code for PIR or EIC

[confuse]

Dear good, honest, competent, qualified electricians,

I would appreciate very much if you can advise me the following:

1, About the code 1-4 for PIR, do they apply to the electrical installation certificate(EIC), because the electrician gave me the EIC mentioned the code? But the related book does not mention it at all.

2, Is it right that domestic PIR should usually done in 10 years interval unless the house is in the extremely worst condition in which case, the first PIR should not be passed anyway.

I have the EEE background and am trying to understand the regulations. Thank you all for any help.

[JohnC]

Hi Confuse.

In answer to yoru first question the codes 1 - 4 for a PIR as im sure you are aware are essentially advising you of any defects in the installation and there severity. an EIC is issued on completeion of new works and therefore the codes will not apply as there should be no defects in a new installation. There is however a box to list any "deviations" from the regulations. an Example of which would be when carrying out main bonding this should be done with 600mm or any branchwork in the gas meter or stopcock where it enters the house. However this is not always possible so a "deviation" would be listed stating where the bonding has been installed.

Secondly 10 years is a guide for a domestic installation its really upto the person carrying out the test what they think is a suitable re-test period. A PIR is not a pass / fail certificate for an installation, It is a Report on the condition of an installation on the day it was tested and usually is an inspection of a % of the installation and as such gives a satisfactory / unsatisfactory overall condition.

Hope it helps

[confuse]

Dear JohnC,

Thank you very much for your professional advice.

The electrician installed a new consumer unit and tested all the circuits involved. Strangely, he said the kitchen sockets need to be made up of a ring and he could not do it. He gave this as a code 4!! He used one mcb (32A) as the circuit breaker for the 4 sockets in the kitchen. It is a radial circuit, not a ring. He must think it is ok to do so. Otherwise, he could simple arrange one bigger mcb or 2 mcbs.

This old house did not have the modern ring circuit but gave 3 radial circuits for the kitchen's 4 sockets. I thought the one mcb (32A) should be enough for the load of small electrical appliances, like kettle, microwave oven, etc..

I do not understand why he designed, constructed, tested the whole thing for the code 4!!

Thank you anyway.

[JohnC]

If the electrcian has upgraded the fuse board then the "radial circuits" should be put back on a 16 or 20A MCB regardless of what size fuse they were on before.