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ebee

Rather than hijack an existing thread I thought a new thread might better serve.

A few times I have stated my dislike of the way some folk few acceptance of installations undertaken to earlier editions of our "Regs" being compared to installtions being done very recently.

For those of you (if any) who are not aware of my stance I will repeat it (Yes again, sorry folks).

When doing an EICR/PIR a defect is noted and if that defect was compliant at the time of the actual install then some would not code it at all or perhaps code it more leniently.

I say this is very silly.

A defect should be recorded and if you think it sufficiently impacts on "safety"  (relative safety reallY) then should be coded as appropriate.

We I & T to todays standard and compare it to that.

We might reasonably consider how safe/unsafe we perceive it to be if we compare it to things past.

Those of us who are older and remember earlier Editions of Regs might ,admitadley, be less severe with our coding than a more newbie electrician. That should not be the case but in reality it might well be. We often use that as a mental reference to effect our perception of "safety".

However, no relevance in coding different outcomes should ever be based purely upon the install date (therefore Reg Edition in force at that particular time). It must be purely based on how it compares with our standards now.

So quick answers as to what items we would have not felt aprehensive about in days gone but might concern us a bit more nowadays?

I`ll start of with inclusion of RCDs and Bonding presence/sizing.

Any more?

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    Decades ago, small electric cables as used for house wiring were insulated with various rubber compounds. These had a limited lifetime as the rubber perished when exposed to heat or light, and perished a bit more slower when exposed to air.

    Re-wiring at intervals of about 20 to 25 years was therefore recommended. Loads were also increasing rapidly and an installation from 1930 was unlikely to meet the needs of the 1950s household.

    Then came plastic insulated and sheathed cables which seem to last almost forever. Domestic load growth also stopped by about 1970. A modern household has far more appliances than the 1970s home, but most of the additions are very low wattage portable electronics.

    A modern fridge or washing machine uses LESS power. Electric heating has also declined with the general use of gas central heating.

     

    There is therefore no fundamental reason why a 1970s electrical installation could not give satisfactory service today, after about 50 years, perhaps after adding a dozen or more extra sockets. (to existing circuits, see earlier remarks about no extra load)

    A cynic like me therefore suspects that because modern installations do not wear out, that the electrical industry has to find a steady stream of ways to require upgrades every few years.

    More bonding and larger bonding conductors.

    MCBs instead of fuses.

    Larger meter tails than previously used for the same size supply.

    RCDs for some circuits, later for almost all circuits.

    Metal consumer units.

    Surge protection.

    Arc fault protection.

    With the frequency of these changes, even a house wired only a few years ago will often need major work to let it.

     

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  • 0

    Decades ago, small electric cables as used for house wiring were insulated with various rubber compounds. These had a limited lifetime as the rubber perished when exposed to heat or light, and perished a bit more slower when exposed to air.

    Re-wiring at intervals of about 20 to 25 years was therefore recommended. Loads were also increasing rapidly and an installation from 1930 was unlikely to meet the needs of the 1950s household.

    Then came plastic insulated and sheathed cables which seem to last almost forever. Domestic load growth also stopped by about 1970. A modern household has far more appliances than the 1970s home, but most of the additions are very low wattage portable electronics.

    A modern fridge or washing machine uses LESS power. Electric heating has also declined with the general use of gas central heating.

     

    There is therefore no fundamental reason why a 1970s electrical installation could not give satisfactory service today, after about 50 years, perhaps after adding a dozen or more extra sockets. (to existing circuits, see earlier remarks about no extra load)

    A cynic like me therefore suspects that because modern installations do not wear out, that the electrical industry has to find a steady stream of ways to require upgrades every few years.

    More bonding and larger bonding conductors.

    MCBs instead of fuses.

    Larger meter tails than previously used for the same size supply.

    RCDs for some circuits, later for almost all circuits.

    Metal consumer units.

    Surge protection.

    Arc fault protection.

    With the frequency of these changes, even a house wired only a few years ago will often need major work to let it.

     

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