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30mA RCDs for sockets - AMD2

As you many (or may not) have noticed, AMD2 deletes the option to omit 30mA RCD protection for socket outlets (by documented risk assessment). So then ALL sockets rated ≤32A will need to be on a 30mA RCD.


This strikes me as unhelpful for some situations - e.g. feeds to server racks in data centres where the cumulative protective conductor currents will likely nuisance trip a 30mA device and hard-wiring instead using plugs & sockets is undesirable as non-skilled persons (electrically) are likely to need to be able to disconnect/reconnect the supplies to racks (sometimes under 'duress' conditions).


There are probably other situations too - I've seen 16A sockets used to feed lights high up in major railway station canopies (presumably so the fittings can be readily disconnected and brought to ground level for maintenance) - where I guess the risk of loss of lighting far outweighs the risk from shock.


OK we possibly get around the letter of the regs by hard-wiring to a short length of flex and having a connector (trailing socket) on the end of that (thus side-stepping the definition of a socket outlet which has to be connected to fixed wiring) - but that hardly seems to be in the spirit of the regs, nor necessarily a good technical solution where a fixed socket would have been the better solution.


Further thoughts?


  - Andy.
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  • One may always think of exceptions, such as access limited to skilled persons, but it seems eminently sensible to me.


    Problem is the eye-wateringly high cost of three-phase RCBOs - they make AFDDs look cheap!
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  • One may always think of exceptions, such as access limited to skilled persons, but it seems eminently sensible to me.


    Problem is the eye-wateringly high cost of three-phase RCBOs - they make AFDDs look cheap!
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