lozarus
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- Reaction score
- 326
Morning all
So the site I'm based at recently had some work done (think partitioners). This package of work included electrical. This was actually good news to me in a way, as it was one less job for me to do on an already busy schedule - but it was niggling at me that I'd possibly end up having to review things.
It came to light that there was no certification provided - efforts have been made by higher ups to get this but nothing has transpired yet. As such they've raised a job for me to "check it over" - so I'll be doing a small EICR on the circuits they've worked on/created.
I've only looked at it visually thus far. The extent of the works isn't huge - it consists of 1x New Circuit - 32a RCBO to a 32a socket, wired in what looks like 4.0mm SY (to be verified). 1x New Circuit, 16a RCBO to an FCU and a double socket, wired in what seems to be 1.5mm SY (to be verified) and a little bit of modification to an existing circuit I worked on a few years ago.
Having not yet done any testing (this is for later today) - the SY is what's crying out to me as a main concern thus far. As is the 1.5 to a socket outlet a little bit.
At this point I should mention, 7671, OSG and GN3 are conveniently located on my coffee table at home whilst I was doing some study last night. So I haven't got anything to refer to today. I'm looking for a bit of help coding and citing regulations for my concerns as such. I'm also reasonably new to Inspection & Testing so would really value any help people can offer.
Concern 1: SY hasn't been glanded properly. I suspect the sheath isn't earthed. It's taped up about 1ft from the sockets with PVC tape. It enters the board end via a stuffing gland so I suspect it isn't earthed there either. Assuming it isn't earthed I'd be tempted to C2 it - as I know how thin the inner core of SY is and how perishable the clear sheath is and fear the braid could become live under fault condition. I'm all to aware of the debacle surrounding SY/NY/YY etc cables. I've been through datasheets for the likes of Eland cables - the general consensus seems to be "use it but it's not really made for final circuits and you need to gland it properly but if you use it for a final circuit it'll probably be OK".
Even if they have earthed it at the board end - it just doesn't feel right that they've used it for a final circuit, but again, how can i code and ualify this?
But I'm struggling for a reg to back up my concerns above. Maybe th eone about manufacturers instructions? I'm unsure what I would refer to for the braid not being earthed witht he correct glands too.
Concern 2: 1.5mm feeding a socket. It's a short distance really (maybe 10m) but testing will prove whether ADS is met. It's likely going to be OK, but it doesn't fall into the standard circuits specified in 7671. They only show 1.5 feeding sockets when it's backed up by a 13a FCU in the diagrams page (I forget the page number). This is backed up by a 16a RCBO. I may be clutching at straws a bit but I'd be tempted to C3 this as it doesn't follow a recognized circuit design - and importantly, I have no evidence from the installer to demonstrate it meets or exceeds the requirements of 7671.
It's a bizzare install. They've used fire clips and such over the corridor the cables cross. But the SY is done rough and the general standards are quite low - no labelling of any of the points etc.
Apologies for the long read - just like to give as much detaul as possible.
So the site I'm based at recently had some work done (think partitioners). This package of work included electrical. This was actually good news to me in a way, as it was one less job for me to do on an already busy schedule - but it was niggling at me that I'd possibly end up having to review things.
It came to light that there was no certification provided - efforts have been made by higher ups to get this but nothing has transpired yet. As such they've raised a job for me to "check it over" - so I'll be doing a small EICR on the circuits they've worked on/created.
I've only looked at it visually thus far. The extent of the works isn't huge - it consists of 1x New Circuit - 32a RCBO to a 32a socket, wired in what looks like 4.0mm SY (to be verified). 1x New Circuit, 16a RCBO to an FCU and a double socket, wired in what seems to be 1.5mm SY (to be verified) and a little bit of modification to an existing circuit I worked on a few years ago.
Having not yet done any testing (this is for later today) - the SY is what's crying out to me as a main concern thus far. As is the 1.5 to a socket outlet a little bit.
At this point I should mention, 7671, OSG and GN3 are conveniently located on my coffee table at home whilst I was doing some study last night. So I haven't got anything to refer to today. I'm looking for a bit of help coding and citing regulations for my concerns as such. I'm also reasonably new to Inspection & Testing so would really value any help people can offer.
Concern 1: SY hasn't been glanded properly. I suspect the sheath isn't earthed. It's taped up about 1ft from the sockets with PVC tape. It enters the board end via a stuffing gland so I suspect it isn't earthed there either. Assuming it isn't earthed I'd be tempted to C2 it - as I know how thin the inner core of SY is and how perishable the clear sheath is and fear the braid could become live under fault condition. I'm all to aware of the debacle surrounding SY/NY/YY etc cables. I've been through datasheets for the likes of Eland cables - the general consensus seems to be "use it but it's not really made for final circuits and you need to gland it properly but if you use it for a final circuit it'll probably be OK".
Even if they have earthed it at the board end - it just doesn't feel right that they've used it for a final circuit, but again, how can i code and ualify this?
But I'm struggling for a reg to back up my concerns above. Maybe th eone about manufacturers instructions? I'm unsure what I would refer to for the braid not being earthed witht he correct glands too.
Concern 2: 1.5mm feeding a socket. It's a short distance really (maybe 10m) but testing will prove whether ADS is met. It's likely going to be OK, but it doesn't fall into the standard circuits specified in 7671. They only show 1.5 feeding sockets when it's backed up by a 13a FCU in the diagrams page (I forget the page number). This is backed up by a 16a RCBO. I may be clutching at straws a bit but I'd be tempted to C3 this as it doesn't follow a recognized circuit design - and importantly, I have no evidence from the installer to demonstrate it meets or exceeds the requirements of 7671.
It's a bizzare install. They've used fire clips and such over the corridor the cables cross. But the SY is done rough and the general standards are quite low - no labelling of any of the points etc.
Apologies for the long read - just like to give as much detaul as possible.
