This informative article is intended to provide you with some valuable information on common inadequacies within a domestic electrical installation.

Although electrical Inspections may be conducted by any competent electrician with the appropriate equipment, remedial works, particularly notifiable ones need to be conducted by a part P qualified electrician as well as the appropriate building controllers notified.

Should your electrician be a member of any of the below competent persons schemes, they are allowed to self certify the installation.

Competent persons schemes members.

British Standards Institution (BSI)

EC Certification Limited / ELECSA

NAPIT Registration Limited (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers)

NICEIC Group Limited

Common fault No.1 - Lack of RCD protection on fuseboard.

One of the most frequent defects with domestic electrical systems is the lack of RCD protection on your consumer unit. The latest Wiring Regulations BS 7671 came in to force at the end of June 2008, requiring a lot more extensive provision for RCD (residual circuit protection) of both domestic and non-domestic dwellings. The practicalities of meeting those requirements for protection are varied and too numerous to list within article but examples of the implications are below.

All power sockets sockets from 13Amp 20Amp to be used by ordinary persons should normally be protected by a 30mA RCD.

In bathrooms for example RCD protection is now required for all circuits.

In summary, you will discover a quantity of approaches to fuse board design to fulfill the new regulations, some of which utilise traditional RCD main switch consumer units and split load consumer units, while some rely on the new version of dual RCD protected consumer units. Generally the installation of RCDs and RCBOs is now greater and there is a trend towards larger consumer units with more ways available.

Common fault No.2 - Partial or incomplete bonding.

Electric shocks brought on by faulty appliances and charged metallic objects can be fatal. Therefore it is of paramount importance all metallic items like gas and water pipes within a home are properly earthed to ensure that electricity to be dispersed safely. Bonding is the term used for connecting all metallic items that usually do not normally carry a current (pipes etc) within a home, and also to the mains earth to prevent electric shocks.

In each electrical installation, mains bonding conductors(earthing wires) are required to connect with the main earthing terminal for the installation of these following items:

metal water service pipes

metal gas installation pipes

other metal service pipes and ducting

metal central heating and air conditioning systems

exposed metal structural parts of your building

lightning protection systems

Common fault NO.3 - Inappropriate fittings in bathroom.

For Electrical safety, bathrooms pose a higher risk of electrocution due to the proximity of water. Electrical appliances commonly found here will need to demonstrate higher levels of protection in compliance with section 601 in the new wiring regulations.

Lighting

Extractor fans

Shaver sockets

Towel rails

Electrical equipment which is used bathrooms must not be adversely effected by environmental factors.

Condensation

Humidity/steam

Drops of water

Sprays from showers