Certificates required when electrical work done

DarrenM343

DarrenM343

DarrenM343

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Nothing is easy these days. I've had a ventilation fitted in a flat that suffers with condensation but the company has not provided any certs for the electrical work.
Work done includes.
- Replace bathroom extractor fan with their own - probably nothing required here as straight swap?
- Fitted new extractor through wall in kitchen. Wired to the nearest electrical socket. Has it's own separate isolation switch.
- In hallway fitted a PIV system that pulls in air from outside via a vent that has been put through wall and is wired up to the main fusebox that resides in a cupboard above the entrance to the flat (RCD's are all in there.). Again it has it's own isolation switch
It looks a decent install but am I right in assuming some kind if installation certs should have been provided for the last two points above at least?
 
I would be getting test certs for that, personally but then I'm fussy like that.
Tell that to the aerial installer when he threw a hissy-fit and left after I asked him to send me a list with specs of the aerial, the cable and the make of the faceplate he was going to use "don't tell me how to do my job". Good riddance, if you can't tell me what kit you're using you can sod off (didn't say that to his face).
Anyway, example of something I would ask for from the installer, you're wouldn't be the same as this is for a complete system:

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Beer_MonsterUK said:
Minor works certificates will cover those jobs. Only a page per item, so shouldn't really be a problem for the installer.
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Sounds like job #3 has resulted in the installation of a new circuit, so there should be an EIC, and the job needs be notified to building control (hopefully the installer is registered with a scheme, otherwise its very expensive and headache-y!)
 
Cost me £!50 to have a spark approve the electrical stuff I had done myself - rewired most of the house. He messed about with his sparky probes and earth testers for about half an hour, wrote me a cert, then left. Nice money if you can get it.
Spark who retired from my workplace a couple of years ago knows that I know what I'm doing - would have printed one out for free. People he hadn't known so long he would ask a few questions, have a 5 minute look and check the MCBs, then that'd be £50!
 
Thanks for the information all. I'll go back to the company and see what they come up with. The place is also having a periodic inspection done so at least they'll be checking the entire place over including the work done on the ventilation.
Shame the onus isn't on companies doing this work to provide everything, and penalised if they don't. Most of us have no idea what docs we should be asking for. I haven't paid the final bill yet, just a deposit, so will hold off for now until they provide something. Will also ask electrician doing the periodic what should have been provided.

I've sold another place that had some work done by SSE (replaced old wire based fusebox) but I couldn't find the certs so just had to pay a small fee for an insurance policy to cover it.
 
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NoobCannon said:
Would imagine if it burned down or anyone got hurt you would be pretty screwed

Also the house insurance would no doubt be invalidated
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Not sure on that to be honest. I managed to buy a new build property without a final electrical inspection in place. Neither the builder or even building control wanted to take responsibility, the later saying "oh, we don't always inspect the final certifiates". I found it rather shocking to be honest that BC\the council demand various creiteria are met before and during a build, including in my case forcing a complete redesign of the property and then not actually check at the end of the entire process that all the correct certificates had been issued/signed off (ie, not confirming that indeed the house is safe to live in). BC then wanted a lot of money to do an inspection themselves although it wasn't mandatory. I eventually got the builder to provide someone to do the same for free. Did BC want to see the certificate? Nope. I experienced all this because, yep, you probably guessed it, the house had a severe electrical problem after I moved in (kept losing all first floor power to sockets).

I'm no expert but I believe a periodic is good enough for everyone (including insurers). These are valid for 5 years. I'd just get one of these done before selling or letting any property trhat might have had some electrical work done if you don't have the relevant paperwrok.
 
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Lots of misinformation here.

Minor works - alterations to existing circuits.

Installation cert rather than EICR for a new circuit.

EICRs are valid for 10 years on domestic properties, 5 years for commercial and usually 10 years or change of tenant for rentals.

OP none of the work you have listed is notifiable so there is no requirement for a certificate although I would have provided one at a cost.

No electrical installation or testing regulations are statutory.
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Lots of misinformation here.

Minor works - alterations to existing circuits.

Installation cert rather than EICR for a new circuit.

EICRs are valid for 10 years on domestic properties, 5 years for commercial and usually 10 years or change of tenant for rentals.

OP none of the work you have listed is notifiable so there is no requirement for a certificate although I would have provided one at a cost.

No electrical installation or testing regulations are statutory.
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I need a new circuit for my new induction hob/double oven so all I will need is an installation cert?
 
RockLobster said:
I need a new circuit for my new induction hob/double oven so all I will need is an installation cert?
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Can go about it one of two ways, either a full EICR on your whole property if you haven't had one in the last 10 years, or if you have a current EICR then a installation certificate covering the new circuit. The install cert would be the cheaper option.
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Can go about it one of two ways, either a full EICR on your whole property if you haven't had one in the last 10 years, or if you have a current EICR then a installation certificate covering the new circuit. The install cert would be the cheaper option.
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Thanks. Does it matter if the house is only 15 yrs old?
 
RockLobster said:
Thanks. Does it matter if the house is only 15 yrs old?
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The the installation certificate provided 15 years ago would have been valid for 10 years therefore your property is due an EICR. However, Electrical regulations are not statutory and as a home owner there is nothing to say you have to have your electrics testing.

Even for commercial installations EICRs are not statutory, a structured maintenance and inspection schedule with kept records of repairs would satisfy BS7671.

As for insurance companys, if your house was to burn down due to a wiring fault and you didn't have a valid test certificate then I'd expect they wouldn't pay out...
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Lots of misinformation here.

Minor works - alterations to existing circuits.

Installation cert rather than EICR for a new circuit.

EICRs are valid for 10 years on domestic properties, 5 years for commercial and usually 10 years or change of tenant for rentals.

OP none of the work you have listed is notifiable so there is no requirement for a certificate although I would have provided one at a cost.

No electrical installation or testing regulations are statutory.
Click to expand...

Those are recommended maximum times between inspections, an electrician can recommend an installation is inspected sooner if they feel it needed.

Also rented property is recommended 5yrs or change of occupancy.
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Lots of misinformation here.

Minor works - alterations to existing circuits.

Installation cert rather than EICR for a new circuit.

EICRs are valid for 10 years on domestic properties, 5 years for commercial and usually 10 years or change of tenant for rentals.

OP none of the work you have listed is notifiable so there is no requirement for a certificate although I would have provided one at a cost.

No electrical installation or testing regulations are statutory.
Click to expand...
Cool, thanks for clarifying! :)
 
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