Fuse Rating for VFD

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

They wanted to encourage fast showers, with minimal water use.

[Chris Pearson 1Participant @chrispearson1]

Posted by Chris Crew on 16/08/2023 07:43:59:

This was all done prior to 'Part P' but I am of the understanding that these building regulations only apply to the main domestic residence, not to any out-building. Am I correct in this assumption?

Not quite!

The requirements for the four nations of the UK vary.

Bear in mind that the supply to the house may come in through an outbuilding.

New circuits and new consumer units are notifiable work, so either you pay to have the work notified personally and then tested or you employ a registered electrician (who can then notify for a couple of quid) instead.

It used to be relatively easy to become a registered electrician, but since last year, in effect, you have to do an apprenticeship.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Meets the requirement for an isolation switch….

The person who did an EICR (inspection) on my house prior to some upgrade work put a C2 " Potentially dangerous – urgent remedial action required" "fail" on the report for not having an isolator on the shower. They also put a C2 for the live and neutral crossed (actual not colours) on the shower.
Three things wroong with that:
1/ There is an isolator, he just didn't ask about it
2/ There is no requirement for an isolator with a modern shower (isolated element) and RCD.
3/ Worst of all, the swapped L/N should have been a C1 "Danger Present. Risk of Injury. Immediate remedial action required". They should have fixed it or disabled the shower before leaving.

With 4mm2 T&E cable and correct colours at the consumer unit and shower, guess where the crossover was?
Yes, the non-existent isolator switch. This had not been touched since I moved in.

Robert.

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

"No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger or, where appropriate, injury, unless he possesses such knowledge or experience, or is under such degree of supervision as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work". In my opinion, this applies more to installation and testing work which needs to be carried out safely.

BS7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations requires:

"Good workmanship by one or more skilled or instructed persons and proper materials shall be used in the erection of the electrical installation. The installation of electrical equipment shall take account of manufacturers' instructions."

Would 45 years experience in the telecoms industry, some at a supervisory level, count? Admittedly, this was initially on mainly low voltage, high current dc installations, i.e multiple 6" aluminum busbars reducing to 3/4" copper busbars, in the old Strowger days, but on the later power equipment racks we connected 3-phase power at mains voltage which was then reduced to 50V dc and eventually to 12V & 5V. We tested the installations to 'company' spec. standards and our work was always inspected and checked by a Clerk of Works and later by a Quality Auditor. However, I don't think the company ever employed many or any 'qualified electricians'. There were 'incidents', not caused by me, Honest Guv! but very few and far between as far as I am aware and I did sit on the Health & Safety consultative committee for several years so we got all the site RIDDOR reports. I do hold some modest technical qualifications and did hold licenses to work on customer equipment so I would like to think I have, at least, some idea as to how to proceed when it comes to electrical work.

I also accept that regulations are necessary to eliminate as far as possible the idiots who cannot realise the hazards and dangers they create but whatever the rules or law states they will always exist. BTW, I was never employed by BT but did a great deal of work for them which was always to the very highest of standards until the bean counters took over after privatisation.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Friend of mine used to install high voltage switch gear, and had all the relevant bits of paper. He wasn't qualified to work on domestic. Having said that, I wouldn't trust some of my relatives to changes a light bulb, so we do need some kind of regulation. From the preceding it sounds like we haven't got it right.

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

I was a 'Competent person' according to the Wiring Regs up until Part P was enacted. I rewired my own house, did electrical wiring at work in the UK and around the world, worked unsupervised on 12kV systems at power station sites, got offered outside work. I have copies of and follow the Wiring Regs up to the 17th edition (haven't done any major new work since the 18th edition came out). Unless I shell out £400 per year or more, I'm not qualified to run a new circuit from the CU that I installed…

I'm afraid that I treat Part P with the contempt that it deserves. It is a protection scam layered on top of the pre-existing quality requirements.

The same applied to our main site electrician. Qualified to maintain and install all electrical services on a 22 acre site, from 11kV down to 240V, but not qualified to do work in his own home…

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

The same applied to our main site electrician. Qualified to maintain and install all electrical services on a 22 acre site, from 11kV down to 240V, but not qualified to do work in his own home.

Same situation with two friends of mine.

I have electrical endorsement to HNC, and over the years, have safely done various electrical jobs at home.

Years ago a LEB electrician changed the meter, but it was I who found that he had reversed the polarity, and had to get it rectified as an emergency!

But, presumably we are not "competent" to fit a fuse to a 13 Anp plug!

Howard

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

To be clear the people with experience almost certainly are Competent and would legally be able to do the work. The issue is when the work has to be notified. This is normally done throgh a registered body. You have to meet their requirements and pay a registration fee and annual membership fee. It's all about the money. In theory they could do it through their local council building control officer but in practice the time and cost involved make this impractical.

You CAN change fuses and make minor repairs and additions in your own home but there are specific limits.

Robert.

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