Metal distribution board needed for safety report?

Corazones · 28 Jul 2015

Over a year ago, my own house was largely rewired very satisfactorily, a new (plastic) distribution box fitted and a completion certificate issued.

I also own a flat, which also has a plastic distribution box and a previous safety inspection. Now I am being told that this box must be replaced by metal, new twin sockets fitted throughout the rooms because the old ones will "probably" break down during a megger test, and a previously acceptable cabling for the cooker and electric shower must be upgraded - a total cost, with some reconnection of appliances, of well over £2000 inc VAT in order to comply.

Could someone explain the new requirements, and how they apply retrospectively to previously acceptable installations - or am I being taken for a ride?

JohnW2 · 28 Jul 2015

Corazones said:
I also own a flat, which also has a plastic distribution box and a previous safety inspection. Now I am being told that this box must be replaced by metal ....

As of 1st January 2016, all new domestic consumer units will be required to be made of 'non-combusible' material. No-one really knows what that means, other than that metal would clearly comply. However, like all of the Wiring Regulations', that requirement does not apply retrospectively.

Corazones said:
... new twin sockets fitted throughout the rooms because the old ones will "probably" break down during a megger test, ...

That's pure speculation, and very unlikely to be true.

Corazones said:
... and a previously acceptable cabling for the cooker and electric shower must be upgraded ...

Again, very doubtful, particularly give that none of the regulations are retrospective.

Corazones said:
- a total cost, with some reconnection of appliances, of well over £2000 inc VAT in order to comply. ... Could someone explain the new requirements, and how they apply retrospectively to previously acceptable installations ...

See above. None of the requirements are retrospective. Subsequent inspections may 'recommend' upgrading to bring up to the standard of current regs, but that's not a requirement.

Corazones said:
- or am I being taken for a ride?

It sounds as if that could well be the case. You need a second, and maybe a third, opinion.

Kind Regards, John

Corazones · 28 Jul 2015

Many thanks John, that was really helpful. The surprising thing was that two different contractors said the same thing about the distribution box, so either they are both genuinely misinformed (which I doubt) or they (and maybe others, too) think they're on to a good thing here!

endecotp · 28 Jul 2015

If two people have said the same thing, and as they have had the benefit of seeing the installation, maybe they are right for some reason that we don't know about....

riveralt · 28 Jul 2015

Corazones said:
Many thanks John, that was really helpful. The surprising thing was that two different contractors said the same thing about the distribution box, so either they are both genuinely misinformed (which I doubt) or they (and maybe others, too) think they're on to a good thing here!

Ask both contractors to quote which regulation (number) says that plastic consumer units MUST be replaced by metal ones?

JohnW2 · 28 Jul 2015

Corazones said:
Many thanks John, that was really helpful. The surprising thing was that two different contractors said the same thing about the distribution box, so either they are both genuinely misinformed (which I doubt) or they (and maybe others, too) think they're on to a good thing here!

I fear we are going to be seeing an awful lot of this come next year. There certainly is no regulation which will require existing plastic CUs to be replaced next year. There isn't even a regulation requiring existing 40+ year-old wood/bakelite ones (without RCDs), or even older ones, to be replaced.

Kind Regards, John

JohnW2 · 28 Jul 2015

Corazones said:
Many thanks John, that was really helpful. The surprising thing was that two different contractors said the same thing about the distribution box, so either they are both genuinely misinformed (which I doubt) or they (and maybe others, too) think they're on to a good thing here!

Well, they might conceivably be right about the sockets, or even the shower/cooker cables (although I doubt it), but they certainly aren't right about any regulatory requirements for tens of millions of existing plastic CUs to be replaced with metal ones come January 1st!

Kind Regards, John

EFLImpudence · 28 Jul 2015

I would like to confirm the above as I am utterly fed up with this so-called new regulation (which has nothing to do with the electrical regulations) and the stupidity which has ensued.

Corazones said:
and a previously acceptable cabling for the cooker and electric shower must be upgraded

If it was acceptable then it still is - within reasonable time restraints.

Could someone explain the new requirements,

No one knows what non-combustible means in this regard.

and how they apply retrospectively to previously acceptable installations

They don't.

or am I being taken for a ride?

As you have stated - yes.

Also, there is no requirement for nor any such thing 'Electrical Safety Inspections' for flats although you have a duty of care to ensure it is safe for use.

There is an Electrical Installation Condition Report, which is the same for any installation and is very detailed, so if what you had done cost less than £150 I would maintain it has not been carried out properly and is no more than a blame-shifter.

Adam_151 · 28 Jul 2015

Indeed, I believe Napit are recommending that they arn't even coded at all on an EICR, not even C3.... now on the face of it you might think that this is a good thing as it stops folk thinking they must go and have it replaced ASAP before it catches on fire as C3 is "improvement recommended"... so not really appropiatehere. however by not mentioning it at all you are implying that the use of a no longer compliant board has no reduction in safety... in which is clearly at odds with what is intended by the regulation otherwise it would not exist. In the past we could have allocated a code 4 to it and moved on.

The whole lot is a badly thought out mess!!

ban-all-sheds · 28 Jul 2015

Corazones said:
The surprising thing was that two different contractors said the same thing about the distribution box

Report them both to Trading Standards, and if they are members of any Competent Person schemes, (e.g. NICEIC, NAPIT etc) report them to them as well.

ban-all-sheds · 28 Jul 2015

Adam_151 said:
by not mentioning it at all you are implying that the use of a no longer compliant board has no reduction in safety

So on Day N the installation has a certain "safety value". What makes that number reduce on Day N+1 when the regulations change?

in which is clearly at odds with what is intended by the regulation otherwise it would not exist

What is intended?

If you think you know then either you have a great deal more insight than anybody else, or you just haven't thought about it properly.

EFLImpudence · 28 Jul 2015

Adam_151 said:
so not really appropiatehere. however by not mentioning it at all you are implying that the use of a no longer compliant board has no reduction in safety...

The point is, it is not an electrical regulation.

You may as well code the cables as 'not being non-combustible' - or the stairs..

Adam_151 · 28 Jul 2015

EFLImpudence said:
The point is, it is not an electrical regulation.

Unfortunatly it is, whether we like it or not!

EFLImpudence · 28 Jul 2015

What I mean is it is not related to the electrical parts.

ban-all-sheds · 28 Jul 2015

But it is impossible to comply with, as it requires CUs to be made of a substance which has not yet been discovered.

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Metal distribution board needed for safety report?

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