How to test a consumer unit/house

[dazzlerpalmer]

How would an electrician test the wiring of a house?
I guess it would start at the consumer unit and involve
resistance/speed of RCD isolation etc.

Is there an online guide that details these steps. It would be handy for people who have just moved into a new house and wanted to double check the electrics.

I expect this would not fall foul of Part P as well since the person is merely testing and not doing any work as such

 

[mapj1]

a good place to start is here.http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/8.8.4.htm
and pages linked off it. If this makes sense then yes you can test.

 

[andy]

How would an electrician test the wiring of a house?
I guess it would start at the consumer unit and involve
resistance/speed of RCD isolation etc.

Is there an online guide that details these steps. It would be handy for people who have just moved into a new house and wanted to double check the electrics.

I expect this would not fall foul of Part P as well since the person is merely testing and not doing any work as such

sorry but PIRs are not for just anyone. sure, you could do the tests, but do you know what the results mean? there could be a fault right infront of you and you might not even relize it.

 

[Albert]

unfortunately, this is kind of a job that must be done by a 'competent person', (this is a legal definition), and has to include 3 certificates that will include the schedule of inspection, schedule of test results and a periodic inspection reporte. It is required that the suitable testers will be used, a multimeter is not enough. In any case, the following are the main tests:
1) continuity of protective conductors, including bonding.
2) continuity of ring final circuit conductors.
3) Insulation resistance.
4) Polarity.
5) Earth Electrode if applicable.
5) Earth fault loop impedance.
6) prospective fault current.
Some of the test done when the power is on, i.e, RCD (if applicable), ELFI, PFC etc. As I mentioned there are few more but I would not think that they are applicable in your case.
Books:
1) Inspection & testing Guidance note 3, by IEE, ISBN 0 85296 991 0, 2002
2) On Site Guide, by IEE, ISBN 0 86341 374 9, (Brown)
3) The Electricians Guide to Inspection and testing, by Amicus,

The more important thing is to be aware of the Health and Safety regulations, if you feel confident the information is there, good luck

 

[ban-all-sheds]

unfortunately, this is kind of a job that must be done by a 'competent person', (this is a legal definition),

So what is the legal definition of a "competent person"?

It is required that the suitable testers will be used, a multimeter is not enough.

dazzlerpalmer - expect to pay approx £600 - £1200 for the test equipment, although bargains can be had on eBay.

 

[Albert]

So what is the legal definition of a "competent person"?

I thought that Ban-knows-all, will not need clarifications

 

[ban-all-sheds]

So what is the legal definition of a "competent person"?

I thought that Ban-knows-all, will not need clarifications

OK - it was a rhetorical Q. I'll do some rewording...

unfortunately, this is kind of a job that must be done by a 'competent person', (this is a legal definition),

There is no legal definition of who is a "competent person"

 

[andy]

There is no legal definition of who is a "competent person"

that can be a good thing in some cases. i.e me.

 

[Albert]

There is no legal definition of who is a "competent person"

Please not part P again!!! , if this is all what you don't like in my reply, I think I am doing quiet well...

that can be a good thing in some cases. i.e me.

Yes, because of the confusion you get to talk to some good people...like you

 

[andy]

There is no legal definition of who is a "competent person"

Please not part P again!!! , if this is all what you don't like in my reply, I think I am doing quiet well...

who mentioned part P?

 

[Albert]

who mentioned part P?

can't you see the link? competent person-part P

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Please not part P again!!!

who mentioned part P?

can't you see the link? competent person-part P

Albert - the first person to use the term "competent person" on this thread, and the first one to hint at some legal status of the term was you...

 

[Albert]

Albert - the first person to use the term "competent person" on this thread, and the first one to hint at some legal status of the term was you...

yes, it is possible that I am the first one, you will agree that to do a job which is notifiable, you need to be registered with a competent persons scheme, or notify the local authority, a competent person (as I understand it) is a person who is registered with a competent persons scheme. there is a complete mess regarding this issue and if I will say that implementing an inspection and signing a PIR, or to rewire a house and sign an Electrical installation certificate, is something that has to be done by a competent person. May be you are right to say that it is not clearly defined in law, but for the purpose of this forum, I think that it is near enough. My personal view on this matter is that a competent person is a person that is properly qualified and able to do electrical work safely, understand the risks, the principals behind electrical work, able to inspect, test and understand the results of the tests.
I have been asked " who mentioned part P?, unfortunately there is a strong link between part P and a competent person.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Albert - the first person to use the term "competent person" on this thread, and the first one to hint at some legal status of the term was you...

yes, it is possible that I am the first one,

More than possible matey. I'm just curious as to why you brought it up and then said don't bring it up again..

you will agree that to do a job which is notifiable, you need to be registered with a competent persons scheme, or notify the local authority,

If the work is notifiable then the local authority has to be notified no matter who does it. The difference is that with a registered person the notification takes place after the event.

But what does that have to do with inspection and testing?

a competent person (as I understand it) is a person who is registered with a competent persons scheme.

Yes, but what relevance is that to inspection and testing?

there is a complete mess regarding this issue

IMHO there isn't anything like as much mess in reality as there is in what you're inventing...

and if I will say that implementing an inspection and signing a PIR, or to rewire a house and sign an Electrical installation certificate, is something that has to be done by a competent person.

Of course it is- nobody should do things that they are not competent to do.

May be you are right to say that it is not clearly defined in law, but for the purpose of this forum, I think that it is near enough.

What is near enough? I am genuinely at a loss to know what you are on about. Surely you're not basing all this on the premise that Inspection and Testing is notifiable work, are you?

My personal view on this matter is that a competent person is a person that is properly qualified and able to do electrical work safely, understand the risks, the principals behind electrical work, able to inspect, test and understand the results of the tests.

Qualifications are a way of demonstrating competence. It is possible to be competent without being qualified.

 

[Albert]

="ban-all-sheds] More than possible matey. I'm just curious as to why you brought it up and then said don't bring it up again..

I think that on this one I was misunderstood, I meant that as competent person issue is linked to part P, I thought that we had enough with part P...

But what does that have to do with inspection and testing?

Because not every ones signature will be accepted on the certificates, and I thought that it should be clear, that if you would like to do DIY work, things changed and almost all electrical work require certificates, the original post was about testing... .

IMHO there isn't anything like as much mess in reality as there is in what you're inventing...

You are very much involved in supporting people , and if there is no mess why there are thousands of questions regarding the new regs, part P etc. on this one I am sorry to say that I don't agree with you.. may I?

Of course it is- nobody should do things that they are not competent to do.

So we agree on this one, but how do you make clear to someone who wants to do a house rewire and test it, that it is not recommended because if something goes wrong, (not only the immediate risk but there is a long term risk as you know), it might end in court and he will have nothing to support him.

I am genuinely at a loss to know what you are on about. Surely you're not basing all this on the premise that Inspection and Testing is notifiable work, are you?

This was a small part (remark) of my reply to dazzlerpalmer, you picked on it, and from there it just developed to a book...
No I never said that, but what I said was that test and inspection has to be done by a person that is competent to do so, rewiring a house is a notifiable job, testing, IMHO, is integrated part of it.

Qualifications are a way of demonstrating competence. It is possible to be competent without being qualified

Yes I understand what you mean by saying that but you must have a way to draw a line, to my opinion, a formal qualification is a clear cut, what I mean is that if someone is competent because he worked as an electrician for 20 (ok can be a bit less ... ) years and has a record to show, he should be recognized and after a short check officially qualified, but still have papers to show?

To your delight I will be away for 2 weeks, but I Will Be back!