Imposed code 2

It is NOT up to anyone else what coding is chosen by an inspector, it is entirely his responsibility. This idea that codes can be imposed by someone else is daft, as is the idea that coding books are even required! The problem is as I have discussed before, that qualifications are inadequate for many inspectors.

I can give NO advice on the coding of this socket, I have not seen it, and as Mike says above, the danger may or may not be significant. Whilst additional protection is a good idea for items used outside, the actual level of danger depends on many uncontrolled factors, one being the actual user. Remember this socket may well have been fully compliant with a previous edition of the regulations, it is NOT that easy with a stroke of the pen!

I do wonder Lyle if this is just a "put up job" by the scheme provider, or perhaps it is one of the rare occasions where bad work is actually followed up?

"It is NOT up to anyone else what coding is chosen by an inspector, it is entirely his responsibility."

Yes David I agree with you. However are we to say any teacher/tutor/assessor may not give guidance and award marks or pass/fail a test or exam, likewise some governing body?

"qualifications are inadequate for many inspectors." Agreed.

"I can give NO advice on the coding of this socket, I have not seen it, and as Mike says above" again I agree.

"the actual level of danger depends on many uncontrolled factors, one being the actual user." Yes again. however we surely must reasonably foresee who might use it or what those other factors might be. If it so unlikely to ever be a problem then fair enough but however unlikely if it does become a problem that has not been reasonably dealt with then how will the inspector or those inspecting the inspector be able to convince they took all reasonable steps to prevent issues even arising from unlikely events (how unlikely? dare we risk it?)

"qualifications are inadequate for many inspectors." Agreed

"Remember this socket may well have been fully compliant with a previous edition of the regulations, it is NOT that easy with a stroke of the pen!" Disagree, our perception of danger, particularly from experience" . Remember the Home Office Skirt requirement on lampholders thingy. 

How would you reasonably expect a person hot naked sweaty stood in a full bath reach up to change the lamp in a lampholder or lean over to reach the boiler to adjust controls or click the SFCU etc etc or have an extension on their chest with a mains radio plugged in? No you wouldn`t but some folk do such silly things. Do we offer them protection or do we let Charly Darwin sort them out?

Just because something did comply with a previous edition does not make it become safer but if it did comply with one of the more recent editions then we might be encouraged judge it more relatively safe .

A lot of my time was spent in the era of rewireable fuses, No RCDs and switchgear being up for off and down for on, I never thought them unsafe back then. Nowadays I might not feel that totally confident. In fact a lady asked me to change a fuse to a breaker (30A BS 3036 Ring Final) cos it made a right bang and frightened her to death and she would feel happier with a MCB she could just reset. I replied that she should really be asking someone to investigate those bangs rather than just resetting a switch that had merely gone thwack.

ebee said:

Remember this socket may well have been fully compliant with a previous edition of the regulations

14th Edn? By 15th, we had RCD sockets by the back door, etc. So that's a lot of C3s which have been ignored, which is not in itself a reason for making it C2.

I think that the assessor was entitled to give the inspector a personal C3 for improvement required, but not to force him to change the report.

Hi Chris, I never liked the idea of socket by back door/garage idea as often a fridge/freezer or battery charger would occupy it , front door either. Many folk would not use the nearest socket whether hidden or not but would use the nearest accessible socket usually

Hi Chris, I never liked the idea of socket by back door/garage idea as often a fridge/freezer or battery charger would occupy it , front door either. Many folk would not use the nearest socket whether hidden or not but would use the nearest accessible socket usually