Need help with cracking those EICR codes? The technical team at NAPIT, with the help of the 18th Edition Codebreakers publication, answer your latest coding queries. Click on the photos for a closer look!
GARETH VICKERS: I FOUND THIS WHILE CARRY OUT AN EICR. CLEARLY THERE HAS BEEN CONTACT ON THE EARTH BAR FROM THE LIVES, AND SOMEONE HAS ALSO REPLACED THE ORIGINAL SOCKETS WITH THESE – MUST HAVE BEEN A PLUMBER!
Every electrician will come across this kind of issue at some point – new faceplates where the existing conductors won’t reach the new terminals. To the competent, it’s a simple fix: extend the conductors in a safe way that doesn’t compromise the current carrying capacity of the circuit conductors or cause damage from improper termination. It would appear the installer has failed on all counts here.
The Neutral conductor extension may not have an adequate current carrying capacity for the circuit, and too much of the un-insulated bare conductor is accessible. Although long enough for the new terminal positions, the Line conductors haven’t been terminated adequately, and again too much un-insulated conductor is accessible. In this case, the un-insulated Line conductors are touching the socket-outlet earthing bar when the accessory is pushed back into position, causing arcing and a potential risk of fire.
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