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Surge protectors - who is responsible?
Former Community Member
If a contractor installs a “fully loaded” domestic consumer unit with surge protection, are they liable for subsequent damage that may occur to electrical appliances within the installation?
Aside from the terms specified in a particular contract, it would be reasonable to expect that any new electrical installation would be fully compliant with 7671. The contractor, if subsequently challenged on the constructional aspects of his installation, can then point to a nationally accepted code to demonstrate that he had done all that was reasonable to mitigate the risks attendant in the use of his installation. It will be very interesting to see if some of the many contractors who seem to think that SPDs are a dispensable item are eventually called to account.
As far as 7671 is concerned, SPDs are a clear requirement in many instances and thus their absence or their incorrect installation is not defendable. It also remains to be seen whether those responsible for the design of electrical installations will be able to mount a robust defence when they fail to take due regard of the recommendation in our national standard to provide AFDDs.
Aside from the terms specified in a particular contract, it would be reasonable to expect that any new electrical installation would be fully compliant with 7671. The contractor, if subsequently challenged on the constructional aspects of his installation, can then point to a nationally accepted code to demonstrate that he had done all that was reasonable to mitigate the risks attendant in the use of his installation. It will be very interesting to see if some of the many contractors who seem to think that SPDs are a dispensable item are eventually called to account.
As far as 7671 is concerned, SPDs are a clear requirement in many instances and thus their absence or their incorrect installation is not defendable. It also remains to be seen whether those responsible for the design of electrical installations will be able to mount a robust defence when they fail to take due regard of the recommendation in our national standard to provide AFDDs.
