CHANGES IN AMD 2 RELUCTANCE TO COMPLY

Five years ago I did an EICR for a Black and White Thatched cottage, the customer has phoned me because it's time to do it again. 

Five years ago there was vermin damage to cables in the loft, I replaced these using low smoke cable which has a white sheath to identify them from the original grey sheathed cables, if any white sheathed cables are vermin damaged it has definitely happened since the last inspection. 

So it should be straightforward,  go back redo the inspection and testing paying particular attention to the cables in the loft, checking them carefully for vermin damage. 

Except now we have to consider the requirements for AFDD, from memory I think there's a couple of consumer units for the house plus another for EVSE to charge a Tesla that had just been installed five years ago and I excluded from the EICR.

Five years ago I said it was satisfactory,  now I need to have a discussion about installing AFDDs, which could easily be £2K or more. 

I think I will leave it until after the weekend to have this conversation to give myself time to think about it. 

I know someone who is scheduled to have an old consumer unit replaced (14 circuits in use, domestic) as it has no RCD protection and exposed bus bars. Replacement will be all RCBO. AFDDs were not even offered...

Sparkingchip

There is no "shall" requirement to fit AFDDS in your thatched cottage. It is however recommended so you might want to talk to your client about this.

If the cables in the loft  are lighting cables probably a waste of time as AFDDS need to monitor at least 2 1/2 A of load current and probably the lighting is LED so probably a lot less than 1A. Steel conduit or MICC cables would be a better option for squirrel damage. In any case how do you get  £2K to £2K or more for AFDDS when they retail at £120 including VAT?

Keylevel

Where are these exposed bus bars on the consumer unit? No issue with all RCBOs as long as they are Type A. Will surge protection be fitted?

I really want to hear about customer refusing to have work done because of the new requirements to install SPDs and ASFDDs in AMD 2. So could I ask readers of this thread not to include other rabbit hole questions on other topics.

Thanks

JP

There are a number of blanks missing next to the main switch. The unit is also very high, so someone could easily slip when trying to operate it.

I don't have the details for what is to be installed, but I will report back when the job has been done (a couple of weeks). I can also ask the house owner to confirm if SPDs and AFDDs were ever brought up.

John Peckham 

It looks like I am going to have to read the specific regulations in Amendment Two before any conversations, my mind has been on other matters and it looks like I need to more familiar with the four types of buildings that do require AFDD.

Hi John.   I have recently completed a small extension through a builder i do lots of work for. When i initially looked at it the consumer unit needed upgrading partly for no rcd on some circuits and it wasn't big enough.  I talked through it with the customer and quoted for a nice DP RCBO Fusebox model with surge protection. 8 ways with spares and i quoted them £625.00 all in as i am not VAT registered.  When i went to do the job they had had it replaced by somebody else with a piece of junk from scr-f--. dual rcd with no surge protection.  It cost them £525.00.  

Gary

Risking falling down a rabbit hole, surely the guidance given by the IET regards the requirements for AFDD when the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations still stands,  the "shall" for four types of building is over and above. 

electrical.theiet.org/.../

Regards the four types of building having had a  look in the new brown OSG, where "shall" applies I don't think it's particularly relevant in Worcestershire and other rural counties, so is not creating an issue for many electricians or their customers, as we don't have tall buildings and licenced HMO are unlikely to need a new consumer unit or else they would not be licensed. 

Smoke alarms and SPDs,  can you expand?

Andy

Have a look at Regulation 443.4.1 and the definition of a Safety Service. Also Chapter 56 for a list of safety services.

I am still thinking about this.

Taking the first part of the note in the OSG, the floor of the top storey of the building 18 metres or more above ground level,  or containing 6 storeys.

That is only relevant to two buildings in the whole of Worcestershire, two tower blocks in Kidderminster many of which are leasehold flats having been bought on the Right to Buy. 

https://earth.app.goo.gl/KAVvL7

There are three tower blocks in Worcester, but they were completely refurbished as sheltered housing for older people and won't need new consumer units for many years, so the first part is only relevant to two buildings in the whole of the county with leaseholders being responsible for their own electrical installations.

I have not worked in any of these towers, but I did work in the four storey duplex flats low rise block in front of the Kidderminster towers, fitting a kitchen and doing the associated electrical work around twenty years ago,  that seems like a different lifetime now!

John

Simple answer to your question.

When I'm replacing a consumer unit, I quote for one with an SPD. If /when the price is questioned, I explain that the SPD costs about £60 which is a wise investment in a rural area. Most people have electronic equipment worth many times more. I also explain that there will be spare space in the CU for future use which adds a little to the cost but generally cheaper in the long run. Most people accept that.

I have yet to quote for work in a building that requires a AFDD.

Dave