Hi Guys, So I have done an EICR, and advised the client they could do with upgrading there old 3036 with a new RCBO board. To provide RCD protection as it's a ground floor flat. There answer is replace every socket with an RCD socket....(Seriously cheap landlords) I've never been posed this question before, I don't see anything wrong reg wise, but thought I would pose the question encase I'm missing something. What's your opinion?
Might be just me mate but I like sleeping at night, new board and a lot more by the look of it. No rcd protection can't be the only problem.
Oh there is a lot more, needed than a new board. Haha Just after people's opinion on it, I feel like I may end up walking away from this one.
I quite agree with you, but technically no RCD is needed other than a socket outlet that could be used to power something outside.....she only has one socket in each room, so it's only the lounge socket that needs RCD.... However I quite agree with Ind Spark, I have recommended a full rewire with new boards and accessories......that got outright shot down
You have to do the EICR to the current standards but you are allowed to use previous versions of the regs for things that are no longer to current standard but not unsafe, so if this was done to the 16th the rule was "anything likely to supply outdoors equipment" so I can't see any reason why replacing the sockets with RCD ones wouldn't meet this requirement. But yea as said, pretty shonky work, should really upgrade the CU.
Mate if there is only 1 socket per room, that is enough evidence that the place needs a rewire or a new socket circuit adding in which case a new board is required regardless.
That was pretty shonky wiring, even back in the day. The old MEM 4 fuse box bottom right was presumably the original c 1960s and the rest grafted on through time. I can see a pyro gland on top of the original box and looks like steel conduit outgoing at bottom, both those methods are slightly more forgiving to the RCD socket idea as the cables are inherently protected. But my feeling is rented property has to be bob on, and flats even more so - There may be cheap work rounds that could be justified, but if all went pear shaped and it ended in court how would they stack up against the IET/NICEIC/NAPIT expert who would inevitably be wheeled out by the prosecution, unlikely but possible. Not worth the risk for very little money IMHO
It looks like the suppliers meter was originally at the main intake below the flat and the original fuse board was connected with singles run in the conduit, then the meter was into the flat and split concentric cable pushed up through the conduit into the box then looped out to the Red Head fuse holder. I really hope that @Domesticsparky inspected the main intake out of the flat and has confirmed what the earthing arrangement is. It could be TN-C-S from the Red Head and the conduit is merely bonded or the conduit could be the main earth with the pipe clamp as a connection.
Just to clarify that last post, the DNO/suppliers main fuse is not in the flat, therefore the scope of the inspection includes the electrical equipment at the intake beyond the confines of the flat.
Hi all, thanks for the responses, I did indeed check the main incoming and it is TNCS. The whole lot needs riping out and redoing, I clocked 4 C2's and numerous C3s along with 2 C1s, which I just isolated whilst there, but the customer/landlord isn't having any of it, as they don't wanna put the tenant in a Travelodge, and the amount of cr*p laying around I said I wouldn't do an occupied rewire. The whole flat is a disaster waiting to happen. The tenant apparently knows more than me as well...I walked in and he had a dehumidifier in the bathroom fed from 4 extension leads....with the final one being next to the bath fed from the 3036. But don't worry he says I did risk assessment........ummm ok. I guess I will be calling the landlord tomorrow and saying no thanks