This article is intended to offer you some valuable information on common inadequacies within a domestic electrical installation.
Although electrical Inspections may be conducted by any competent electrician with the suitable equipment, remedial works, particularly notifiable ones have to be conducted by a part P qualified electrician and the appropriate building controllers notified.
Should your electrician be a member of any of the below competent persons schemes, they may self certify the installation.
COMPETENT PERSONS SCHEMES MEMBERS
British Standards Institution (BSI)
EC Certification Limited / ELECSA
NAPIT Registration Limited (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers)
NICEIC Group Limited
COMMON ELECTRCIAL FAULT NO.1 - LACK OF RCD PROTECTION ON FUSEBOARD
One of the most typical defects with domestic electrical systems is the lack of RCD protection on the consumer unit.
The new Wiring Regulations BS 7671 came into force at the end of June 2008, requiring considerably more extensive provision for RCD (residual circuit protection) of both domestic and non-domestic dwellings. The practicalities of meeting those requirements for protection are varied and too numerous to list in this article but examples of the implications are below.
All power sockets sockets from 13Amp - 20Amp to be used by ‘ordinary persons’ should normally be protected by a 30mA RCD.
In bathrooms for example RCD protection is required for all circuits.
In summary, you will discover a quantity of approaches to fuse board design to fulfill the latest regulations, a few of which utilise traditional RCD main switch consumer units and split load consumer units, whilst others rely on the new style of dual RCD protected consumer units. In general the use of RCDs and RCBOs is now greater and there is mostly a trend towards larger consumer units with more ways available.
COMMON ELECTRCIAL FAULT NO.2 - PARTIAL OR INCOMPLETE BONDING
Electric shocks caused by faulty appliances and charged metallic objects can be fatal. Therefore it is of paramount importance all metallic items like gas and water pipes within a property are properly earthed in order for electricity to be dispersed safely. Bonding is the term used for connecting all metallic items that do not normally carry a current (pipes etc) within a property, together and to the mains earth to prevent electric shocks.
In each electrical installation, main bonding conductors(earthing wires) are required to connect to the main earthing terminal for the installation of the following:
metal water service pipes
metal gas installation pipes
other metal service pipes and ducting
metal central heating and air conditioning systems
exposed metal structural parts of the building
lightning protection systems
COMMON ELECTRCIAL FAULT NO.3 - INAPPROPRIATE FITTINGS IN A BATHROOM
For Electrical safety, bathrooms pose a greater risk of electrocution due to the proximity of water. Electrical appliances commonly found here will want to demonstrate higher levels of protection in compliance with section 601 of the new wiring regulations.
Lighting
Extractor fans
Shaver sockets
Towel rails
Electrical equipment used in bathrooms must not be adversely effected by environmental factors.
Condensation
Humidity/steam
Drops of water
Sprays from showers
Author Resource:
Fiddling with electricity can be a very dangerous occupation. When I need any electrical work doing myself I call in a qualified individual. I can usually get this person from a reputable company by using the search term electrician london . I use this term in particular because the majority of my properties that I own are situated in London.
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