Requirements for AFDD's on new installations following amendment 2?

I've installed AFDDs, it was a wooden scout hut with sleeping quarters, electric heaters but a gas cooking range. Original CU was a plastic 30mA front end RCD with about 8 circuits fed from a 3 phase DB in a separate building. The kitchen was condemned for not having a gas solenoid interlock to the fans which also weren't big enough so upgrade works were going on. 

As i recall when I was looking at the AFDDs it was recommended 1 per circuit, so I couldn't fit one to the sub main circuit and protect the entire  SWA sub main and CU as could happen when RCDs were 1st introduced. .

In trying to find out whether they were a good idea I spoke to several reps none of which were over enthusiastic in fitting them. In the end client wanted them fitted as they had their own maintenance sparks noting the lack in higher risk buildings. i.e. wooden and sleeping quarters. 

Once fitted and tested I left site feeling the job was incomplete because there was no test as RCD/RCBO to carry out and no readings like Zs to compare for MCBs, just the test button on the combination unit and a flashing light to say what had triggered the trip. 

Not sure we can expect much in the way of feed back if they become mandatory unless as was said earlier energy use increase becomes noticeable. 

As an aside is there enough energy in most domestic lighting circuits nowadays to produce maintain the arc in a loose connection? My place has 2 lighting circuits each with about 0.5A loading due to LED lamps

I've installed AFDDs, it was a wooden scout hut with sleeping quarters, electric heaters but a gas cooking range. Original CU was a plastic 30mA front end RCD with about 8 circuits fed from a 3 phase DB in a separate building. The kitchen was condemned for not having a gas solenoid interlock to the fans which also weren't big enough so upgrade works were going on. 

As i recall when I was looking at the AFDDs it was recommended 1 per circuit, so I couldn't fit one to the sub main circuit and protect the entire  SWA sub main and CU as could happen when RCDs were 1st introduced. .

In trying to find out whether they were a good idea I spoke to several reps none of which were over enthusiastic in fitting them. In the end client wanted them fitted as they had their own maintenance sparks noting the lack in higher risk buildings. i.e. wooden and sleeping quarters. 

Once fitted and tested I left site feeling the job was incomplete because there was no test as RCD/RCBO to carry out and no readings like Zs to compare for MCBs, just the test button on the combination unit and a flashing light to say what had triggered the trip. 

Not sure we can expect much in the way of feed back if they become mandatory unless as was said earlier energy use increase becomes noticeable. 

As an aside is there enough energy in most domestic lighting circuits nowadays to produce maintain the arc in a loose connection? My place has 2 lighting circuits each with about 0.5A loading due to LED lamps

Lack of ability to test them is a big concern to me. If someone's house burns down how are you going to prove the AFDD was working fine when you tested the property? Relying on the self test function just seems like asking for trouble to me. 

On a separate note, AFDD's have been around for years, mainly trying to stop american wooden sheds/houses from burning down. If they were going to drastically come down in price, would that not be the price we are seeing today?  

Dbat said:

Lack of ability to test them is a big concern to me. If someone's house burns down how are you going to prove the AFDD was working fine when you tested the property? Relying on the self test function just seems like asking for trouble to me. 

Same problem with mcb's ...????

I guess the difference is that AFDDs have electronics in them. However, I would hope that, as they are providing functional safety, they would have built in monitoring to detect faults.