Test certificates

[mickjefcoate]

Can anyone tell me if it is acceptable to put 'Unknown' for entries on an electrical installation certificate, such as the in the supply characteristics and where the DB you are working on is supplied from. Some times on large establishments such as an air port it is impossible to find out when you are doing a simple job in a little building as part of a large complex.

Thanks

[solo3uk]

I don`t think you should write, "unknown" on the test certificate about the supply characteristics. BS7671 is clear in this aspect. It says that the supply characteristics should be obtained by, "Enquiry (from the supplier), Inspection, testing or measurement". so one way or another you should know what you are working on.

A certificate with "unknown" in its supply characteristics wouldn`t look very reliable to anybody checking your work as they might ask how you did your work without knowing what you were working on.

[Jimbo]

I think it should go down as a limitation ie no access etc. I have had a battle with the unknown thing with a NIC inspector and my view was if I cannot see it I will not certificate it, his view was its reasonable to expect it to be this or that, my reply to that was where do we start and finish as usual there was no sensible end to the conversation. I always look from the point of if something does go wrong can I explain all my certification ? if the answers yes then so be it. Regards Jimbo

[mickjefcoate]

Thanks fellas,

Ill try that on with the NIC inspector in a few weeks. We have an NIC inspection looming for registration with them.

Mick

[woodleyjkp]

if something cannot be verified i would put it down as a limitation on the test certificate. i had an argument about this with an assessor when i went for my part p qualification. i hadnt put down particulars for primary overcurrent protective device. he told me i should. his answer was to just write down what was written on the fuse carrier. i disagreed, how do i know some cowboy hasnt put a large rusty nail in there? and how could i know what the fuse rating was etc?
he countered this by saying i should call the LEB, what a joke that was. no one had a clue.
if you have limitations for anything amke sure you note them down and cover your backside. never guess.

[solo3uk]

I must say you have got guts Woodley, arguing with an assessor when you went for part P. I would keep quiet and agree with him on anything, even if he said the world is square...........

[professorgbr]

If your planning an installation in a certain section of a large complex you need access to all the distribution circuits feeding the section and the electricity boards equipment as you need to ensure it is all adequate and if not at least previous records of the installation I worked on an industrial estate were the landlords meter was in a switchroom within a substation I wanted to run a 18.5 kw motor in our unit so looked in to it all our unit was fed by a 25mm stwa cable which I found came from next door then I found that there were 3 buildings including ours were relying on a 1.5mm stwa cable from another unit the protective devices were 200amp obviously I said no to the management about running the motor as I may as well just take a blowlamp to the cable.
If your doing a periodic inspection report I would agree no access as a limitation before starting the report and place LIM in the appropriate sections of the certificate and make sure it clearly states what you HAVE done and what you HAVENT done.

[professorgbr]

As for the comments on cut out fuse ratings and characteristics if there is an old iron cut out with rewirable fuse or the earth on it looks tatty and inadequate I call the cut out maintainence people in to bring it up to scratch If there is no seal on it I open it to look at the fuse then report the seal missing but if its sealed I call them to come and open it up unless the consumer unit is burning or burned out then I can break the seal and pull the fuse instantly as that is health and safety threat to life and property
as I have called the cut out maintainence people out to most of my jobs I have made a point of being there when they came and have looked at the fuse before they fitted it and have found in all cases that it was a LAWSON BS1361 TYPE 2 so have printed a data sheet off their website which states that this fuse is 80ka breaking capacity