CU and Rewire and PP Question

[MasterAbacus]

Hi guys, Ive been reading a plenty, and need a lil bit of advice...

Im eaither clever or being extreemly thick here....lol

As i understand it then any like for like replacement of Cable/socket/switch etc is NOT notifiable under PartP ?

If I was to rewire my house.... using same cable runs, replace sockets/switched etc with new, leaving in existing loations etc then this would NOT be notifieable? correct?

I could then add to a Ring (Spur) to include a sockot or two where i fancied new ones.... again NOT notifiable?

I would then just need to get someone on in to Replace the CU, i know this bit IS notifiable.

Just thinking out loud here guys....


Cant wait to hear your comments on this...

 

[davy_owen_88]

If you read the approved Part P document, under the 'work that need not be notified' table it states:

replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged.

I don't think a complete rewire would come under that, but later on it mentions that replacement, repair and maintenance jobs are generally not notifiable - if I were you I would contact your BCO and ask them.

One point I need to make is that your existing installation may not be safe, so just copying it isn't going to improve things.

Replacing socket fronts/light fittings is indeed not notifiable.

Adding a spur (unless in a kitchen) is again not notifiable.

 

[MasterAbacus]

So im not that far off with this idea....Mmmm

 

[Taylortwocities]

The basis of like for like replacement is that you will not be materially changing any of the installation characteristics.

So why will you be doing the rewire in the first place? Is it because there is no earth wire in the lighting circuit? Your new wiring will have an earth so its not like for like.
Your old ring final wiring. What is the csa of the cpc? 1mm, well the new wiring will have 1.5mm.
This will mean that your EFLI values will be very different. so you will be undertaking notifiable work in kitchens & bathrooms by definition.

 

[JohnD]

ummm, like for like...

Looking at the Statutory Instrument, the relevant bits seems to be:

DESCRIPTIONS OF WORK WHERE NO BUILDING NOTICE OR DEPOSIT OF FULL PLANS REQUIRED

1. Work consisting of -
(a) replacing any fixed electrical equipment which does not include the provision of—
(i) any new fixed cabling; or

(ii) a consumer unit;

(b) replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit only;

(c) re-fixing or replacing enclosures of existing installation components, where the circuit
protective measures are unaffected;

so you can swap your sockets, switches and light fittings for new ones; and you can replace cables; provided the old one was damaged; and you only replace it for one circuit. I don't see that the new cable must have the same CPC (or lack of one) as the old one. And I don't see that you can't replace (e.g.) damaged cable for the lighting circuit today; and discover damaged cable on the socket circuit on another occasion. If you were replacing all the switches and sockets, you might very well find the old cables to be damaged.

There's more on
http://wiki.diynot.com/electrics:part_p:statutory_instrument

 

[sotal]

I'm no expert, but I have to agree but it's only down to the vagueness of the rules. From their vagueness it says you can replace damaged sections you just can't add new circuits, so as long as you damage the cable first then you can replace it.

If you are competent to do it correctly, use the right type wire, follow the safe zones etc and then get a part p sparky in to do the CU, then I don't think there would be a problem.

The problem would come if you do it wrong, the sparky should test the whole installation before going live so in essence will test all you wiring, if that passes and you know you've followed all the regs then I wouldn't worry

 

[JohnD]

the householder doing his own work ought to design, test and inspect it. Without pro equipment you can easily test continuity, polarity, conductor resistance - but not insulation resistance or EFLI. If you just change a socket there's not much risk of getting it wrong (with reasonable skill and care) but rewiring a whole new circuit increases the chance of error or fault. the nail through a cable is a particular problem.

You can't test RCD trip times either, but this is going to be a CU component so the householder shouldn't need to do it.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Do you know what i would do if i went somewhere and they told me they had rewired the place and all i had to do was pop in a new consumer unit and do the cert:

WALK AWAY!

 

[MasterAbacus]

CAN OF WORMS.... phrase springs to mind here.....

Interesting replies boys and girls.....

 

[FatGit]

Do you know what i would do if i went somewhere and they told me they had rewired the place and all i had to do was pop in a new consumer unit and do the cert:

WALK AWAY!

Why? If they had called you in for testing an inspection then what's the problem?

Besides, what if they didn't tell you but asked you in to do a periodic inspection?

 

[JohnD]

I think TTC is within his rights... but it is probably equivalent to most jobs retrofitting a CU to an old installation. Hopefully it will be in a better state than most old installations, littered with add-ons and damage that's built up over the years.

 

[FatGit]

Of course he'd be well within his rights - there is no obligation on him to do any work at all if he doesn't want to!
I was just wondering why he would leave rather than doing the testing as asked for. What would be the difference from testing that install and doing a periodic inspection on an existing ring?