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New build properties not installed to regs at the time of construction

Newfutile

I have come across many new builds where they would not meet the requirements at the time of installation.

We have brought this up with the developer / installer,they have mostly quoted best practise guide 4 saying that it's only a C3.

The way I read bpg4 is that it's for coding when the instalation was to a previous edition of the regulations.

What recourse is there in this situation?

Parents
  • 0

    I believe that if a DESIGN was carried out to previous versions of the regulations and that design is approved by someone. Then that's what gets installed. 

    I don't know about houses, but having been involved in building several railway stations - those new ones were designed WAAAAY before the completion dates - to earlier versions of the regulations. 

    We installed as per the design, and advised the updated changes. Inevitably, those changes were not generally implemented. 

    The earlier versions of the regulation were hardly dangerous though. The 16th edition in 2000 for example is perfectly safe (IMO). Someone has decided that Improvements to safety meant more regulations - please note that this is not an attack on those that write the regs, as I know Graham and his crew will read this. 

  • 0 in reply to tattyinengland

    the 16th was quite safe for the equipment at the time, now we have solar , evse , heat pumps, induction hobs,led lighting and more 

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  • 0 in reply to Newfutile
    Newfutile said:
    the 16th was quite safe for the equipment at the time, now we have solar , evse , heat pumps, induction hobs,led lighting and more 

    It was considered safe at the time. To a large extent, your installation may still be safe. It's what happens if it gets damaged that is the problem. For example, you trip over a flex of an electric heater. The line conductor pulls out from its terminal and comes into contact with the case. You then pick it up. RCD is now your friend. Alternatively, your parents may have taught you to switch off at the socket and remove the plug before investigating an appliance which has stopped working.

    I agree that solar and EVSE place additional demands upon an installation, which is sufficient on its own to justify a new edition or amendment.

    However, if you add solar or EVSE to your existing 16th Edn installation, you do not need to bring the whole lot up to 18th+3.

    Even if you do add solar or EVSE, etc., it may only require a new DB. If that means that your lighting circuits are now RCD protected, that is a bonus.

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