17th edition design given 18th edition certifcate

Sounds like a poor install all round.  I would like to know where in the regs it says we have to fit an SPD. As far as i am aware the advise given was we should offer it to the customer and it was up to them , it is not a condition of a compliant 18th edition  install. 

Gary

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So, did they fit a surge protection device In the consumer unit or adjacent to it?

The 18th ed regs (443.4) say you must fit an SPD in some circumstances (e.g. where overvoltage could cause injury), otherwise you may skip a single dwelling where nothing much of value would be lost, otherwise you must fit one unless you can show via the calculation in 443.5 that it's not needed.

If the customer refuses when the regs say you must, then that's a non-conformity to be listed on the EIC.

I paid for and had the SPD fitted as I have had previous experience with fixed led lighting and surge events that cost an arm and a leg.

Everything else occured after that point as it was discovered in the course of usual life e.g. wallpapering so sockets off, the nuesance tripping, EV charger not to regs etc.

I would like to know where in the regs it says we have to fit an SPD. As far as i am aware the advise given was we should offer it to the customer and it was up to them , it is not a condition of a compliant 18th edition  install. 

18th reg 443.4 demands that protection against transient overvoltages shall be provided unless the risk assessment (443.5) shows it's not required or (for single dwelling units only) the total value of the installation and equipment therein does not justify such protection.

The risk assessment tends to say SPDs are needed unless you're in a city-centre kind of environment, but the details vary.

The ‘value of the installation and equipment therein does not justify such protection’ option is a bit vague, some guidance has suggested that 5x the cost of the SPDs would be the limit - which would be hard to justify in the modern home (the cost of a TV and washing machine alone would probably put you above that line).

(As an aside, putting SPDs on the mains alone, while leaving say the phone line and TV aerial unprotected, might not entirely provide adequate protection, which might be something to factor into the cost calculation.)

    - Andy.

My view is that fitting the types of spds available for domestic consumer units is akin to putting lipstick on a pig, and about as useful.

Sparkingchip: 
If the contractor paid to use online certificate software to produce the certificates I doubt there was an option to “back date” the installation by using 17th edition forms, they would have to use 18th forms and amend as required.

Filling in the SPD box as “N/A” may be acceptable if the design date is noted or if the SPD is not actually required.

As I said above if the only reason a SPD is required is because of the additional work ordered by the customer then the cost of supplying and installing the SPD should have been added onto the cost of the extra work as a chargeable item.

I agree with this being the answer.

The manufacturer of the LED lights may have recommended SPDs are used, and the requirement to install taking into account manufacturer's instructions is a fundamental requirement of 17th Edition as well as 18th Edition.

If that is the case, it should have been taken into account in the cost of the variation, although if this were costed and itemised for approval, without SPD being listed, it could be argued it was known at the time no SPD would be fitted (depending on the ceraunic level in the area … 17th Ed did include an assessment as a criteria for installing SPDs but it was different to 18th Edition).

whjohnson: 
 

My view is that fitting the types of spds available for domestic consumer units is akin to putting lipstick on a pig, and about as useful.

I don't tend to agree, but see Andy Jewsbury's post regarding a need to fit them on other copper-wired services as well. BS 7671 refers out to BS 6701 and BS EN 50174-3 for this.