Diy house rewire

[markus2025]

Yeah , i enjoy chatting on here as its good to have a discussion but yeah there is alot of misinformed people maybe because every building control works a little different
but yeah he seemed a real decent guy he almost seemed to say if they the likes of a eicr then they would basically sign it off from that
the checks during the works didnt seem to be a certainty but could possibly happen


i do think in the modern day we overthink everything alot of things are over engineered far more then they need to be its a good thing for safety but sometimes its way to over egged but thanks all for the input im sure i will have more posts of advice along the way on this renovation

 

[JohnW2]

Yeah , i enjoy chatting on here as its good to have a discussion but yeah there is alot of misinformed people maybe because every building control works a little different .... but yeah he seemed a real decent guy he almost seemed to say if they the likes of a eicr then they would basically sign it off from that
the checks during the works didnt seem to be a certainty but could possibly happen

Quite so. Some BCOs are rather 'power crazy' (and hence like 'saying No', even when that is not something they can actually do!), couled with not liking applications that may involve them in somewhat more work than when a CPS member undertakes work!

i do think in the modern day we overthink everything alot of things are over engineered far more then they need to be its a good thing for safety but sometimes its way to over egged but thanks all for the input im sure i will have more posts of advice along the way on this renovation

Just as with modern society in general, the regs do tend to be pretty risk-averse (which some might call 'very cautious/conservative') - but, as you imply, it's difficult to criticise that.

If you need further advice, you know were to find us. I don't know whether you realise this, or whether it is any 'consolation' to you, but many of us 'regulars' in this forum (including many of those who have participated in this discussion) are not practising electricians (or, in many cases, 'electricians' of any sort).

Good luck!

 

[markus2025]

Yeah for sure i mean its a diy forum not a by the book consultancy page but still good for advice now and then , just to add here is the email responce so i had it in writing

Hi Mark

Your email for some strange reason has come through to me.

Yes you are correct, you will need to make an application and paid the required fee, once the application is validated them works can commenced of the rewiring, works should pause at first fix stage (wire run and back boxes in place) to allow our electrical contractor to check the wiring installation prior to covering over.

Please note we use external contractors for these types of application so there could be a delay in getting our contractor to site depending upon their workload.

Following satisfactory inspection works can continue to completion where again our contractor will check the works have been complete in accordance. If the works are found to be satisfactory then the
Contractor will instruct us to issue the completion certificate.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Following satisfactory inspection works can continue to completion where again our contractor will check the works have been complete in accordance. If the works are found to be satisfactory then the
Contractor will instruct us to issue the completion certificate.

All you need to do now, is put the application in, plan it out, and study the detailed bits - such as needing grommets on boxes, fitting sleeving, and how to strip cables, without nicking the copper.

 

[markus2025]

Browsing over the regs one thing im looking at is that the current consumer unit is in the living room in a cupboard around 2ft from the floor i was looking a replacing like for like location but wondering if this hight would meet modern regs

 

[JohnW2]

Browsing over the regs one thing im looking at is that the current consumer unit is in the living room in a cupboard around 2ft from the floor i was looking a replacing like for like location but wondering if this hight would meet modern regs

That's a pretty common height for a CU (particularly when 'under stairs') but I suppose that a bit higher, when possible, would be somewhat 'more convenient.

I may be wrong,but I'm not aware of any explicit requirements in the regs as regards CU height (particularly in existing houses), provided that it is not majorly difficullt to access.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Browsing over the regs one thing im looking at is that the current consumer unit is in the living room in a cupboard around 2ft from the floor i was looking a replacing like for like location but wondering if this hight would meet modern regs

So far as I am aware, that would be acceptable, but it's not a good height to work at - higher would be better for your back. Where is the meter located?

 

[markus2025]

Yeah i think i read somewhere on a rewire them sort of things dont apply the same as on a newbuilds so you could have the sockets on the skirting board in a sense lol

the meter is in the same place in the living room in the corner in a cupboard in the alcove next to the chimney breast well was ive now ripped the cupboard out but another will likey go in

at first i was gonna move the consumer to the hallway putting in a lewden unit with a sub main on a swa run but in the end i though if the meter is staying where it is , which it is due to the cost to move then the board might aswell stay there and in future old age atleast i can get on my knees to it rather then up a set of steps lol

 

[JohnW2]

Yeah i think i read somewhere on a rewire them sort of things dont apply the same as on a newbuilds so you could have the sockets on the skirting board in a sense lol

Indeed. In fact, if I remember correctly (I may be wrong - it's not really something I've ever needed to know much about!), even for new-builds the figures given for heights of sockets, switches etc. are probably only 'guidance', rather than 'mandatory'.

the meter is in the same place in the living room in the corner in a cupboard in the alcove next to the chimney breast well was ive now ripped the cupboard out but another will likey go in

How tall will the new cupboard be? As both Harry and I have said, higher than 2 feet from floor would probably be preferable (in terms of 'convenience') were that possible.

 

[endecotp]

Browsing over the regs one thing im looking at is that the current consumer unit is in the living room in a cupboard around 2ft from the floor i was looking a replacing like for like location but wondering if this hight would meet modern regs

Other parts of the building regulations apply to some aspects of electrical work - in particular, the “part M” regulations have things to say about how high the CU, light switches and sockets may be.

 

[JohnW2]

Other parts of the building regulations apply to some aspects of electrical work - in particular, the “part M” regulations have things to say about how high the CU, light switches and sockets may be.

What you go on to quote is from Approved Document M and, as I wrote, I think it is all only 'guidance'. As I understand it, the only thing which is compulsory/mandatory (for new-builds only) is compliance with Part M of the Building Regs themselves, and ALL that says of relevance to electrical matters is:

... so it's totally down to personal opinion/judgement/discretion as to what represents "reasonable provision for people to use the building and its facilities".

 

[ericmark]

Wheelchair wheels 700 mm diameter, so the user often can't see the back of the wheel, so anything at 350 mm high is likely to get damaged by wheelchair users, so they need to be above or below that height. Wheelchairs with smaller wheels are not self-propelled, so less likely to cause damage.

Also, if something mounted on the wall, able-bodied people can bend down, but wheelchair users can't jump up. So if something need reading from above, 1200 mm is far too high.

 

[morqthana]

Browsing over the regs one thing im looking at is that the current consumer unit is in the living room in a cupboard around 2ft from the floor i was looking a replacing like for like location but wondering if this hight would meet modern regs

Are you in a flood-risk area?