Hi. If you simply disconnected the wiring of a Consumer Unit, then simply put back the wires into very same Consumer Unit - would that be classified as minor work? I muse it could be because there is no alteration, no new provision of CU or new circuit. Thanks.
No provision of a new CU and no new circuit - Minor Work?
- Thread starter DIYalot
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Why would you want to do that, and why does it matter to you if it's classed as minor work or not?
As opposed to what?
I suspect I know what you have in mind but please confirm what advantage there would be if it were classed as minor work.
I also suspect you are mistaken in your belief.
I suspect your interest is in whether it would (in England) be 'notifiable' work - and I can't see that what you describe would be (in England). Indeed, disconnecting cables from a CU and then reconnecting them is part of the legitimate testing of an electrical installation - which is something people are encouraged to do, even in relation to non-notifiable work. However, nor am I sure why anyone would want to do it (other than for testing) - are you perhaps talking about moving a CU?
Kind Regards, John
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Hi. Indeed the issue is what is notifiable work. Looking at what is written, notifiable work seems to be in cases where there is a provision of a new CU or a new circuit. It seems the regulators are really concerned about being informed about changes to electrical installations. So, if all you are doing is disconnecting a circuit in a CU, then simply reconnecting, that is perhaps not notifiable. A situation where you might want to disconnect from the CU then reconnect, is if you need to have the cables moved from one side of a joist to the other.
I'm looking at Schedule 4 of building Regulations 2010
"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;
(c) re-fixing or replacing enclosures of existing installation components, where the circuit protective measures are unaffected;"
Note the words used -"replacing" "provision" "new".
"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;
(c) re-fixing or replacing enclosures of existing installation components, where the circuit protective measures are unaffected;"
Note the words used -"replacing" "provision" "new".
As I said, with the law as she is worded, I can't see how that would be notifiable in terms of 'the letter of the law' (in England - Wales is a different matter). The law is so badly written that, strictly speaking, even installing a new CU (where there was not one before) is not notifiable (only 'replacement of a CU' is notifiable!) - although you would probably get caught by (notifiable) 'new circuits' if you installed a brand new CU. However, if one wants to think about the spirit/intent of the law, one imagines that the thought was probably that 'fiddling around inside a CU' is potentially dangerous, and therefore should be notifiable - but that's not what the 'letter of the law' says. ... so go figure
Kind Regards, John
You are way out of date. Everything changed (with the result that much less was notifiable - in England, but not Wales) in April 2013. There is now a (very short) list of what IS notifiable, rather than the 2010 list of what was NOT notifiable. Look at this Forum's wiki for up-to-date information.
Kind Regards, John
Any/all electrical work requires adequate testing to confirm that it is compliant with the law (Part P of the Building Regs) but that is equally true of notifiable and non-notifiable work, and does not affect whether work is notifiable or not.
Kind Regards, John
As I've just said, you have posted obsolete law, but, as I've said, I think the same remains true under current law.
Kind Regards, John
The wording now (for whatever reason) requires, among other things, notification of/for "the replacement of a consumer unit".
So, I presume it would depend on the dictionary that is used.
So, I presume it would depend on the dictionary that is used.
Given the large number of questions on this site from people who removed a light switch and then were unable to reconnect it properly, removing all of the wires from a consumer unit and 'simply' reconnecting them is something that should not be attempted by DIYers, regardless of whether it is notifiable or not.
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