New Regulations

SparKing

Is there anywhere I can check to get the gist of the amendments to the etci regs especially pertaining to house wiring etc.
ETCI are charging €150 for the seminar PLUS €80 for the new regs, that is woefully expensive in my opinion and no incentive to keep up to date with current rules.

arse..biscuits

I think someone in my place was putting the "high lights" together, I'll ask him tomorrow.
All the max fault loop impedance values have been reduced.
Ring circuits not allowed in kitchens.
Out of reach sockets (behind fridge for example) must have a 2 pole swith for isolation. (that one is going to make kitchens look poxy)

10-10-20

What's the reason for two-pole isolation on inaccessable sockets?

enmac

10-10-20 wrote: »

What's the reason for two-pole isolation on inaccessable sockets?

allows you to isolate a faulty appliance without switching off the circuit

2011

It also allows your fridge to be defrosted.

What about having the cable for the socket for appliences on a trailing lead that is behind the kicker board in the kitchen?? This way all sockets and plugs are accessible and it is quite neat.

This is often done for integrated units.

davelerave

i assumed this was a regulation.reci were enforcing this years ago.isolating inaccessible outlets

enmac

may have been - but wasn't spelled out as clearly as it is in the most recent edition - I haven't come across any of these switches in any recent built houses

I've had a look through the latest edition - the main differences from the previous edition (just my opinion )are as follows:


main overcurrent device to be installed within 3 metres of main supply point - in meter cabinet if necessary

main light in bathroom to be through rcd - secondary light required from non rcd circuit - or main light could have battery backup

all circuits under 32amp to have disconnection time of .4 secs

2 pole isolation switch for inaccessible sockets

top of DB to be less than 2.25 metres from floor level

no rings in kitchen

non fused spurs not allowed

no socket spurs off a ring circuit

2 radial circuits required in kitchen

freezers to be wired to non rcd protected fixed outlet or
freezers to be wired on dedicated rcd single socket circuit

no switches in airing cupboards


please don't take this as gospel - just my interpretation from a quick overview

i'd be suprised if these don't generate some queries......

SparKing

Cheers lads, I'm into mostly commercial stuff myself and have been asked to rewire a house so waned to check new regs. Turns out you can go by old rules until Sept 09 so no worries for time being.

danjo

Interesting changes. It would be worthwhile knowing the reasons for the various changes e.g. no switches in airing cupboard....so what about immersion switches?

2011

so what about immersion switches?

They should not be in the hot press. The one of the problems was they got left on for weeks on end!

edward543350

main bathroom light on a rcd whats this about is this a new rule?

2011

main bathroom light on a rcd whats this about is this a new rule?

Yup, not enforced yet.

Hoagy

edward543350 wrote: »

main bathroom light on a rcd whats this about is this a new rule?

Only if the light is in one of the Zones. Normal ceiling lights would be above the 2.25m limit of Zone 2.

enmac

Hoagy wrote: »

Only if the light is in one of the Zones. Normal ceiling lights would be above the 2.25m limit of Zone 2.

Normal ceiling lights would be above the 2.25m limit of Zone 2 but many of them may be within 600mm from the edge of shower basin, therfore they would be in zone 3.

The lights in my 4 bed semi in the bathroom and ensuite are within zone 3

Hoagy

enmac wrote: »

Normal ceiling lights would be above the 2.25m limit of Zone 2 but many of them may be within 600mm from the edge of shower basin, therfore they would be in zone 3.

The lights in my 4 bed semi in the bathroom and ensuite are within zone 3

Very good point. I think we are going to see bathroom light fittings mounted in some odd looking locations like over the door etc.

Trying to locate an extract fan outside the zones may well be impossible.

I don't think TC2 have properly considered the implications of this rule.

If it's necessary to have the lighting circuit RCD protected then a luminaire with a standby power source will also be required, complying with Chapter 56.

First of all Chapter 56 states that it doesn't apply in domestic situations, but leaving that aside it also states that "Equipment shall be arranged to facilitate periodic inspection, testing and maintenance"

From that it appears that an emergency test unit will be required in the consumer unit, probably with a separate RCBO for the bathroom light circuit.

2011

Trying to locate an extract fan outside the zones may well be impossible.

Why bother trying? Install a 12V fan instead. Locate the transformer outside all zones. QED

If it's necessary to have the lighting circuit RCD protected then a luminaire with a standby power source will also be required, complying with Chapter 56.

Again what if you use a 12V light?? The 230V power could be kept well outside all zones.

"Equipment shall be arranged to facilitate periodic inspection, testing and maintenance"

This could apply to equipment installed in an attic.

Hoagy

I hear from RECI that a little common sense has prevailed re bathroom lights.

It is no longer necessary to have an emergency light. I don't know if there's to be any change re the RCD.

danjo

"no socket spurs off a ring circuit"

Anyone know why this is not allowed? Assuming the spur is fused I would have thought it was fine.

Stoner

Hoagy wrote: »

I hear from RECI that a little common sense has prevailed re bathroom lights.

It is no longer necessary to have an emergency light. I don't know if there's to be any change re the RCD.

yeah i heard that too, good call, anyway if i was going to put an emergency light in a house it would be on the landing, but that's for a typical house I guess, but its good news that it is out as the standalone emergency lights c/w emergency test units built in are not allowed here either, they would have done the trick.