I don't do EICR's.
I have been reading this thread, but can't quite understand what the recent debate is about.
A) Is it on one side, that an installation should be inspected & tested to the edition of BS7671 that applied at the time that the installation was installed.
B) Whilst the other, that an installation should be inspected & tested to the current edition of BS7671, irrespective of the date of installation.
C) The classification codes, should be applied accordingly as in A).
Just curious?
I think the initial approach from the OP was that he had been instructed previously, and incorrectly, to test to the edition applicable at the installation date and was now interested to gain guidance on coding a lack of 30mA RCD protection where the current regulations require this as additional protection as he is now inspecting and testing to the current edition of the wiring regulations.
The thread has then provided various opinions on various coding issues including 30mA RCD protection and given a range of ways of coding considering approaches that cover most options of either just current edition or both current and previous editions of the wiring regulations and also include considerations of the validity of the best practice guide from ESF.
And just to add my opinion:
I believe that most electricians would agree that inspection and testing is completed by reference to the current edition of the wiring regulations.
I then think that it is up to the inspector to assess the installation, or parts of it, from a safety standpoint to apply his experienced engineering judgement on whether the installation poses a hazard or potential hazard that may place the users of the installation at risk.
The level of risk that the inspector decides on will generate an appropriate code for the hazard.
In order to provide as consistent response as possible (though, as shown by this thread, consistency is not good) non compliance with the current regulations should be considered; by definition a compliant situation should not pose a risk; conversely a non compliant situation may or may not pose a significant risk depending on circumstance.
Electrical Safety First, in conjunction with major electrical organisations, has produced the best practice guide to provide an industry standard from which to base the inspectors coding, though the circumstances of each installation are different this can provide guidance on commonly accepted approaches.