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Surge Protection & Inspection Intervals

If it is considered that an unskilled person could not, safely, replace an SPD surge module;-

Should the recommended interval until the next inspection be shortened if an SPD is part of the Installation (to take into account the limited operating life of the SPD).

If so, are there any guides to the amount of interval reduction?


Regards

PG
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  • ebee:
    MHRestorations:

    I like the SPD's where the 'flag' operates a set of volt free contacts for this exact reason. A bell transformer and a distinctive buzzer could complete the setup. Some enterprising manufacturer could make a self 'buzzing' SPD for when the industry as a whole starts to fit them routinely.


    Ditto that.

    I`ll bet nobody does though!




    The original posting queried if the plug-in module of a faulty SPD assembly could   be replaced by an unskilled person and if not, what should the period until the next inspection be quoted on the Installation Certificate or Condition Report.
    I agree with MH Restorations’ & Ebee’s point of view, adding an alarm on SPD failure.
    I’ve checked with a couple of Suppliers and the front of the Consumer Unit has to be removed to change the SPD module. Not a job for an unskilled person.
    The detection of a faulty SPD could be part of a Routine Check in commercial and industrial installations that have formal systems of checking but Domestic premises would be unlikely to have the annual, or shorter, periods recommended in GN3. There are plenty of Forum members who doubt that anyone will ever look at the surge module passive status indication in a domestic installation so it would seem reasonable that BS7671 called for an obligatory audible/visual alarm, say something like a fire alarm bleeping on low battery detection (arrangements are available but don’t seem to be universally adopted).

     


Reply
  • ebee:
    MHRestorations:

    I like the SPD's where the 'flag' operates a set of volt free contacts for this exact reason. A bell transformer and a distinctive buzzer could complete the setup. Some enterprising manufacturer could make a self 'buzzing' SPD for when the industry as a whole starts to fit them routinely.


    Ditto that.

    I`ll bet nobody does though!




    The original posting queried if the plug-in module of a faulty SPD assembly could   be replaced by an unskilled person and if not, what should the period until the next inspection be quoted on the Installation Certificate or Condition Report.
    I agree with MH Restorations’ & Ebee’s point of view, adding an alarm on SPD failure.
    I’ve checked with a couple of Suppliers and the front of the Consumer Unit has to be removed to change the SPD module. Not a job for an unskilled person.
    The detection of a faulty SPD could be part of a Routine Check in commercial and industrial installations that have formal systems of checking but Domestic premises would be unlikely to have the annual, or shorter, periods recommended in GN3. There are plenty of Forum members who doubt that anyone will ever look at the surge module passive status indication in a domestic installation so it would seem reasonable that BS7671 called for an obligatory audible/visual alarm, say something like a fire alarm bleeping on low battery detection (arrangements are available but don’t seem to be universally adopted).

     


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