Old house and new regulations....

[d12654035]

Hi,

I live in a 1900 house that has been rewired at some point in the last 10-15yrs but I need an electrical inspection report for the council as I rent out the other rooms and the electrics need to meet the standards.

I had 2 guys out today, seem to know what they are on about but I want to check a few things.

The checked the lighting circuits and they are 1mm square, they say they need to be be 1.5mm square... I have checked the "Collins New Complete Wiring and Lighting" book that is up to the new IEE standards and it indicates a 1mm square cable is fine for lighting circuits.

They also found that one of the bedrooms is on the same circuit as the kitchen appliances...the fridge, microwave etc.. however not the cooker, which has its own cable and trip. They say the kitchen needs to be on its own circuit.

Upstairs in one of the bedrooms (only able to check some of the bedrooms) there is a socket with 2 spurs, and possibly another spur coming off one of the spurs. this to me does sound dangerous but just checking. Under the new regs there are to be no spurs at all... this is correct.?

I also had them in to price a fire alarm system to L2 standard..

So, for a complete rewire and installing the fire alarm system (10 detectors, 3 sounders, 4 break glass and a panel display) they said it would be about/at least 5000 GBP. They are to get back to me with a detailed quote.

This to me sounds ok for a 3 story 5 bed 2 reception house. but is it necessary to re wire...

Thanks Very Much

C

 

[electronicsuk]

We haven't seen the job at hand, but generally speaking there is nothing wrong with a lighting circuit in 1mmsq, nor is there a problem with the kitchen and bedroom sockets being on the same circuit. The multiple spurs off spurs are a problem and this should be rectified as soon as possible, although I can't comment on the exact requirements re fire alarms. Single spurs from a ring final are not a problem and are permitted, if the "two guys" have flagged this as a fault then they're just out for your money.

 

[d12654035]

Thanks for prompt reply, Yeah, I am not sure, I am not a good judge of character, and they seemed helpful, but I think you might be right...
I do intend getting some more quotes and advice. Cheers.C

 

[electronicsuk]

Give the guys a chance and ask them the reasons behind the work they have deemed necessary. Having a separate circuit for the kitchen is not a requirement but fairly common practice these days due to all the high load appliances, but why they want to rewire the lighting circuit in 1.5 is beyond me. Provided 1mm is adequate for the loads on the circuit and protected by a suitable breaker then it is not a problem.