Installation (domestic) without Service Head

It sounds like the flat wiring may be fine, but the shared kit presumably belonging not to the flat, but to the building owners may be less than optimal !  (and presumably that statement is equally true for all flats in the block)


" direct access to 70mm lugged cables with door closed. " is not at all what is expected. Is this an area that is essentially public, or in a locked room ?


I'm presuming that before the meters is either DNO or BNO ?  (individual service head or not, there is presumably a demarcation at the meter between consumer, metered, and xNO, unmetered.)

Who are they, and do you have a way to contact them ?


Also, not sure if I dare ask, but perhaps you should, what is the state of the earthing ?

Mike.

If the flat is otherwise fine it must pass. This problem as Mike says is nothing to do with the flat owner or whatever. I assume the metering is in the flat and is owned by the DNO. As you are direct from a 200A head, perhaps they are getting free Electricity? The DNO should be contacted to see what the arrangements actually are, I'm sure they will know.

Thanks for the replies.


The metering is located with the BNO MSDB, which is acting as the head might, ie the only form of isolation for the flats meter operator. 


This is essentially a public access cupboard. 


The EICR asks for condition of in relation to the installation-


1.1 Service cable (in a BNO feed to head?) C2


Maybe this could be in additional inspections as the actual DNO service cable is fine.


1.2 Service head (absent, could be said to be MSDB?) C1


1.3 Earthing arrangement (Visibly TN-S pme by default) OK


1.4 Meter tails (From MSDB (head) to Sw fuse unit) C2


1.5 Metering equipment (Ok)


1.6 Isolator (where present) (switch fuse unit for SWA service to flat direct in to CU) C2


Given all these data points are requested   and the only one that may be totally absent is the isolator (though it is present here) 


The DNO side of things is all fine... just old but thats not a failure. 


The BNO is poor however individual flats share the responsibility here and are responsible for their own supplies from the communal cupboard.


There are no Un metered supplies out of the MSDB but that in itself is un metered.


Cheers

They cannot be responsible because the flat installation only starts after the meter. The BNO is unlikely to be them either, as then they could remove all the metering LEGALLY, as they own that part of the installation. In fact, I doubt that there is a BNO, it sounds as though this is all the responsibility of the metering company (whatever the name is this week). Why do you think this is the responsibility of the flat owners? It seems you are in the middle of serious snag shifting, but this is not really what BS7671 is envisaging by "supply equipment" eg the head and connected equipment.

In relation to the MSDB, the DNO (UKPN) have stated it is not their equipment and is owned by the building as part of the building distribution. 


The meter operator EON state it is not theirs either. 


This is all fairly normal though. 


The flat owners are the building owners all leasehold flats with share of the freehold and an overarching Ltd to deal with shared duties, to which they are all directors, again all fairly normal. 


Whilst they may not be aware they have BNO duties to prevent abstraction etc.


In any normal domestic install we assess the entire install from the intake, BS7671 starting at the load side of the head. 


In a normal domestic this would definitely fail with exposed live conductors etc 


How do we differentiate where there is a BNO without individual service heads per the EDS? 


Meter operators require a safe form of isolation usually afforded either by standard or red heads Just prior to their meters. 


Given in such situations Flats may be tenanted, could a coroner/court successfully argue that because a tenant requires access to read their meter and have use of the isolator In emergencies this area and relevant equipment is demise of the dwelling premises Under the PRS legislation? 


Cheers

I'd have thought an individual tenant gets an EICR just for their flat. That might contain a note that, "while outside the scope, please be aware of the dodginess in the supply".


I'd have thought  it's the responsibility of the management company, in their role as BNO, to get the common supply infrastructure inspected and modified. Same way as if the handrails on the communial stairs were falling off.

Someone must be responsible, as they are for the fabric of the building, testing of  the fire alarms, emergency lights and so on. The cost may fall back on the owners of the flats jointly via building management as part of the maintenance fee, rather like it would with the theoretical example of the wobbly banisters but somehow the relevant person or legal entity needs to be notified that their electrics are not up to par.

But it is almost certainly not all the responsibility of flat 1 or whoever you are inspecting.

Mike.

First time I’ve heard that Alan. 


Why are these items on an EICR Model form?


Why do we certify BNO installs with BS7671 certification? 


What regulations apply to meter tails feeding / leaving a meter? 


Who certifies them?


Cheers