Furthermore, the legislation does not appear to require the person undertaking the inspection to be member of a CPS. If they are not, and if the required remedial work were notifiable (e.g. replacing a CU), then the process of involving LABC would presumably take appreciable time?
No it has been always been permissible to do emergency work without informing LABC first.
Having said that we are now past the deadline in most cases for private rental properties to get their first inspection, so "complete basket cases" should be pretty rare in that sector going forward. We will probabbly continue to see them in owner-occupied properties for a long time though.
No not started yet, does not come in until 1st December. The problem is can't actually see where it says must be done in any law, the guides to the law says it must be done, but enter EICR or PIT in the "Find in page" and every page reports not on the page, the
The Electricity Safety Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 said:
“consumer’s installation” means the electric lines situated upon the consumer’s side of the supply terminals together with any equipment permanently connected or intended to be permanently connected thereto on that side;
likely applies equally in England and Wales, so as with English regulations it includes current using equipment like immersion heater, boiler, cooker, and dishwasher, washing machine, and drier if not on wheels. I can't remember the weight at which without wheels not classed as portable think 18 kg, and a tumble drier is over that.
One of these
costs £8.50, only needs a tie wrap so needs a tool to remove, but I don't have a large supply in my tool box. I was very nearly in a lot of trouble locking off, no on site transport, walked around the Sizewell 'B' building site, told to remove a motor on a crane, so used one of those to lock off, with a lock, and left the key in foreman's hut, if not me replacing the motor, electrician did not have to walk across the site and get the key.
Fitter arrived, and decided he wanted to move crane first before doing the work we had removed the motor for him to do, he got the key, and switched it back on, there were sparks as a result. I know my fault, key should have not been left with some one not classed as competent, lucky for me, the fitters foreman blamed him not me. But I know really my fault, had HSE been involved I would have been taken to court. I was very lucky.
The same goes for insulation tape where a CU blank is missing, we know most people would not remove it, same as insulation tape holding a MCB off, it is one would hope clear it should not be removed, however if some one does, the electrician is up the creak without a paddle. We know it should require a tool or key to remove it, we can't say not our fault.
Basic thing is when the owner gives you permission to work on the installation he knows you will turn it off, and can't turn it back on unless safe to do so. The one where it becomes a grey area, is the faulty consumer unit with no isolator, you can't win, phoning the DNO is no good, must be in writing, and you should not remove the DNO fuse, they should provide an isolator I know, but two wrongs don't make a right. As to if you can send the DNO a text message, fax, or email I don't know, but needs to be in writing, so only way is to lock the home.
So if you ensure everyone outside the house and lock the house, you have complied, even if there are other keys, you need a key or tool to gain access to live parts. Totally crazy I know, and can't see it ever being done, but when you read court cases, it seems they do expect one to go to silly lengths.
I would say giving an electricians mate a meter to plug in, press the button, and record the results was well within what an electricians mate can do. But in the Emma Shaw case the court did not agree, I read cases like that and think there by grace of god go I, I would have never expected any electricians mate I worked with to fudge up some results, OK entering the electricians mates name on the certificate was wrong, however in the same way with any EICR, EIC, Minor Works, the person ordering the work should insure the person doing the work is qualified to do it, how many home owners ask for the electricians certificates.