You want a one size fits all solution. You are not going to get that with BS7671. Context and engineering judgement is required and being able to back up this up is needed to decide.  Obviously being physically present to make this judgement is essential. So not really a "drive by" Report or "Report by Google" or  trial by forum is going to cut it.


If this is all such a problem, then another mechanism separate to BS7671 is required for in-service safety verification of dwellings


EICR should not be some trumped up "third party verification" applied after the event to installation works [ to make clear :  this is Electrical Installation works requiring some kind of design, construction and certification ] and being used to force "upgrading" of Installation works that were not done to standard in the first instance.


If something is constructed initially to standard.

Then maintained to standard.

Then periodically Inspected as per the standard.

Interim additions/alterations are all done to standard.

Then, by conclusion, what you are likely to have, at the end of the day, is an Installation not very far away from the latest requirements for new installation works to BS7671 and there would not be all this gnashing of teeth.


Stuff gets added to. Circuits are added to. If these works had had BS7671 applied at the time and fit for purpose maintenance in the interim, there would not be this perceived "safety problem", as upgrading to standard would happen gradually.


Not sure how often I have said this now, it seems like a thousand times, but EICR, as BS7671 does not fit well with a significant amount of existing electrical installations as they are not done to BS7671. The process of EICR works on the presumption that all that has gone before had BS7671 involved. Obviously this is not real world as economics has driven the use of EICR as a substitute for works being done to a safe standard in the first instance.


With an EICR, in the utopian ideal of BS7671 land, you would simply looking for deterioration , damage , faulty protective devices any change of use that affects the risk, and general wear and tear etc.


If there is such a problem, focus on who, what and how electrical installation and maintenance works are being carried out and why this is.



 

You want a one size fits all solution. You are not going to get that with BS7671. Context and engineering judgement is required and being able to back up this up is needed to decide.  Obviously being physically present to make this judgement is essential. So not really a "drive by" Report or "Report by Google" or  trial by forum is going to cut it.


If this is all such a problem, then another mechanism separate to BS7671 is required for in-service safety verification of dwellings


EICR should not be some trumped up "third party verification" applied after the event to installation works [ to make clear :  this is Electrical Installation works requiring some kind of design, construction and certification ] and being used to force "upgrading" of Installation works that were not done to standard in the first instance.


If something is constructed initially to standard.

Then maintained to standard.

Then periodically Inspected as per the standard.

Interim additions/alterations are all done to standard.

Then, by conclusion, what you are likely to have, at the end of the day, is an Installation not very far away from the latest requirements for new installation works to BS7671 and there would not be all this gnashing of teeth.


Stuff gets added to. Circuits are added to. If these works had had BS7671 applied at the time and fit for purpose maintenance in the interim, there would not be this perceived "safety problem", as upgrading to standard would happen gradually.


Not sure how often I have said this now, it seems like a thousand times, but EICR, as BS7671 does not fit well with a significant amount of existing electrical installations as they are not done to BS7671. The process of EICR works on the presumption that all that has gone before had BS7671 involved. Obviously this is not real world as economics has driven the use of EICR as a substitute for works being done to a safe standard in the first instance.


With an EICR, in the utopian ideal of BS7671 land, you would simply looking for deterioration , damage , faulty protective devices any change of use that affects the risk, and general wear and tear etc.


If there is such a problem, focus on who, what and how electrical installation and maintenance works are being carried out and why this is.