SWA, sockets, and freedom from RCDs

[Hibbo]

How are you intending on terminating the SWA at the consumer unit?

If I was going to use the SWA (which I'm not going to bother with anymore), I would have fitted a gland and secured an earth banjo with the locknut, but just left the gland 'floating' (but secured to the wall to stop it moving about).
It's all irrelevant now as I'm ditching this daft idea.

However, as I may have to retain some of the currently installed lighting wiring (no access to ceiling void), I am a bit concerned about some of the comments regarding the joining of cables. I know that screwed connections (ie junction boxes) are out because they have to be accessable, so I thought I'd be OK (and compliant with the regs) with soldered & heatshrinked or crimped connections.....

 

[ColJack]

nice job RF.. is it bent at the bottom to make running the cable in easier?

 

[RF Lighting]

Of course

 

[Paul_C]

The way I look at this, trying to find ways around the regulations to do this is making the job unnecessarily complicated. There is no legal obligation to follow every detail of BS7671, so there's nothing to stop you from just running the fridge/freezer circuit in T&E without RCD protection if you wish.

 

[RF Lighting]

But if you work to BS7671 you can PROVE your installation is safe.

If you pick and choose the bits you like, and don't bother with the bits you don't, how would you PROVE your installation is safe, apart from working to another recognised standard?

 

[Paul_C]

Non-RCD'd T&E was fully compliant with BS7671 until about 18 months ago and considered perfectly safe. A PIR to BS7671 on such an installation today would attract no more than a code 4. I'd say that's ample evidence to suggest that it's safe.

 

[RF Lighting]

But you couldn't issue an EIC saying your work is compliant with BS7671.

It used to be acceptable to have SP fuses on neutrals and rely on water pipes as a main earth. Do you think you could still wire an installation like that today and claim it is safe because it used to comply with regulations?

 

[Hibbo]

Ah well, I'm still toying with the idea of a non RCD radial, it'll depend on how easy it will be to fit a steel conduit for the CU drop...

I'm glad it's sparked (sorry) some debate about the regs though. I know there have to be rules, but I can see why people get ****ed off with some of them. For example it was recommend to me on here that I fit mains powered smoke alarm, so I thought OK, I will. Not because I have to, but because I think it's a good idea. However after reading up on the regs, what a bloody nightmare it looks! I can't fit one here or there, it's got to be blah blah blah... It is annoying when you choose to do something above what is required, only to find yourself bogged down in schpiel.

PS. I love RCDs, but some perspective needs to be maintained.

 

[scousespark]

Just because the regs say you can does'nt make it acceptable

That is the complete opposite of the truth mate.
If a reg says you can't do something, THEN it is not acceptable.

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[Taylortwocities]

I am not you're mate, and have found that people that casually use the term "mate" are also back stabbing basterds.

It's worse than that, they are bar stewards as well

 

[ColJack]

The regs also say its safe to install cables in the corners of a room.

Can the smart a**es who've criticised my view on soldering also advise me why corners of rooms are safe zones.

special consideration should be given in kitchens where upper cupboard supports are very likely to be drilled into a wall near the corner, but in general things don't get screwed or nailed into a corner of regular rooms.
you are unlikely to drive a nail into the corner of a room from which to hang a picture for example
that being said, my mother regularly puts drawing pins into the corner of the lounge at this time of year to hang strings for cards and tinsel / streamers etc..
while this is not really a problem if steel capping is used ( you're unlikely to pierce it with a thumb driven drawing pin ), the more recently accepted method of plastering straight over the cables makes it a problem..

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[Paul_C]

But you couldn't issue an EIC saying your work is compliant with BS7671.

Complies with BS7671:2008 except for the departures noted below:

"Circuit no. 1, not provided with RCD protection."

Although if it's a DIY installation in one's own home, how likely is an EIC anyway?

It used to be acceptable to have SP fuses on neutrals

When was that?

and rely on water pipes as a main earth. Do you think you could still wire an installation like that today and claim it is safe because it used to comply with regulations?

There was a reason for the change regarding water pipes in that plastic pipes and couplers were becoming more common and likely to compromise the earthing of such an installation.

Installing T&E just below the surface without RCD protection isn't going to be any "less safe" than it was when it complied fully with the regulations less than 2 years ago, nor will it be any "less safe" than an existing installation which on a PIR will be graded as code 4 and given a satisfactory report.

but some perspective needs to be maintained.

My thoughts exactly. And the 17th edition has just gotten so completely carried away with RCD protection that it's a joke. In fact, when you see some people seriously suggesting that a non-RCD socket should now be graded as a code 1 on a PIR, it's gotten beyond a joke.