Published: 17 March 2014
Category: Q&A
Neil asks this question, which is about whether the old two-wire domestic wiring with no circuit protective conductor (CPC) in a house means that a re-wire is necessary. It has been answered by the NICEIC (Theme – Regulations and Legislation):
This Q & A is one of thousands posted in our Technical Expertise area, and answered on a daily basis by our Voltimum Experts.
Question: This question concerns a house having an electrical installation comprising old two-wire wiring without a CPC, with ceiling roses and switches in plastic, and an old consumer unit with re-wireable fuses.
I was recently asked to rectify items condemned on a report carried out by an approved NICEIC electrical contractor, which also recommended that the consumer unit be upgraded.
My question is – is it right to say that the house concerned needs to be re-wired because it has old two-wire wiring without a CPC?
The forward action I am recommending is to upgrade the consumer unit and the minor items picked up in the report as the minimum to meet to the Regulation, as I don’t see the point of a complete re-wire.
Your thoughts and response would be appreciated...
Answer: You can use the existing lighting arrangement if the lights and switches are indeed double insulated in plastic or deemed as Class 2 equipment.
Attached is the Best Practice Guide giving help and advice on this issue that is often found on older electrical installations (PDF document – 806 kB file size – please use the link below).
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