two houses being jointed into one - electrical work

stadamack

Hi all,

2 adjacent terraced houses are being joined into one. The ESB meter cabinet is towards the front of each house and the consumer units are over the rear door in both instances. The heating system is oil and there is no storage electric or heat pumps in either unit, therefore, it is likely both houses are 12kVA supplies with 16mm2 mains tails. The houses were built in 2002.

The final house would have only 1 no. cooker with oil heating and so a 12kVa supply should suffice for the final two units combined,

It is proposed that 1 of the ESB meters would be disconnected and the associated consumer unit would be connected with a new 16 mm2 SWA to be installed to the other consumer unit. This would serve to minimize the amount of rewiring required,

Question:
1. Do the ESB have particular requirements for supplies to previously separated houses?
2. Any obvious oversights in the above proposal?

Thank you,

Risteard81

The advice I gave you on the UK Electricians Forums stands. Get a REC on board to design this - these are Restricted Works. ESB National Code of Practice for Customer Interface will detail their requirements.

2011

stadamack wrote: »

2 adjacent terraced houses are being joined into one.

So most likely the finished house will be the size as many other family homes.

The final house would have only 1 no. cooker with oil heating and so a 12kVa supply should suffice for the final two units combined

This would have to be looked at in more detail, but most likely you are correct. Essentially the electrical load could be the size of many family homes, as such a standard single phase electrical supply will be sufficient.

It is proposed that 1 of the ESB meters would be disconnected and the associated consumer unit would be connected with a new 16 mm2 SWA to be installed to the other consumer unit.

Obviously the supply to the sub-distribution board would need to be sized, it may or may not be a 16 mm sq. cable.

1. Do the ESB have particular requirements for supplies to previously separated houses?

Following an assessment modify the wiring to suit. Once this is done apply to have the second meter disconnected. As far as the ESB are concerned they have one electrical load connected to a suitably sized supply and one electrical load disconnected from a meter that is no longer required.

2. Any obvious oversights in the above proposal?

A few thoughts....

Obviously this means that a Registered Electrical Contactor will be required so that the work will be certified. Prices vary a lot as does the quality of the work so it is best to select a REC that has been recommended by someone you trust that has direct experience.

Don't assume that both houses are fed from the same phase :eek:

If the larger loads such as the cooker, hob and instantaneous shower are fed from the main board it may be possible to feed the sub board with a smaller cable (such as a 6mm sq.). Obviously this would depend on a number of factors, but a smaller supply cable may be much easier to route. During the planning phase this should be a factor in dictating which meter is retained.

All smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors in both properties should be interlinked.

sparcocars

ESB networks have no remit for what happens after the meter but in order to get one of the supplys removed you will need to have the account holder request a disconnection from the electricity supplier that supplys the particular mprn you want removed to be sure the account is cancelled.

Then you would need to contact ESB networks on 1850372372 and request the cable and meter to be removed. You will need the mprn when making this call.

A Registered electrical contactor will then need to do whatever work is required in the house and certify it.

If you can do with losing supply in one house until the job is done then it should be done in the order above but if you need power on in there until its completed then it would be best to have the electrician do whatever work is required first and then contact supplier and esb networks.