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132.16 "....will be adequate" X 2.

Zoomup
132.16 states: "No addition or alteration, temporary or permanent, shall be made to an existing installation, unless it has been ascertained that the rating and the condition of any existing equipment, including the distributor, will be adequate for the altered circumstances. Furthermore, the earthing and bonding arrangements, if necessary for the protective measures applied for safety of the installation, shall be adequate."


Does that mean that we can't work on any installation that is less than adequate electrically?


I recently undertook necessary work on an installation that needed a lot of additional work done to bring the whole installation up to modern standards. The small amount of work that I did (new consumer unit and oil pipe bonding) increased safety considerably, but the home owners did not want additional work done at that time. So, should I not have fitted a new consumer unit?


Z.


  • 0
    No, it doesn't mean that.


    My interpretation is that all parts of the installation upstream of the alteration or addition, and the earthing and bonding so far as they affect safety of the alteration or addition, must be adequate.


    The paragraph does not apply to any other existing parts of the installation.

    644.1.2 prohibits the issuing of an EIC until any relevant defects have been remedied. Other defects may be mentioned in the "comments on existing installation" part of an EIC or MWC.


    A new CU does not adversely affect the safety of existing circuits, but the earthing and bonding must be brought up to the appropriate standard to ensure that the CU is safe.
  • 0
    Hi Zoom,

    I agree, for your works - new consumer unit and oil pipe bonding then the distributors equipment must be OK for the new CU and also the Earthing and bonding adequate for the new CU then good to go and install the CU.

    Other remedial works on existing is highly preffered but providing that by energising your new CU you are not living up a dangerous install then all is OK.
  • 0

    132.16 states: "No addition or alteration, temporary or permanent, shall be made to an existing installation, unless it has been ascertained that the rating and the condition of any existing equipment, including the distributor, will be adequate for the altered circumstances. Furthermore, the earthing and bonding arrangements, if necessary for the protective measures applied for safety of the installation, shall be adequate."



    My copy seems to have slightly different wording...


    No addition, temporary or permanent, shall be made to an existing installation, unless it has been ascertained that the rating and the condition of any existing equipment, including that of the distributor, will be adequate for the altered circumstances. Furthermore, the earthing and bonding arrangements, if necessary for the protective measure applied for the safety of the alteration or addition, shall be adequate.


    I don't know if that helps any...


      - Andy.
  • 0

    AJJewsbury:




    132.16 states: "No addition or alteration, temporary or permanent, shall be made to an existing installation, unless it has been ascertained that the rating and the condition of any existing equipment, including the distributor, will be adequate for the altered circumstances. Furthermore, the earthing and bonding arrangements, if necessary for the protective measures applied for safety of the installation, shall be adequate."



    My copy seems to have slightly different wording...


    No addition, temporary or permanent, shall be made to an existing installation, unless it has been ascertained that the rating and the condition of any existing equipment, including that of the distributor, will be adequate for the altered circumstances. Furthermore, the earthing and bonding arrangements, if necessary for the protective measure applied for the safety of the alteration or addition, shall be adequate.


    I don't know if that helps any...


      - Andy.

     




    Well spotted Andy, my version came from the "wrong glasses " edition of B.S. 7671. The second sentence does indeed apply to adequate earthing and bonding of the addition or alteration.


    Z.


     

  • 0

    Chris Pearson:

    No, it doesn't mean that.


    My interpretation is that all parts of the installation upstream of the alteration or addition, and the earthing and bonding so far as they affect safety of the alteration or addition, must be adequate.


    The paragraph does not apply to any other existing parts of the installation.

    644.1.2 prohibits the issuing of an EIC until any relevant defects have been remedied. Other defects may be mentioned in the "comments on existing installation" part of an EIC or MWC.


    A new CU does not adversely affect the safety of existing circuits, but the earthing and bonding must be brought up to the appropriate standard to ensure that the CU is safe.




    Hello Chris,

                               I imagined that the word "equipment", short for "electrical equipment" included all items referred to in the Part 2 Definitions, including "protective devices, wiring systems, accessories, appliances and luminaires." So downstream stuff as well as upstream stuff.


    z.

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