Hints and tips
If in doubt, always seek advice from someone suitably qualified
If in doubt, always seek advice from someone suitably qualified
Testing electrical installations
The current wiring regulations are now a British Standard. Unfortunately, this does not mean that you have to know anything about electricity to put yourself forward as an ‘expert’.
In the ‘old days’, it was recommended that electrical installations were tested every 5 years - mind you, few did. Advances in materials have allowed this requirement to be extended to 10 years for normal domestic electrical installations. The major change that the British Standard introduced was the provision for an installation to have a test after minor works. Minor works include anything not requiring additional circuits, including things such as a replacement light switch or an additional socket.
So next time you have someone in to carry out ‘minor’ works, expect to get a certificate which at the very least keeps an eye on your installation at minimal cost.
As a guide, a Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) in an average house will take between two and three hours, cost between £200 and £350 and result in at least a 4 page report. The more problems identified will result in a higher cost, so be aware it may be cheaper to resolve the blindingly obvious and have a Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), if nothing has been done for a while.
The Office of Local Government etc. (successors to ODPM) decided that some electrical works in the home will come under Part P of the building regulations. This will mean that the local authority will be responsible for ensuring the regulations are complied with. Much confusion surrounds this new regulation as the detail was left in the usual ‘woolly’ state.
In the ‘old days’, it was recommended that electrical installations were tested every 5 years -
So next time you have someone in to carry out ‘minor’ works, expect to get a certificate which at the very least keeps an eye on your installation at minimal cost.
As a guide, a Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) in an average house will take between two and three hours, cost between £200 and £350 and result in at least a 4 page report. The more problems identified will result in a higher cost, so be aware it may be cheaper to resolve the blindingly obvious and have a Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), if nothing has been done for a while.
The Office of Local Government etc. (successors to ODPM) decided that some electrical works in the home will come under Part P of the building regulations. This will mean that the local authority will be responsible for ensuring the regulations are complied with. Much confusion surrounds this new regulation as the detail was left in the usual ‘woolly’ state.
Look at the letter we are now sending out to customers to try and clarify the situation.
If in doubt, always seek advice from someone suitably qualified
If in doubt, always seek advice from someone suitably qualified
Polystyrene roof insulation and PVC Cables
I was reminded recently that if you have PVC electric cables touching polystyrene granules or tiles, you will get migration of the polymers in the cable.
In simple terms it means that the cable will end up bare!
Many houses built in the 70’s have this insulation, so next time you are up in the loft, see if you have white granules laid between the joists. If you do, then get expert advice, particularly if you notice rough patches or even red/black insulation showing through the grey plastic cable insulation. The composition of PVC cable was changed in the early 80s, so the problem should be no longer occur with new work.
New cable colours are here!
In their infinite wisdom, the powers that be decided that from March 2006 the colours in fixed wiring cables change from the old red (live) and black (neutral) to brown (live) and blue (neutral). Oh yes, black and grey can also be live. I just knew you would want to know that!
Both colour ranges could have been used until March 2006 and if you use a mix of both, then a warning notice should be applied adjacent to the distribution board.
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