Changing MCBs to RCBOs is it notifiable under part P

Question

Now retired I am no longer a member of a competent persons scream, I was full scope member of NICEIC, 2391 qualified etc; I can still hold a screw driver and press the buttons on my MFT when I can remember where I put them down. 
 In the lovely house we built to retire in the 21 way consumer unit is full, having had a lot of twinkly LEDs wiped out in the recent thunder storm , I think urge protection would be a good idea. 
 In order to free up the slots occupied by two RCDs and have space for the urge protector by simply changing the MCBs to RCBOs. Is this notifiable under part P. 
 
 I have done some other recent electrical changes and our local building control who are absolutely super relieved me of around &pound;100 for the pleasure of fitting some 16A industrial sockets in my workshop because the work was indeed notifiable. I would prefer not to have to pay another &pound;100.

Chris Pearson · Accepted Answer

Fitting of a new CU is notifiable. Installation of a new circuit is notifiable. I don't think that changing bits in a CU is notifiable, nor is the addition of sockets of whatever variety.

mapj1 · Answer

Are you changing the circuit characteristics or its protection? - arguably a 32A MCB plus RCD is the same protection as a 32A RCBO... so probably not, and I presume it is not in a bathroom and you are not actually changing the CU, 
 Note that even if it was notifiable, I presume you are not going to report yourself !! 
 In your own house I'd suggest that if you can do the work safely and verify it to your satisfaction, hold off on notifying stuff until you move out of the place and then if your conscience bites get it all inspected at once! 
 There is so much stuff just happening in properties up and down the land and not being notified, even by folk working as businesses who ought to know better, that no one is really going to worry about the exact details unless it is actually dangerous. So, the real question is, can you do the work safely and verify it properly ? 
 Mike.

John Peckham · Answer

Synapse 
 I think "urge protection" is something you might buy from Boots or maybe the pharmacist in your local supermarket. 
 How did you surge get in ? Do you have an overhead supply? Do you have a Lightening Protection System (LPS)? 
 If you have an underground supply then you can cut the tails to you consumer unit and put a Wylex REC 2 switch in with a built in Type 2 SPD. It gives you surge protection for your consumer unit and a means of isolation if you want to work on your consumer unit when you get a smart meter, that is what I did. 
 If you have an overhead supply and/ or an LPS then you are going to need a combined Type 1 and Type 2 SPD. Install this in an enclosure a close as possible to your consumer unit and move the circuit breakers around so you can connect the SPD in the 1st way after the main switch.

whjohnson · Answer

Crack on and say nothing - Your proposals only amount to adding additional protection to existing circuits, albeit changing the existing circuit protection characteristics in a positive way. 
 I would get on with it and not bother building control in the slightest. 
 Least said, soonest mended, not to mention it's a lot cheaper too!

Changing MCBs to RCBOs is it notifiable under part P

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