Additional sockets in office - advise req'd please

[JulianC]

First potential commercial job for me coming up so I would appreciate some advice.

Was speaking to a mate today who rents an office in an old building. He wants some more sockets adding (there's only two doubles in there at the moment and a mass of multiway extension leads!!!). His office is supplied from a distribution board out on the landing which feeds socket and light circuits to all offices on his floor in groups of 3. Fortunately his office is the only one occupied in his group of 3 so knocking the power off during the installation isn't an issue. However, when I come to test, I will need to knock all the power off to get in the db. I'm going to have a proper look on Monday but am just wondering what would happen if some of the other offices won't or can't agree to have their power off? Might not happen of course, but as anyone had similar? Would I just do continuity and IR tests to my own work in this case and note as such on the minor works (ie. unable to test existing circuit)? Zs test won't be a problem so I can ensure disconnection time is OK.

I intend to add the extra sockets by spuring off the existing sockets via latching RCD FCU's.

Thanks.

 

[bugsy]

Would normally do this after hours notifying other tennants of the intention and asking them to shut down any P.C.s which might be affected also bear in mind most servers do their back ups in the evening

 

[JulianC]

D'oh. Why didn't I think of that!

Ta.

 

[Davey101]

Why do you have to turn off the DB to get into it to test?

Can you not just run a new ring into the offices, and test them?

 

[bugsy]

me thinks he dose'nt want to pull new circuit into live DB

 

[JulianC]

Yes, I would rather it were not live when I am poking around inside.....

 

[bugsy]

Dont forget to take some form of batt powered lighting- landlords supply ymay also be from this db

 

[JulianC]

Yes, lights for the entire floor are on this board. Cheers. Blimey, I almost feel like I know what I'm doing