EICR Nightmare and Advise

[timhoward]

Geen Goo is a problem but sometimes the offending cable can be cleaned with a wet wipe and the face plate changed then it becomes a more detailed FI where you want to inspect all the cables and a possible partial re-wire req latter on

If an 100% check of accessories reveals it is indeed only one or two locations affected then I could imagine cleaning it up and recommending re-inspection in a year. The IR is already getting fairly close to the line on this one though.

 

[littlespark]

The meter tails are at the meter. Can only be worked on by meter operator engineer, as it means pulling the fuse/ cutting the seal

The holes in the consumer unit are up against the ceiling… jam a bit of plastic inbetween to cover.

Should get a replacement cover off eBay… at least it’s still got a cover!

The green goo is the biggest issue, but the low readings may be linked to that. If the stained sockets were changed, the reading might rise… but the goo would likely start oozing into the new ones…..



This is a problem everywhere when one EICR picks up on thing that another didn’t.
Was it the same company that did both reports?
If not, was there a big difference in price/ time doing the testing?

 

[Dustydazzler]

If an 100% check of accessories reveals it is indeed only one or two locations affected then I could imagine cleaning it up and recommending re-inspection in a year. The IR is already getting fairly close to the line on this one though.

I come across Green-goo a lot at the housing estates near me , I do my best to clean the offending goo off and sometimes replace a little bit of cable where possible and a new face plate. I have been back to some of these jobs 12-18 months latter and it seems to have done the trick.
With the cost of cable now and labour even a partial re-wire can cost £1000s and to many people its just not an option at the moment with the cost of living crisis.

 

[timhoward]

With the cost of cable now and labour even a partial re-wire can cost £1000s and to many people its just not an option at the moment with the cost of living crisis

I completely understand that and agree. I've in fact just advised someone myself that wiring of a very similar age is safe even though modernisation is long overdue. In my case the IR was 30M and there was no green goo detected though.

This one above looks like a dual-RCD board with at least two socket circuits. It says the kitchen was upgraded along with new CU so maybe that is a newer circuit and is fine. (I can see a new-colours RFC). It might be the problem is limited to remainder of downstairs rooms, or just upstairs. It might be that a couple of radials in trunking would provide a temporary solution.

Lots of unknowns, and maybe's! The next step is finding out the scale of the problem. Confirming which circuits have the low IR and checking 100% of accessories on them.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Thanks @HappyHippyDad. I wish you were closer to Reading to do this for us .

Only two sockets are showing green goo outside and of which only one was looking like coming out from the switch after the inspection was completed. Picture of the main culprit socket below:

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That doesn't look great Josh.
As the others have said it's looking like a rewire.
You have quite bad green goo, IR results close to a failure mark and damaged accessories. As @pc1966 said that cable is 50+ years old. It's probably time for a rewire I'm afraid. It might be worth thinking about getting some of the other circuits rewired at the same time if they are of a similar age, or at least discuss it with the electrician.

As for the first EICR you had done. It seems possible/likely that they did not do a terribly good job.

 

[loz2754]

As for the C2 given for the plastic consumer unit being located in the sole means of escape, BPG4 would suggest this would be C2 only if there were signs of degradation in the consumer unit. For example, discolouration of MCBs, badly fitted busbars etc.

Having said that, there is an obvious benefit to keeping up with current regulations that are designed to improve safety.

 

[timhoward]

It might be worth thinking about getting all the other circuits rewired at the same time if they are of a similar age, or at least discuss it with the electrician.

To be fair I can see at least 3 circuits in new colours, so I'm expecting this to be a partial rewire.

What I would say is that getting this done while unoccupied will save big bucks.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

To be fair I can see at least 3 circuits in new colours, so I'm expecting this to be a partial rewire.

What I would say is that getting this done while unoccupied will save big bucks.

Haha.. I just saw this and edited my post. Not quickly enough though

 

[DefyG]

First EICR done in March 2021 - Passed with only C3 observations

If it was satisfactory in Mar 2021 you should not need another in 2022, whether change of tenancy or not!
However looking at some of the photos etc I wonder on the validity of the March EICR

 

[Josh_ahoy]

The meter tails are at the meter. Can only be worked on by meter operator engineer, as it means pulling the fuse/ cutting the seal

The holes in the consumer unit are up against the ceiling… jam a bit of plastic inbetween to cover.

Should get a replacement cover off eBay… at least it’s still got a cover!

The green goo is the biggest issue, but the low readings may be linked to that. If the stained sockets were changed, the reading might rise… but the goo would likely start oozing into the new ones…..



This is a problem everywhere when one EICR picks up on thing that another didn’t.
Was it the same company that did both reports?
If not, was there a big difference in price/ time doing the testing?

Different company.