Q & A of the Day - Does this tenanted commercial office need extra RCD protection?

Question: Please can you provide a second opinion as to the requirements of whether we need to provide additional RCD protection, or to just notify both landlord and tenant of the new requirements and let them sort it out.

We have just carried out a PIR installation in a shared tenanted commercial office - both are visited by the public. The property is owned by one landlord. Typical twin & earth wiring is installed throughout, chased into walls etc, so that all the wiring is less than 50mm below the surface.

Both tenants at this point have carried work out on the property. Even though this may not be electrical work - from what I understand - this still matters as they have no knowledge of cable runs etc, neither has any nominated supervisor or skilled person been appointed. Although we are responsible for the safety of both tenant and landlord, it is the landlord that we are representing and who pays the bills. What due you think is the best course of action?

Should we notify all parties of the requirements of skilled, responsible persons and the use of qualified electrical services for any work they do? Or should we be cautious and fit RCBOs to all circuits?

But here lies my dilemma - if we notify all parties and the landlord is led to believe that the tenants will initiate a supervised regime for any work, but don't, what would be the repercussions for the landlord and myself?

Answer: Additional RCD protection is not required to be retrofitted to existing pre-17th Edition installations. Any new wiring will require additional protection, unless it is supervised - places of work should generally be supervised.

The landlord needs to take control here and nominate a person to supervise the installation. He should also tell the tenants that no work is to be carried out without the nominated supervisor's consent. Tenants also have a responsibility to their employees under the Electricity at Work Act.

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