What is going on with SPD's and A3

[Mark1969]

We were all told that SPD's were mandatory under A3 from September last year and even sat through the webinar spelling it out. I work an area with lots of overhead lines, I ran out of the Type 1's I bulk buy online and could not find any local wholesalers who stocked them (type 2 yes but no type 1). It seemed strange that it is now mandatory to fit them but you can't buy them at the wholesalers.

Fast forward a few weeks and I am sitting in an Aico fire alarm training session and I raise this point afterwards with the trainer. His response was that no one stocks the expensive Type 1's because they aren't mandatory, they realised that making it mandatory was a stupid idea and they pulled that amendment.

So what is going on? Did they pull the amendment? Is the amendment still in force but being largely ignored? What's going on with this...

 

[timhoward]

That would be the new 443.4.1 See above post for how Napit instructed us to interpret it.

ah but that bit was dropped in a subsequent update. @pc1966 beat me to it - see above.

They rambled on for a bit but made it clear we had no choice but to fit SPD's even in single dwellings

Napit can say whatever they like (I'm a member too btw) but the regs are clear that with the exceptions in the first part of 433.3.1, the owner of an installation can still essentially opt out if they want to. Napit advice at the A2 Expo in Manchester was to get a signed declaration from the owner in such circumstances.

The last page of appendix 16 makes interesting reading, suggesting that more prominence is given to voltage limiting characteristics of an SPD rather than the energy it can withstand. I take that to mean that a Type 2 will still protect equipment if there's a direct lightning strike outside, but may be useless afterwards.
It occurs to me that one could replace a few type 2 modules before the price of a type 1 has been reached.

Of course, if I fit any new CU I fit surge protection. Where possible I add and SPD if adding a new circuit but I won't die on my sword over it. A reality of domestic sparking is that we have to be pragmatic when extending or altering existing installations and decide where we draw the line. At the end of the day, the regs are not statutory (I'll get my coat)

 

[Mark1969]

My apologies for the slow reply. I wasn't being rude, family matters overtook me and I am only just getting back to business as normal.

Well, my question was answered. Thanks for the info and taking the time to link the Corrigendum.