Do You Need To Carry Out An EICR Before A Consumer Unit Upgrade Replacement
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- Do you need to carry out an EICR before a consumer unit upgrade replacement?
In this video I talk about the procedure regarding testing fuseboards that you replace or upgrade.
There are typically two options electricians do when upgrading a consumer unit:
1. Carry out an EICR beforehand, identifying any defects and ensuring the cabling is all okay to connect to the new consumer unit. Fitting the new consumer unit and testing again to verify the circuits are safe.
2. No test beforehand. Upgrading the consumer unit and testing once complete.
Option 2 is risky for both contractor and client because you may find defects on the installation (very likely) which you then have to charge the client more or if they refuse to pay, leave the installation unsafe.
In my opinion, we should always strive for high standards and ensuring everything we do as professionals to ensure client installations are safe (without money as a factor).
I recommend option 1 because I advise introducing less risk to you as a contractor and business owner.
Read more in my blog post - www.danstheeng...
Electrical Safety First Best Practice Guide 1 - Replacing a consumer unit is a domestic premises FREE guide www.electrical...
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When a customer wants a consumer unit change especially if I'm replacing something that's 40 years old? I always advise they have an EICR carried out by myself before we go any further. The amount of pre existing earth faults out there on installations that have never been upgraded/updated is shocking (pun intended ) there is no better way of finding out how the installations condition is. Simple! Great video Dan.
Exactly and well put. When I was an apprentice our firm got us to turn up with no prior test and cracking on with the replacement. It always caused issues such as borrowed neutrals, poor insulation resistance, bonding issues...... It appears that's how many companies still operate!
Why wouldn't you do an EICR before ripping out a CU? Why?
It's now 2 days work for a consumer unit change if your gonna do it by the book.
Absolutely!
good point Dan, in the past I've always tested afterwards but going forward I think I will use your method
Good to hear Dean.
I always advise a customer to have an EICR carried out prior to a board change. There are too many variables. Fell foul of it in the past where I've fitted a split load dual RCD board and the 2 way lighting circuit has a borrowed neutral.
I think we all know what happened when I powered on...
@M H This was many, many moons ago Dan. We live and learn don't we. Any spark that says they've never dropped a bollock on a job is a liar. Suffice to say, I do indeed assume a 2 way will have that setup unless confirmed.
How would you test for this? Only way I can think of is R1 + Rn but this is not a routine test?
So I’ve got a question.... why isn’t a legal requirement that you pre and post test? Sounds like it should be 🤷🏻♀️
Good advice
You the man Dan, I agree with everything you just said. Sadly a lot of spark out there, think by noting defects in the "comments on existing installation" box, it relinquishes them of any liability.
Exactly that Alvin and that is what this video is for. I get asked about this time and time again.
Quick question. I carried out an EICR/Test for the benefit of replacing a fuse board i.e making sure everything regs wise is ok and there are no faults. All was good for the board change. I issued the EIC with all tested circuits on the EIC. Do I also need to issue a separate EICR or does the EIC with all tested circuits override the need to issue a separate EICR? Thanks
I personally recommend issuing the EICR as a paper trail to show what you inspected and tested prior to the change and the differences between the two as the change would include different RCD times etc. Most software allows you to pull through results from one to the other for ease. A report and certificate records slightly different information so I think this method makes sense.
@@DanstheEngineer Thanks for getting back so quick. My situation was a landlord was about to rent out his property via a letting agent. But wanted me to replace the DB as he had already allegedly had a test where it was recommended due to no RCD protection on sockets being the only issue. I obviously did my own test and visual and found this to be the case. He wanted any other issues, for which there were none to be sorted out on the same day before I changed the DB. So it seemed like a waste of time writing out the Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory EICR as the only issue was no RCD which was rectified on same day of DB change. I mentioned in extent of work!!. Thanks again!
dan, you are bang on, i agree with you, ...there are electricians out there who only rip people off, do a really shit job, for a quick buck......i call them drive by electricians, who most of the time just do a quick 20 min bullshit test, and make a load of test results up........im a fully qualified sparky for over 25 yrs, and i take great pride in the work i carry out, when i do an eicr, im there for a full day, or even two, depending on size of property, and the client gets a very detailed report, i have even seen electricians changing boards that dont need changing, and charging stupid amounts of money, and not even do any testing afterwards, its a shame.......but the clients will always pick the cheapest one's.....but the work they do is shit.....and they are getting away with it..........anyway.....great video.
Great video Dan, useful info as always. Thanks.
Cheers Keith. Glad it was a help.
Been asked for a EICR by the buyer (Solicitor and Home Buyers Survey) of my sons flat. Quotes have stated it needs a new circuit Board (not disputed)
A Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate will be issued with Fuse board upgrade and FULL TEST in 'extent of installation' etc and this has been stated by all of the Sparkys that this covers the EICR. Is this the case?
(Keep being let down, not getting masses of quotes and wasting the guys time)
Hello Dan If i get an EICR done would the report indicate if i needed a new fuse box ?
The inspector may note comments in the general condition of the system that a consumer unit upgrade may be recommended. But generally in the observations, there will be a list of defects with regulation numbers.
Great Video. I think that an EICR should be made mandatory prior to any Consumer Unit change. I have started doing this on all my board changes now and whilst it has increased the price its only a minor increase as I was doing most of the tests anyway!
So would you carry out an eicr and an eic after the consumer unit change? So two lots of paperwork ?
Thanks!
Yes. The EICR is the reporting of the condition and the EIC is the work you have carried out i.e. replacement of the consumer unit and any remedial works.
I'll just add that some certification software allows you to easily provide the information from an EICR to an EIC so very little work with two bits of paperwork.
@@DanstheEngineer ok cool thanks mate, so EICR before installation, and then EIC after installation as both require schedule of tests to be filled out
@@paulneary703 that is right. Although you will find companies doing all sorts of different methods.
Well done mate hove a good day mate form Greg Bouchard how are u ok mate hove a good day mate form Greg Bouchard
You basically have a marker to go by , pretty obvious really.
I think as a minimum the supply characteristics and bonding should be checked, if the client doesn't agree to a full EICR, the circuit(s) you find defects on, simply leave them disconnected and advise the client the circuit(s) cannot be energised until the defects have been remedied perhaps mentioning an EICR would have highlighted these issues way in advance and save them a lot of inconvenience.
Personally I wouldn't do anything but am EICR because leaving something disconnected if defects are found will cause some form of conflict and my advice when contracting is to avoid any conflict because that is when relationships breakdown and can create risk of payment or even a decent review.
@@DanstheEngineer Many customer aren't willing to pay for an EICR before a board change so I guess it's a case of just walking away.
@@ashmanelectricalservices4318 I would create a little PDF flyer explaining why an EICR is beneficial for both parties.... or show them this video.
@@DanstheEngineer I've always thought CPS providers should be doing this, at least that way, the advice is impartial.
@@ashmanelectricalservices4318 🤣🤣🤣 Why do you think I created my channel..... 🤷♂️
Thanks Dan, totally agreed.
Thanks for sharing 👍
He said doo-doo 😂😂😂 10:54