing contract.



    So you are where you are. Let's get on with it!

    Now, I havent been doing EICR's since 2015. Back then I would charge a day rate and test every circuit 100%.

    Every circuit needs to be tested, but you can sample. A good inspection history and a clean environment (unlikely in social housing?) lowers the sampling rate. See GN3 3.8.4 (17th Edn).

    Here I have 1.5 hours per property, we arent allowed to leave FI, C1 or C2 problems (withing reson of course but generally theres a lot to sort out)

    Next time I get an MOT, I shall tell my man, John, that he cannot fail or make advisories. Legally, I would say that you can void the contract for unreasonableness if you cannot grade FI, C1, or C2, or have to fix any issues for no extra fee.

    1st question - If your R1 + R2 value is lower than either your RN or your R1 continuity tests - What would that tell you and what would you do to prove the circuit is ok for continued use in its current state?

    R1 + R2 = (r1 + r2)/4 so that wouldn't worry me. (OSG 10.3)

    2nd question - If you had either excessively high, or no continuity on R1, RN or R2 end to end readings, how can you quickly and simply prove the circuit is stilll safe for use without getting deep in to further investigation?

    I don't think that you can. (I spent a large part of a morning recently testing a large ring, which was previously satisfactory. It turned out that a spreader (or the householder) had removed a socket and simply taped the ends loosely together. It was all hidden behind some boards. Seriously!)

    3th question - When doing an I.R test whereby........ line+neutral are connected together and tested to earth - Is there any electronic or electrical device which, if connected, could result in a test failing the circuit? I had one today 0.79 ohms

    I imagine that this is a typo for 0.79 MΩ. I wouldn't rule it out. Surely that's an FI!
Children
No Data