Our ECA expert assists a Voltimum user with a question about lack of access to an electrode, and whether this is a limitation or coded as FI on the EICR.
Question:
I went to complete an EICR for the landlord's common areas in a large house subdivided into flats. The intake is in the entrance lobby to the basement flat; PME 3 phase 100A intake with many 16mm² bonding conductors to various services.
Ze measures at 0.08Ω (3.1 kA) when all bonding is disconnected. However, main earth connection to (presumably) the electrode has been built over by cupboards/flooring/tiles/external paving etc and is not visible. Therefore, earth electrode measurement is impossible without very expensive disturbing of the building fabric.
How do we deal with this situation? Is it simply a limitation or coded as FI? Can we provide a satisfactory rating on the EICR?
Answer:
Personally, I would avoid an FI here as it would result in an automatic unsatisfactory report. I would, however, code the lack of access to the electrode as a seperate issue.
Perhaps speak with the client and determine what is required. It would be simple enough in a single dwelling but it sounds like this is more complex and will take more discussion and time.
- Gary Parker, ECA