Today I set up lighting for an upcoming AmDram show to allow for the halls appointed people to do the electrical testing.
The stage lighting supply consists of 3x13A metal clad DSSO about 3m above stage level and difficult to get to without steps as they are on the wall above some storage cupboards. Each is on it's own B20 radial of about 20m of 2.5mm² T&E and pretty much in free space hanging across the metal structure within the false ceiling after the first 3m in 100x50 plastic trunking with 7 other T&E's. These 3 circuits are on a dedicated consumer unit which is switched off when not in use (mains switch and all 3 breakers and the supply breaker).
4 of the sockets have broken bits of white plastic in the earths so I'm assuming that in the last 8 months someone has used childproof covers and broken them, possibly due to the awkward access. No amount of cajoling will release 3 of them so I came home and got 6 metal clad SSSO's from stock to replace them.
The guy came to examine our kit and the first thing he looked at was the sockets, did the calcs and has stated the breakers need to be B16's and is refusing to sign our stuff off until that's done. Our current max load is around 8KW so this will not be a problem to us.
Looking back over the last 7 years paperwork he has signed the PIR 9 times including the last 4 and the AmDram installations 13 & last 4, when I asked why it now won't pass he said the regs have changed and it needs to be upgraded to a 17th edition consumer unit.
CU is fed from the main board [next to it] on a C63 and I'm pretty sure it is metal, the bit I'm struggling to remember [last November I only got round to switching it off once out of 2 rehearsals and 2 shows] is whether it's a RCD as main switch with MCB's or an isolator and 2gang RCBO's, [these are 2 venues the the group use].
Does this seem like work creation to others?
Depending on hall bookings tomorrow we hope to get in to put the tabs up and will take pics.
The stage lighting supply consists of 3x13A metal clad DSSO about 3m above stage level and difficult to get to without steps as they are on the wall above some storage cupboards. Each is on it's own B20 radial of about 20m of 2.5mm² T&E and pretty much in free space hanging across the metal structure within the false ceiling after the first 3m in 100x50 plastic trunking with 7 other T&E's. These 3 circuits are on a dedicated consumer unit which is switched off when not in use (mains switch and all 3 breakers and the supply breaker).
4 of the sockets have broken bits of white plastic in the earths so I'm assuming that in the last 8 months someone has used childproof covers and broken them, possibly due to the awkward access. No amount of cajoling will release 3 of them so I came home and got 6 metal clad SSSO's from stock to replace them.
The guy came to examine our kit and the first thing he looked at was the sockets, did the calcs and has stated the breakers need to be B16's and is refusing to sign our stuff off until that's done. Our current max load is around 8KW so this will not be a problem to us.
Looking back over the last 7 years paperwork he has signed the PIR 9 times including the last 4 and the AmDram installations 13 & last 4, when I asked why it now won't pass he said the regs have changed and it needs to be upgraded to a 17th edition consumer unit.
CU is fed from the main board [next to it] on a C63 and I'm pretty sure it is metal, the bit I'm struggling to remember [last November I only got round to switching it off once out of 2 rehearsals and 2 shows] is whether it's a RCD as main switch with MCB's or an isolator and 2gang RCBO's, [these are 2 venues the the group use].
Does this seem like work creation to others?
Depending on hall bookings tomorrow we hope to get in to put the tabs up and will take pics.
