A
Anonymous
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Martin
The gas installation analogy is a good one. At present the IEE 16th edition regs (BS7671) are not mandatory. OK you'd be an ***** if you didn't follow them but basically you can invent your own system (as did the guy who had my house before me). The electricity board don't have to connect you however and may require that you show compliance if, say, you were new building or doing extensive renovation etc. My understanding now is that the government wants a system where anything more than changing a light fitting will have to be signed off by a "competent person" I would think this means a NICEICIECEC, or whatever the initials are, sparks or firm. You will need to show certificates when you come to sell your house for example. Don't ask me how it's all going to work in practise (I don't suppose the government has thought it all through). I've just bought a batch of the old black and red cable and hope to get everything done before it changes (November was last I heard).
Gary
You could do similar to Adam. Kit out the workshop and run your cable to the meter cupboard and get an electrician to do the final check and connection. You might consider a standalone RCD or RCBO (like for showers) if you didn't want to change an old or full consumer unit. If the workshop is a good way from the house you might need to think about using an earth rod rather than exporting the house earth. In any event I think it is best to have separate RCDs for house and workshop. I am really thankful that my workshop is attached to the house I wouldn't want to get involved with armoured cable.
Roy
The gas installation analogy is a good one. At present the IEE 16th edition regs (BS7671) are not mandatory. OK you'd be an ***** if you didn't follow them but basically you can invent your own system (as did the guy who had my house before me). The electricity board don't have to connect you however and may require that you show compliance if, say, you were new building or doing extensive renovation etc. My understanding now is that the government wants a system where anything more than changing a light fitting will have to be signed off by a "competent person" I would think this means a NICEICIECEC, or whatever the initials are, sparks or firm. You will need to show certificates when you come to sell your house for example. Don't ask me how it's all going to work in practise (I don't suppose the government has thought it all through). I've just bought a batch of the old black and red cable and hope to get everything done before it changes (November was last I heard).
Gary
You could do similar to Adam. Kit out the workshop and run your cable to the meter cupboard and get an electrician to do the final check and connection. You might consider a standalone RCD or RCBO (like for showers) if you didn't want to change an old or full consumer unit. If the workshop is a good way from the house you might need to think about using an earth rod rather than exporting the house earth. In any event I think it is best to have separate RCDs for house and workshop. I am really thankful that my workshop is attached to the house I wouldn't want to get involved with armoured cable.
Roy
