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EICR Coding for smoke detector hard wired into separate property ?

aligarjon

Hi Guys.   I did an EICR on a rental flat today. Flat is above a shop. Flat  has its own meter etc in the flat. Shop is completely separate electrically wise apart from a mains linked smoke detector . Supply to detectors are from the flat.  Installation looks late 80s early 90s. 

I have coded it as a C3 as it isn't dangerous for the flat but could be a problem for somebody working in the shop. I have mentioned it to the shop owner and noted it on the report.  I suspect it has been like it for 20 odd years so probably before the wireless bases were about.  Any thoughts on the coding please or should it not be coded at all.

Cheers   

Gary

  • 0

    What’s the difference between that and fire alarms in communal areas of flats that have a heat detector in the lobby within each of the flats, apart from voltage? 

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    I think that it is electrically safe in both areas, but may contravene fire rules/laws, which is a separate matter. If we treat it as a non-compliance, it would be no comment on the flat and C3 if you I&T the shop. Odd, isn't it!

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    That would not fall under BS7671, so no code as such on a electrical inspection report; I would enter a note though on an EICR. "The owner has been advised to get an inspection and recommendations from the local fire department for the flat and shop".

    Jaymack  

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    Sounds to me that there is a potential non-compliance with section 462 - at least from the point of view of the shop, as part of what's in the shop has no means of isolation, at least not anything available to the occupiers of the shop, unless there's some agreement for access. I can see the argument that the smoke detector in the shop is actually part of the flat's installation rather than the shop's (and nothing in BS 7671 actually defines how neighbouring installations are to be defined/segregated or being able to identify the extent of any installation) but there is a requirement for accessibility of equipment for operation (132.12) which sounds not to be the case here if part of what's in the shop needs to be isolated from inside the flat.

       - Andy.

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    At the very least it needs to be clearly labelled in both places that this item in one building is switched off by an MCB in another.  If only to avoid the risk case where someone turns off the wrong mains switch, and then takes down the sensor to do something to it and gets a belt off it. It does also make you wonder if the two fire zones should link in both directions - does or should the sounder go off in the shop if there is a fire in the flat ? Perhaps, if they are not separated against spread of fire, they are really one big zone ?

    It is not an electrical matter per-se, but someone who is happy to advise on fire safety really needs to look at it with that sort of hat on.

    Mike.

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