CHANGES IN AMD 2 RELUCTANCE TO COMPLY

I do believe that there is a willingness amongst most contractors to comply with BS7671 whether the word "shall" or "should" is used to convey the concept. However, most contractors want clear, unequivocal guidance and an even playing field. If God said thou shalt not steal, it would not be unreasonable if St Peter stopped you at the pearly gates if you failed to obey. If, on the other hand, God said thou should not steal and you failed to follow the recommendation, you still might find St Peter to be rather unsympathetic to your protestations on the semantics!

There are definitely unintended consequences to the requirement or recommendation to use AFDDs. The prudence of having several socket outlet circuits to avoid nuisance tripping may be diluted by commercial pressure. Even one extra AFDD might mean the difference between winning or losing a job. 

Surely part of the problem is too much unequivocal guidance.

Rules and regulations are written and then someone writes a book about them and what that someone thinks they mean.

I have had 2 instances. I explain the function and cost to the customer and leave it with them. They ask what I would do, I tell them that in my opinion these things are at best a very expensive and very long shot in the dark at solving a problem is not really prevalent, and at the very worst, nothing but a piece of very expensive snake oil and leave it at that. I don't mind the SPD boards so long as I can get the Fusebox items, but AFDDs? Not at £100+VAT a go! Not on your Nelly unless the customer expressly wishes for them to be fitted. I can stand a few C3s in future when the AFDD-free installations are due for their PIRs,and so can the customer.

It is only about twelve weeks since Amendment 2 became effective, it is probably a bit early to be asking this question considering the limited number of installations it applies to.

Were those “Shall” requirements or a recommendation?

I have already been picked up on this.

Mere semantics I reckon. They were fighting shy of compulsory introduction in the face of all the searing critical comments they received at the DPC but had to be seen to be doing something to please their BEAMA paymasters.

I am having difficulty trying to get customers to upgrade to Type-A RCDS when they already have a type AC RCD. Typical examples would be installation of LED lights or circuit modifications during kitchen refurbishment to accommodate all the new fancy appliances.

I am not even having conversations about AFDDs yet. Come September I am hoping pricing had got more affordable, but I am not holding my breath. 

I am sitting in my van outside a licenced HMO having just replaced a heat alarm in the kitchen because someone left a tap running in the bathroom above it. 

I have just checked the installation earthing for the Minor Works Certificate, the last EICR was 2020 ago so the next is due 2025.

TT with a dual 30mA RCD plastic consumer supplied by a six metre 16 mm T&E distribution circuit. 

I would have hoped for better, but I  am not surprised. 

I don't think AFDDs will even be mentioned for three years, unless I put a comment on the MWC.

I should perhaps also comment that the intake and suppliers fuse is actually in a cupboard in the front room which is being used as a bedroom with the tails running out through the wall and into the meter box, so the meter tails themselves are a couple of metres long.

that VOELCB  is not wired properly - follow the green/yellow ;-), still I guess it makes a handy isolator. Also  I hope that the meter box has its lockable door,  as if not there is single insulation accessible without a tool.

Otherwise from your description to be honest it does not sound too bad.  At least it has an RCD or two, probably AC types but we cannot have everything.  The post 2004 colours on the submain suggest that someone is looking after what could quite easily have been cotton covered rubber.

M