Codebreakers #46

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!

SEAN DIXON: WE WORK FOR A LOCAL RECYCLING FIRM AND THEY HAVE GOT ANOTHER CONTRACTOR TO CARRY OUT SOME WORKS ON-SITE. THIS IS THE QUALITY OF WORK – NEWLY INSTALLED ‘PICK & MIX’ WITH MCB DB AND THEIR VERSION OF AN IP65 RATED ENCLOSURE.

It’s always frustrating when you see new work which obviously isn’t compliant, but the inspection and associated EICR can only note what is there.

First off, the enclosure in Photo 2 has been significantly modified and is unlikely to offer the IP rating envisioned by the manufacturer. If the enclosure is in place to stop a particular external influence and does so with the extensive modifications to it, there isn’t a problem.

If, however, the IP rating is required for fluids and/or solids entering from above, it’s likely the DB no longer has adequate protection from those types of external influences.

Secondly, the mixed manufacturers’ equipment types that are in use in the DB, Photo 3, are an issue. There are five different manufacturers’ MCBs in use; their opening and closing states are in the same direction, there are no signs of thermal damage, and the DB enclosure hasn’t been modified to house them.

I can’t comment on their connection to the busbar, as that information isn’t available. That may or may not be a problem, depending on the individual manufacturers’ busbar offsets.

Something the client may need to be aware of, which wouldn’t necessarily be covered in the EICR, is that the original installer is now the manufacturer and is responsible for type testing unless the DB manufacturer has given their permission for this configuration.

Should a fire or other damage be caused by the DB in the future, the original installer, who is now the manufacturer, will be liable if it is proven that the configuration of the different equipment types wasn’t suitable and/or caused the aforementioned damage.