Boiler circuit 16A MCB

[Michaelwgroves]

I'm following a spark who used an existing Panel Heater circuit, for new gas boiler circuit 6 months ago. The panel heaters were removed, so it's now a dedicated boiler circuit. I'm doing an EICR.
I've found a number of faults;
1. No grommet in Consumer unit knock out, used for gas bonding (It's a recessed consumer unit)
2. Stranded cable does not have ferrules
3. Unfused Boiler switch
4. 16A MCB (2.5mm T&E)
5. Gas not bonded, bonding taken to central heating pipe only

Most of these are black and white very poor work. I've had to fix all of these so the EICR is a pass, but I have a dilemma.
#4, the MCB is way too big for a boiler. I now have a switched fuse with 3A fuse, so the boiler is now protected. It's a 2.5mm T&E cable so the 16A MCB is protecting the cable. Nothing is unsafe. If it were a new circuit, I'm sure he would have purchased a 6A MCB, but as it's not he's just used existing 16A. I'm going to need to do 16 EICR's following these guys. I'm sure this will be a theme. Is there a reg I can quote for wrong sized MCB, or is this just poor workmanship ?

 

[James]

Mcb is not wrong.
up to20A is normally ok for 2.5mm
3A fuse protects fly lead to boiler and associated control cables.
you make no statement about rcd protection, if the cable is buried then it is probably required.

 

[Risteard]

Also you mention stranded conductors without a ferrule. Are these stranded, fine stranded or very fine stranded?

 

[Michaelwgroves]

Mcb is not wrong.
up to20A is normally ok for 2.5mm
3A fuse protects fly lead to boiler and associated control cables.
you make no statement about rcd protection, if the cable is buried then it is probably required.

Thanks for your thoughts, it's 17th edition board, this circuit has RCD.

 

[Michaelwgroves]

Also you mention stranded conductors without a ferrule. Are these stranded, fine stranded or very fine stranded?

In all honesty, I don't know. What is the technical difference ?

 

[Rockingit]

In all honesty, I don't know. What is the technical difference ?

Respectfully - if you don't know and understand what you're inspecting, should you be inspecting?

 

[Michaelwgroves]

Respectfully - if you don't know and understand what you're inspecting, should you be inspecting?

Helpful............

 

[timhoward]

1. No grommet in Consumer unit knock out, used for gas bonding (It's a recessed consumer unit)

Are you particularly worried about a bonding conductor touching the frame of a metal consumer unit? Do you feel that is potentially dangerous?

Simpler to add a fused spur (as you did) than mess around changing an MCB for the boiler.
I don't lose sleep about simple fixes, I do them and move on. It's usually quicker than filling out the observations section!

 

[loz2754]

While I sympathise with the OP, I would tend to agree with @Rockingit. Anyone involved in periodic inspection and testing of existing installations should be very familiar with the type of installation that they're inspecting and testing.
Of course, no one person can be expected to know everything. But it boils down to the difference between knowledge and experience. Such experience is often picked up on the job whilst working alongside more experienced colleagues.
What though if a person doesn't have the benefit of being able to work with such a mentor?
I suppose the next best thing is this forum...

 

[timhoward]

Stranded cable does not have ferrules

Explain a bit more - cable for what, terminated where and how?