Published: 22 September 2014
Category: Q&A
John asks this question, which concerns whether RCBOs should replace MCBs in a particular electrical installation, and what Code to specify on the Electrical Condition Installation Report (ECIR). It has been answered by SELECT (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: When carrying out ECIRs, we have a problem. If an office installation has no RCD protection on the socket outlets (ground floor even), the NICEIC told me that with a risk assessment from the client saying they would not use the sockets to supply use outside the building, we could mark them a Code 3.
My Health and Safety consultant dismisses that outright and says that if somebody did use an extension lead outside and something went wrong, I would be in serious trouble for issuing a satisfactory report with a Code 3 not a Code 2 rating. Please note that my H&S guy is an electrical and mechanical engineer before he trained in H&S.
Who is right? I have customers who feel that we are ripping them off as the manufacturers have increased the prices of RCBOs for their three-phase boards to an immoral extent!
Surely, this situation it’s either a Code 2 or Code 3 - it can’t be both, as then we would be back to the issues of the 16th Edition!
Please help us sort this out…
Answer: You should refer to Regulation 411.3.3, which is quite specific.
In an office environment, the socket-outlets within the office, and used to supply equipment such as PCs etc., and which are unlikely to supply portable equipment outdoors, may be under the supervision of a skilled or instructed person and may not, therefore, require the additional protection of an RCD (see 411.3.3 (a)).
Where, within the premises, socket-outlets are for general purpose use by ordinary persons - such as within a kitchen - then 30mA RCD protection will be required. If these socket-outlets are unlikely to supply portable equipment outdoors and no additional protection is provided you should classify this as a Code 3.
Where mobile equipment having a current rating not exceeding 32A is used outdoors, then 30mA RCD protection will be required. However, this protection may be achieved by various means such as, for example, a dedicated 30mA RCD socket-outlet - or having socket-outlets likely to supply portable equipment outdoors protected by a 30mA RCD/RCBO (A 30mA RCD adaptor or RCD plug could be used, but generally this would not be recommended).
If no form of RCD protection is provided, then you should classify this as a code Code 2.
For additional information, you may wish to look at Electrical Safety First's ‘Best Practice Guide 4’ for Electrical Installation Condition Reporting. This is free to download from www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
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