new builds and regulations

[Liam1702]

I bought a new build from a national home builder at the start of this year. The house was built in December 16 and signed off in December too. I've had a bit of bother about the house as a whole and am in the middle of arguing with there tech team. In the house there is a plastic DB fitted.
The tech team of the home builder are saying that this is okay and because planning permission was in place before january 1st 2016 that the house is allowed to byppass the ammendment 3 mains board change in regulation. Im under the thinking along with other electricians i work with that this is incorrect and that they are just trying to fob me off. im just after a bit of back up... hopefully that they are in the wrong!

Do new builds have these ways of bypassing regs or are the home builder thinking im stupid?

 

[Leesparkykent]

If the installation was designed before amendment 3 then the builder is correct. I believe the Olympic park was installed to the 16th even though the 17th was out.

 

[MerlinGremlin]

This Amendment came into effect on January 1st 2016, so all domestic consumer units from this date had to be metal clad to comply with the new Amendment, if your House installation was certified in December 16 then you should of had a metal clad DB to comply with the current regs.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Have a look at this article Hager Teams up With Pro Electrician to “Mythbreak” Amendment 3 - http://professional-electrician.com/features/hager-teams-pro-electrician-mythbust-amendment-3/

 

[suffolkspark]

If it was designed prior to the change it complies

 

[MerlinGremlin]

If you have the EIC it should say in the departures section? And it should state when the install was designed as it will of been signed off on the cert?

 

[Ian1981]

Agree with lee.
If a housing site is priced now then even when the 18th edition is released say July 2018, if the site is priced and designed to the 17th edition previously then the new regulations won't apply until the end of that phase of the contract, say a year or however long the contact is agreed.
New phase of contract new regulations apply

 

[buzzlightyear]

may be the builder electricians should have think ahead. with new build

 

[Ian1981]

If you have the EIC it should say in the departures section? And it should state when the install was designed as it will of been signed off on the cert?

It's not a departure.
It would in other cases be a non compliance if a plastic consumer unit was installed,however it's been designed to a previous edition of the regulations
Perhaps a note on the eic in the comments section stating this

 

[FatAlan]

Bet the original specification didn't even state what material the CU enclosure was made of!

 

[buzzlightyear]

with all these a amendments of the years the regs should be up dated every five years
not every minute. more monies for the boys .

 

[Leesparkykent]

Big house builders do it all the time. Buy land, obtain planning, do some petty work like a bit of grading and sticking a few man holes in, jobs been started so planning can't lapse. If there is a building reg change like u values for the amount of insulation etc it doesn't matter as it was designed when it did comply.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Bet the original specification didn't even state what material the CU enclosure was made of!

Bet the quotes stated part numbers though.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Hager wins UK's largest consumer-unit contract - Modern Building Services - http://www.modbs.co.uk/news/archivestory.php/aid/4487/Hager_wins_UK_s_largest_consumer-unit_contract_.html

 

[Ian1981]

You've got to use what is specified in terms of consumer units,accessories etc.

 

[Ian1981]

Hager wins UK's largest consumer-unit contract - Modern Building Services - http://www.modbs.co.uk/news/archivestory.php/aid/4487/Hager_wins_UK_s_largest_consumer-unit_contract_.html

We do a Taylor wimpey site.
Hager consumer units need to have the lockable covers as specified

 

[Ian1981]

Hager wins UK's largest consumer-unit contract - Modern Building Services - http://www.modbs.co.uk/news/archivestory.php/aid/4487/Hager_wins_UK_s_largest_consumer-unit_contract_.html

We do a Taylor wimpey site.
Hager consumer units need to have the lockable covers as specified

 

[MerlinGremlin]

Big house builders do it all the time. Buy land, obtain planning, do some petty work like a bit of grading and sticking a few man holes in, jobs been started so planning can't lapse. If there is a building reg change like u values for the amount of insulation etc it doesn't matter as it was designed when it did comply.

I think that shouldn't be allowed, if the install hasn't been started then when it is it should be installed to the current regs, in my opinion.

 

[FatAlan]

Would you want to jump on a plane with an engine part newly fitted 9 months after regulations had deemed it too dangerous. I'd like to see that argued in court?

 

[Ian1981]

Would you want to jump on a plane with an engine part newly fitted 9 months after regulations had deemed it too dangerous. I'd like to see that argued in court?

If it was dangerous it wouldn't be in commission
You don't C2 a plastic consumer unit if it's fit for purpose