Hw many computers for no RCD

[mainline]

It is not for the installer alone to perform a risk assessment although being competent person (electrically) they can be involved. The risk assessment should be undertaken by the client/responsible person who understand the nature of the site along with the involvement of the electrician.

I should have said:
The designer of a new electrical installation is required to obtain from the client a formal written risk assessment if RCD protection is to be omitted

 

[Fazz711]

I should have said:
The designer of a new electrical installation is required to obtain from the client a formal written risk assessment if RCD protection is to be omitted

With it being factory offices there is no cliant really.
The guy who has supposedly speced the job is our tech guy who normally deals with the PLCs and motor drives.
He also designs the new dual safety circuits.
He seems to be good at what he knows best but don't think he has done much insulation work.
I normally have to run all his cable jobs and coms cable runs.
He mostly connects the coms I do the power stuff.


Thanks for all the replies.
I have just been into the office to check the existing tower feeds and both are RCBO.
I thought they were at least RCD but they are much newer than most of the other circuits in that part of the office.
It must have been reconfigured more recently than I expected.

 

[littlespark]

Has any of you got a bs7671 qualification between you?


Would my esteemed colleagues agree that RCD sockets could be used here?
I seem to recall they were omitted from some list of suitable RCD devices, but are they back now?

 

[newfutile]

If the cabling does not require rcd then as littlespark says rcd sockets are the way to go, socket circuits with no rcd are prohibited except in specially cases with a documented risk assessment.
where BA 1 ,2 or 3 (ordinary people, children or disabled people) may use them they have to have rcd .
reg 411.3.3 explains more.

 

[littlespark]

All very well an RA by the designer, and the installer if you get it, but the users should be privy to it too.

In the days where office staff need training for opening a window… (no joke!) they would need to be informed if there was a deviation from the standards.

 

[Fazz711]

Well after being assigned the job again after new bits arrived it now seems tech guy agrees with me and he has a RCBO.
Also found he has everything for a ring not a radial.
After questioning him as to which he wanted radial or ring as I was originally told radials he now wants ring.
After another quick question he has spat his dummy and said to leave the job and he is getting one of the other engineers to do it.

So thanks for the advice to everyone who replied

 

[littlespark]

This is why it would have been easier to get a spark in at the beginning. The job would have been done by now.

 

[Fazz711]

This is why it would have been easier to get a spark in at the beginning. The job would have been done by now.

Parts only arrived yesterday so could have only been started last night.

 

[mainline]

Well after being assigned the job again after new bits arrived it now seems tech guy agrees with me and he has a RCBO.
Also found he has everything for a ring not a radial.
After questioning him as to which he wanted radial or ring as I was originally told radials he now wants ring.
After another quick question he has spat his dummy and said to leave the job and he is getting one of the other engineers to do it.

So thanks for the advice to everyone who replied

He should use a DB and D/P Rcbos feeding radials, a single rcbo feeding all those SMPS is bound to have lots of earth leakage.

 

[Fazz711]

He should use a DB and D/P Rcbos feeding radials, a single rcbo feeding all those SMPS is bound to have lots of earth leakage.

At the moment the desks are fed from two existing towers with an RCD each in the DB.
8 times the amount of computers than will be on the two new towers.
Never been a problem.
The new towers are being fitted to do away with extention leads feeding the desks furthest from the towers.