Which edition the consumer unit is

[Paul Dodds]

Hi,

Just a quick question. I've done an EICR on a house and the sparks who I normally go to for advice has said the board sounds like a 14th edition. He knows most things but in this case I think he might be wrong! I believe it's a 15th but can anyone give me a 'general' break down of the various editions so I know for future, i.e 15th is one RCD... I even have a photo for you to look at, you may have come across a couple of these!!

Don't worry I straightened up the MCB's before closing the cover and MCB 1 is unused.
I've done a few google searches for the breakers but they don't give an edition.

 

[westward10]

This is true but do not get bogged down by looking ahead, you are doing an EICR so state what you see. If the client wants remedial works after they have Received the Report then you discuss the pros and cons of a possible change.

 

[westward10]

This is true but do not get bogged down by looking ahead, you are doing an EICR so state what you see. If the client wants remedial works after they have Received the Report then you discuss the pros and cons of a possible change.

 

[Adam W]

Check out this best practice guide from 'Electrical Safety First'. I've highlighted a couple of points in case you can't be bothered to read the whole lot:

Code C3 (Improvement recommended)
This code should be used to indicate that, whilst an
observed deficiency is not considered to be a source
of immediate or potential danger, improvement
would contribute to a significant enhancement of
the safety of the electrical installation.

Code C3 (Improvement recommended)
Observations that would usually warrant a Code C3
classification include:
•
Absence of RCD protection for a socket-outlet
that is unlikely to supply portable or mobile
equipment for use outdoors, does not serve a
location containing a bath or shower, and the
use of which is otherwise not considered by the
inspector to result in potential danger.
(Note: Code C2 would apply if the circuit
supplied a socket-outlet in a location
containing a bath or shower in accordance
with Regulation 701.512.3)

 

[westward10]

Never read Best Practice Guides just use experience.

 

[sparksburnout]

Check out this best practice guide from 'Electrical Safety First'. I've highlighted a couple of points in case you can't be bothered to read the whole lot:

Is this standard edition or Landlords only copy?
(I'm gonna get Daz to bite sooner or later)

 

[Octopus]

This is for new builds.....

And rewires and refurbishments that include changes to the electrics ...

NB: 2% of 25 million homes is about 500 000 homes - are we building that many homes?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

the term 16th edition board was used to describe split load boards which had a single RCD to protect downstairs sockets.
Why they weren’t called 15th edition boards, I don’t know. The 15th edition had the same requirement for RCD protection to sockets as the 16th.
17th edition are just dual RCD boards.
Weird to assign editions to boards based on the number of RCDs they contain, considering there is no requirement to place an RCD in a board, in any of the editions.

 

[Spoon]

And rewires and refurbishments that include changes to the electrics ...

Thanks for the addition... Long day....

 

[Spoon]

NB: 2% of 25 million homes is about 500 000 homes - are we building that many homes?

That's why I put 'about 98%'... Not sure how many CU, to amendment 3, have been install in the 2 and a half years... A good figure I thought.. Most prob will be a bit more than 98% but it got my point across.

 

[Risteard]

Why do you want this mythical Edition on an EICR it has no relevance, consumer units are manufactured to British Standards and not Editions of the Wiring Regulations.

Precisely. It is how it is installed which will either comply or fail to comply with the Wiring Regulations.

 

[Risteard]

Never read Best Practice Guides just use experience.

I see people quoting the Best Practice Guide for EICRs too when discussing industrial/commercial inspections. It clearly states at the beginning of the Best Practice Guide that it is only aimed at domestic installations.

But it should always be remembered that these Best Practice Guides are only the opinion of their author(s). The inspector must come to his/her own conclusions.

 

[Adam W]

This is starting to sound like the old "there's no such thing as a part P qualification" argument (it's called the C&G 2393).

Manufacturers called split load boards "17th edition consumer units" because they were manufactured to comply with the 17th edition.
More recently they started marketing split load boards made out of steel as "Amendment 3 consumer units".
So not only are consumer units being described by the edition of BS7671, they're now being described by the amendment of that edition.

 

[Risteard]

This is starting to sound like the old "there's no such thing as a part P qualification" argument (it's called the C&G 2393).

Manufacturers called split load boards "17th edition consumer units" because they were manufactured to comply with the 17th edition.
More recently they started marketing split load boards made out of steel as "Amendment 3 consumer units".
So not only are consumer units being described by the edition of BS7671, they're now being described by the amendment of that edition.

It's a wonder they didn't describe them as "Amendment 3 (delayed implementation)" DBs given that the new requirement was postponed for a year after the rest came in.

 

[Adam W]

It's a wonder they didn't describe them as "Amendment 3 (delayed implementation)" DBs given that the new requirement was postponed for a year after the rest came in.

I suppose it hasn't quite got the same ring to it.

 

[Risteard]

I suppose it hasn't quite got the same ring to it.

Perhaps not.

 

[DPG]

Is this standard edition or Landlords only copy?
(I'm gonna get Daz to bite sooner or later)

Twunt
Oh and there should be a possessive apostrophe in 'Landlords'.

 

[sparksburnout]

Twunt
Oh and there should be a possessive apostrophe in 'Landlords'.

Yeeeees possibly. You could argue it is aimed specifically at him but you maybe right that in that context it is possessive, good call.

 

[DPG]

Actually now I've read it again you are right. It's a plural in that context. I shall stand in the corner.

 

[satori]

This is starting to sound like the old "there's no such thing as a part P qualification" argument (it's called the C&G 2393).

Manufacturers called...

Manufacturers call their products all sorts of things 'new and improved', 'probably the best lager in the world', 'serves 4', 'gives you wings'. Manufacturers are not to be relied upon, they want to sell you stuff. It's up to the installer to know the regs and know whether, when installed, the part can comply with those regs. The manufacturer can't say a CU complies with BS-7671, they have no idea how some idiot is going to install it and negate all their hard design work.

 

[Adam W]

Manufacturers call their products all sorts of things 'new and improved', 'probably the best lager in the world', 'serves 4', 'gives you wings'. Manufacturers are not to be relied upon, they want to sell you stuff. It's up to the installer to know the regs and know whether, when installed, the part can comply with those regs. The manufacturer can't say a CU complies with BS-7671, they have no idea how some idiot is going to install it and negate all their hard design work.

Maybe not but if they made a consumer unit out of metal there's a much better chance of it complying with amendment 3 than if they made it out of plastic.