Notifiable work ??

crystal ball · 10 Feb 2016

I have been doing a few alterations - extra sockets lights etc, now the customer wants power reinstating to a detached shed, there is a cable already trenched to the shed but has poor IR readings, so if I replace it, is it classed as a like for like which I believe is not notifiable but with all the changes to part p I have lost track of what is what. I do not normally do much domestic work mainly industrial/commercial

JohnW2 · 10 Feb 2016

crystal ball said:
I have been doing a few alterations - extra sockets lights etc, now the customer wants power reinstating to a detached shed, there is a cable already trenched to the shed but has poor IR readings, so if I replace it, is it classed as a like for like which I believe is not notifiable but with all the changes to part p I have lost track of what is what. I do not normally do much domestic work mainly industrial/commercial

Despite the frequency with which we see it mentioned "like for like" is not a concept mentioned in any rules, regulations or laws!

If there is an 'existing circuit' (i.e. connected to CU at one end and to something else at the other end) then you can change, replace, modify or add to that circuit as much as you like without it being notifiable.

If it has previously been disconnected from CU, then there is perhaps more scope for debate, since it could be said that you were 'installing a new circuit', which would be notifiable!!

Kind Regards, John

crystal ball · 10 Feb 2016

It is still connected but isolated as it was tripping the RCD and there is a rusty old CU at the shed end, which would need replacing

JohnW2 · 10 Feb 2016

crystal ball said:
It is still connected but isolated as it was tripping the RCD and there is a rusty old CU at the shed end, which would need replacing

That sounds like an 'existing circuit' (albeit not a very usable one!) to me, so I would personally say that you could renew/replace/add-to any/all parts of it without the work becoming notifiable. However, I'd be interested to hear what others have to say!

Kind Regards, John

EFLImpudence · 10 Feb 2016

I could argue the circuit status both ways.

However, there is a rusty old CU. If this is replaced ... then you may as well notify the circuit as well.

JohnW2 · 10 Feb 2016

EFLImpudence said:
I could argue the circuit status both ways.

Indeed.

EFLImpudence said:
However, there is a rusty old CU. If this is replaced ... then you may as well notify the circuit as well.

Also true. However, I was thinking that, depending on what sort of supply is needed at the shed, it might be possible to remove the rusty CU and to arrange things such that a "replacement CU" is not needed - e.g. directly wire sockets, FCU for lights and maybe a standalone RCD in front of all that - which would probably not be notifiable if one decides that there is an 'existing circuit'.

Kind Regards, John

EFLImpudence · 10 Feb 2016

"(b) the replacement of a consumer unit"

It doesn't say you have to replace it with another one.

EFLImpudence · 10 Feb 2016

So, wire round it and leave it there to rust away and it will not have been replaced, will it?

JohnW2 · 10 Feb 2016

EFLImpudence said:
"(b) the replacement of a consumer unit" It doesn't say you have to replace it with another one.

Oh Dear

I would happily remove a ('unnecessary') CU and wire the sockets/lights etc. in some other way (such as I outlined) without regarding that as 'replacing the CU', wouldn't you?

Kind Regards, John

JohnW2 · 10 Feb 2016

EFLImpudence said:
So, wire round it and leave it there to rust away and it will not have been replaced, will it?

It's getting worse! Yes, if one did that I suppose one could put one's hand on one's heart and say that one couldn't possible have 'replaced' the CU, since it was still there! However, this is getting all a bit silly!

I would personally happily do as I have described (if it were appropriate), including removing and binning the rusty CU, without any concerns that what I had done was notifiable. Would you not?

Kind Regards, John

EFLImpudence · 10 Feb 2016

Yes, of course I would.

crystal ball · 10 Feb 2016

I was thinking of fitting a din rail wiska box as it is a damp old shed so not a CU in the true sense of the meaning, and as the incoming SWA is fed from a 32a rcbo from the house CU to my mind its just another final circuit that happens to have a (sort of) CU on the end of it

Taylortwocities · 10 Feb 2016

Replacement of a consumer unit is notifiable, and a shed is included as part of the domestic premises. There is nothing that says a 2 MCB CU is exempt from this.
Notifiable IMO.

Replacing the cable, not notifiable.

JohnW2 · 10 Feb 2016

Taylortwocities said:
Replacement of a consumer unit is notifiable, and a shed is included as part of the domestic premises. There is nothing that says a 2 MCB CU is exempt from this. Notifiable IMO.

Agreed - but, as I've said, one could probably avoid a "CU" of any type/size. If one used 4mm² cable, the sockets could be fed directly from the (32A protected) supply from the house, and lighting could be supplied via an FCU from that supply. Then, IMO, not notifiable.

Kind Regards, John

stillp · 10 Feb 2016

And, of course, a Wiska box will not be "non-combustible"!

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Notifiable work ??

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