Our Voltimum Experts answer your questions on a daily basis in our Technical Expertise area. This Question of the Day, concerning Electrical Installation and Minor Works Certificates, is answered by the ECA:
The new electrical circuits that have been installed are referenced to the electrical installation certificate, while the Minor Works Certificates relate to work carried out to existing circuits. All circuits are fed from the same TPN distribution board.
Where a Minor Works Certificate has been issued, the related circuit shown on the Electrical Installation Certificate is noted as a 'spare', but - in reality - this way on the board is 'in use', as the minor works certificate shows what this is.
Where an addition and alteration to the electrical installation is carried out at the same time as these minor works, surely all work carried out should be inspected, tested, certified and verified on just one Electrical Installation Certificate, shouldn't it?
In fact, on the back of the Minor Works Certificate that I've received, it reads: 'This certificate would be considered to be invalid if you requested the contractor to undertake more extensive work, for which an Electrical Installation Certificate or, if appropriate, a Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate should have been issued'.
Does this mean what I think it means - that an Electrical Installation Certificate should have been issued for the entire works carried out and that the Minor Works Certificates should not have been issued?
Answer: Alterations and additions can be certified on either an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Works Certificate for each circuit worked on. It may have been more appropriate to use an installation certificate in this case rather than multiple Minor Works, but it is not a requirement.
The installation certificate should only list the circuits to which it relates. It should not be listing other circuits, or marking them as 'spare'.
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