Landlord electrical inspections from July!

I am sympathetic to the view which states that if the installation fully complied with regulations at the time, and still do - that is, it is in good condition - then I would deem it to be safe for continued use despite the lack of the fulfillment of any of today's requirements.

So logically you'd pass as safe an installation that complied with the 1st Ed?


I think the point is that what society considers "safe" changes with time - if we're asked today the question: is this installation safe? doesn't it need to be answered considering today's definition of safe, not yesterday's, or last century's (or the century before that).

 

1.Using a public utility water pipe as a means of earthing? Compliant in 13th Edition.

2. No RCD protection for a 230V socket that could supply portable equipment outside? Compliant 14th Edition.

3. A bedroom with a show cubical with a 230V socket 2.5m from the shower? Compliant with the 15th edition.

4. A surface run wiring system on a ceiling without metalic support? Compliant with the 16th Edition.

5. An electric vehicle charging point connected to a PME earthing system without one of the special provisions for neutral. Compliant with 17th Edition.

Just off the top of my head (using my usual yardstick of zero faults to danger=C1, one fault to danger=C2, two faults to danger (where the current regs would offer protection)=C3)


1. Presuming the pipe is still currently offering an adequate Earth, then presuming it's a typical domestic like installation where overall leakage currents could reasonably expected to exceed 10mA then I suggest only one "fault" to danger (i.e. loss of pipework continuity) - so I'd say a C2. (If earth leakage would be unlikely to exceed 10mA then we'd need two faults to danger (loss of pipework continuity and a L-PE fault) so then a C3 might be appropriate.)


2. C2 for me (danger from single fault reasonably likely - e.g. hedge trimmer cutting through 2-core flex or long leads resulting in Zs being too high for 0.4s disconnection).


3. Tricky. Would probably depends on the exact layout and situation - but probably less chance of an appliance being taken into a shower cubicle than falling into a bath, so I'd probably start with thoughts of a C3.


4. Probably C2 if over a likely fire escape route, C3 otherwise.


5. Tricky again - but on the basis that an open PEN although a single fault in the strict sense should be as rare as a double fault, gut feel is probably a C3.


   - Andy.

I am sympathetic to the view which states that if the installation fully complied with regulations at the time, and still do - that is, it is in good condition - then I would deem it to be safe for continued use despite the lack of the fulfillment of any of today's requirements.

So logically you'd pass as safe an installation that complied with the 1st Ed?


I think the point is that what society considers "safe" changes with time - if we're asked today the question: is this installation safe? doesn't it need to be answered considering today's definition of safe, not yesterday's, or last century's (or the century before that).

 

1.Using a public utility water pipe as a means of earthing? Compliant in 13th Edition.

2. No RCD protection for a 230V socket that could supply portable equipment outside? Compliant 14th Edition.

3. A bedroom with a show cubical with a 230V socket 2.5m from the shower? Compliant with the 15th edition.

4. A surface run wiring system on a ceiling without metalic support? Compliant with the 16th Edition.

5. An electric vehicle charging point connected to a PME earthing system without one of the special provisions for neutral. Compliant with 17th Edition.

Just off the top of my head (using my usual yardstick of zero faults to danger=C1, one fault to danger=C2, two faults to danger (where the current regs would offer protection)=C3)


1. Presuming the pipe is still currently offering an adequate Earth, then presuming it's a typical domestic like installation where overall leakage currents could reasonably expected to exceed 10mA then I suggest only one "fault" to danger (i.e. loss of pipework continuity) - so I'd say a C2. (If earth leakage would be unlikely to exceed 10mA then we'd need two faults to danger (loss of pipework continuity and a L-PE fault) so then a C3 might be appropriate.)


2. C2 for me (danger from single fault reasonably likely - e.g. hedge trimmer cutting through 2-core flex or long leads resulting in Zs being too high for 0.4s disconnection).


3. Tricky. Would probably depends on the exact layout and situation - but probably less chance of an appliance being taken into a shower cubicle than falling into a bath, so I'd probably start with thoughts of a C3.


4. Probably C2 if over a likely fire escape route, C3 otherwise.


5. Tricky again - but on the basis that an open PEN although a single fault in the strict sense should be as rare as a double fault, gut feel is probably a C3.


   - Andy.