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ROB BRYDEN: HERE’S A PICTURE OF A RECENT EICR WE CARRIED OUT. THE BUS BAR HAD BURNT OUT DUE TO LOOSE CONNECTIONS ON THE NEUTRALS!
A few years ago, a big emphasis was put on the correct torque requirements for electrical connections, especially those within switchgear, such as consumer units (CUs) and distribution boards (DBs). The drive to highlight the issues caused by incorrectly torqued connectors, both too tight and too loose, was well justified when we see this type of observation on an EICR.
It is becoming quite common to see, possibly because more EICRs are being carried out, and hopefully, highlighting these faults early can help to reduce the risk of fire. Also, remember that this is a plastic CU, which isn’t inherently a problem but does back up the industry’s push to ensure connectors are adequately torqued.
A secondary problem, which is not an issue here, is that access to CUs is vital. Where CUs are blocked in or cannot have their front covers removed or connections torque checked, there is an increased risk of fire from poorly torqued or loose connections, which must be coded accordingly.
With the thermal damage in this observation caught at the right time, the inspector may want to advise that the neutral bars are replaced, as they appear to be starting to erode due to heat damage. Either way, the loose terminal can only be coded one way.
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