One of the departures from BS 7671 which is still commonly recorded by NICEIC Engineers is the omission to provide adequate installation information at distribution boards and consumer units.
Regulation 514-09-01 requires that a durable and legible diagram, chart, table or equivalent form of information is provided at distribution boards and consumer units, to indicate in particular:
- the type and composition of each circuit (points of utilisation served, number and size of conductors, type of wiring), and
- the method used for compliance with Regulation 413-01-01 (that is, the method adopted for protection against indirect contact) and, where appropriate, the data required by Regulation 413-02-04 (that is, the characteristics of the protective devices used for automatic disconnection, and the earthing arrangements), and
- the information necessary for the identification of each device performing the functions of protection, isolation and switching, and its location, and
- circuit(s) or equipment vulnerable to a typical test (for example, an insulation resistance test may damage some equipment).
Such information is also required to satisfy requirement P2 of the Building Regulations for England and Wales, which requires that, for dwellings, ‘sufficient information shall be provided so that persons wishing to operate, maintain or alter an electrical installation can do so with reasonable safety.’
A convenient way of providing much of this information is by means of a separate copy of the Schedule of Circuit Details for the Installation, which forms part of NICEIC Electrical Installation Certificate. Alternatively, for installations within the scope of the NICEIC Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate, a separate copy of page 3 of the certificate may be used.
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