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The BS7671:2008 states
So with a fully populated consumer unit adding for example a cable connected to the ring MCB and feeding a single socket would not be a new circuit but an extension to an existing one.
However if the MCB was not being used then is it already a circuit or not? I would say it was not but it is an assembly of electrical equipment even if only one MCB so not so sure!
Clearly inserting a MCB into a vacant slot is making a new circuit but often CU are bought fully populated so one is not adding a MCB at best one changes a MCB.
If we look at the work and risks involved there is more risk adding to a MCB already in use to adding to one as yet unused so to say to some one if you use that B16 MCB which is vacant you need to pay the LABC and notify but if you used that B32 MCB already used for the ring you don't need to notify seems daft.
Many members of this forum are members of schemes where they have to pay a fee although small for every job they submit to the scheme operator so one would assume they would not want to submit work which does not require submitting. Also one would assume the scheme operators will have sent instructions with the new English regulations as to what now needs sending in.
So I will give an example. In an integral garage where the consumer unit is in the garage for whole house a socket is required for the garage. So if you put the socket butted up to the consumer unit i.e. 15 minutes work and connected to spare B16 MCB in the consumer unit would you send this work into the scheme operator?
This would clearly include a fuse connection unit feeding a series of sockets which it would seem is not considered as a new circuit under Part P rules but since Part P does not publish a definitions there is nothing to refer to.Circuit. An assembly of electrical equipment supplied from the same origin and protected against overcurrent by the same protective device(s).
So with a fully populated consumer unit adding for example a cable connected to the ring MCB and feeding a single socket would not be a new circuit but an extension to an existing one.
However if the MCB was not being used then is it already a circuit or not? I would say it was not but it is an assembly of electrical equipment even if only one MCB so not so sure!
Clearly inserting a MCB into a vacant slot is making a new circuit but often CU are bought fully populated so one is not adding a MCB at best one changes a MCB.
If we look at the work and risks involved there is more risk adding to a MCB already in use to adding to one as yet unused so to say to some one if you use that B16 MCB which is vacant you need to pay the LABC and notify but if you used that B32 MCB already used for the ring you don't need to notify seems daft.
Many members of this forum are members of schemes where they have to pay a fee although small for every job they submit to the scheme operator so one would assume they would not want to submit work which does not require submitting. Also one would assume the scheme operators will have sent instructions with the new English regulations as to what now needs sending in.
So I will give an example. In an integral garage where the consumer unit is in the garage for whole house a socket is required for the garage. So if you put the socket butted up to the consumer unit i.e. 15 minutes work and connected to spare B16 MCB in the consumer unit would you send this work into the scheme operator?