Just a quick quiz of members.
Do you always perform all of the tests
required of you on each job?.
Who police's this for you?.
Your input please.

O.K., you've got me! If I've just wired in an extra light or something like that, then I don't always go through the full set of tests. I'll check polarity, earth continuity, etc., but probably not a full loop-impedance test if I know the cable runs to be well under the lengths at which this could be a concern.

Paul,
I'm only curious.
Over here we have a consumer programme on TV, it is called Target,and 9 times out of 10,they show members of our (NZ) electrical
trade, doing the simplest of tasks, this could be fitting a socket-outlet in what we over here call, back-to-back,but even with a
simple job like this, all of the prescribed tests are required, if this is not done,
(on national TV), scathing remarks are made,
by the hosts of the show.
Let me clarify this show, they select a few
trades people out of the Yellow pages, in a
given city or town, they then fit hidden
cameras to the house in question and then
take their results from the images shown
and the invoice recieved for the job.
Do any other countries have a show like this?.

Oh yes! We have a show in England called "Rogue Traders." Your show sounds very similar.

Some of the things that they query are debatable, although some of the things that the rogues they've caught on film do are inexcusable.
https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/Forum9/HTML/000038.html

Paul,
Have just read your "Rogue Traders" sideline message, this is not good at all,it is an underhand tactic in the worse possible means.
Oddly enough,Paul, the "Target" progamme, has never ever been to the South Island of New Zealand, maybe they have, and could not find anything wrong with our practices down here, this is after all sensationalist TV?.

Maybe the greater hussle & bustle of the North Island makes for more prospects? Or maybe the crew didn't want the long trip!

I don't suppose they've been to Stewart Island, then?

Testing, do you?
Yes, even adding a back to back socket!
The minimum requirement here is: insulation resistance, earth loop impedance (this is the most important, as a break in the external earthing facility from the power co. may not be detectable without this test) & RCD trip time, if an RCD is present.
Also a check should be made to ensure there is main bonding of water, gas etc.
These tests are mandatory to comply with BS 7671 (IEE Wiring Regs.).
A minor works certificate should be issued for such a job, the above test results need to be provided on the certificate.
In Scotland, compliance with BS 7671 has the force of law behind it, as it is cited in Scottish Building Regs, unlike England.
This does not mean that everybody abides by the Wiring Regs, but as a member of SELECT (The Scottish Electrical Contractors' Association), I am are required to, and try my best to comply.
We do have a huge problem with DIY electrics in this county, but that is another story and I am not going to get on my soap box right now.

David

David,
You've raised a couple of interesting points that I was going to quiz you about!

As you've stated, down here in Sassanach-land compliance with the IEE Regs/BS7671 is not a legal requirement for residential wiring (commercial is different, as it would now come under the auspices of the Health & Safety at Work Act).

I've seen the statements before about the IEE Regs. being quoted by Building Regularions in Scotland (not sure when that came about, but I think there's a note to that effect in my old 1966 edition).

My question: How widely do the Building Regs. in Scotland apply? Obviously a new building or some major renovation involving planning consent etc. would fall into the net, but what about just an electrical rewire? In England, that would have nothing whatever to do with Building Regs. and therefore any such Regs. would not apply.

How would this work under Scottish law? In other words, does it mean that any works that don't involve Building Regs. therefore don't have to legally comply with BS7671?

Legalities aside, does anybody actually enforce compliance with IEE Regs. in Scotland for residential work? Does this come under the jurisdiction of the general building inspector, or is there a separate inspection?

(As you may have gathered, despite traveling half way around Europe and having worked in the States etc., I've never actually been to Scotland, much less done any wiring up there!)

Paul
Cannot say much about Scotland, mate, as I have never been there.

No problem Trumpy. I was hoping we could get our new member David to post some notes on any major differences he's noticed in installations and practices north of the border.

David, feel free to start new threads on any topic!

Paul,
Sorry its taken me a couple of days to come back on this one. You've made me work for the answer!
As an apprentice in college we were told that IEE Regs (now BS 7671) had the force of law behind them in Scotland, for 20 years I had never questioned this.
The following information was supplied to me by Highland Council Building Control Dept. in Inverness:
All work requiring Building Warrant (don't know what the equivalent is in England) requires an "Electrical Completion Certificate". This is a council form, single side A4, not to be confused with the IEE cert. of similar name.
Anyone signing this "Elec. Comp. Cert." is taking legal responsibility for the portion of electrical work described within it complying with Building Regs / BS 7671.

Electrical work such as rewiring or adding extra points should technically have Building Warrant, whether or not any other building work is carried out. Therefore it is covered by the Building Regs.
This is news to me, and Highland Council do not enforce this rule.

At present anyone can sign the "Electrical Completion Certificate" if they carried out or supervised the installation, there is no requirement to be a qualified electrician. Legal liability rests with the person signing the form regardless of their qualifications or competence.
I am told there are plans to change the Building Regs, so that electrical installations where Building Warrant forms are required can only be undertaken by "Competent Enterprises", eg. SELECT or NICEIC contractors.

The Building Control Dept. of the local council are responsible for enforcing compliance with Regs. As these Building Control Officers do not have an electrical background, they rely on the person signing the certificate to have carried out the installation correctly. Only an obvious defect (eg. a 13A socket in a bathroom or live wires hanging out of the wall) or complaint would cause them to question the electrical installation.

Bottom line is:
Scottish electrical installations should comply with BS 7671, but many don't.
However the legal remedies do exist, even if rarely used.
This is not an ideal situation, but it may be marginally better than the English system.

I would like to see compulsory licensing of electricians throughout the UK, with regular spot check inspections!
That is a whole new topic though.

Here in Belgium the Electricity supplier company doesn't give you electricity before that you have a third organisation which come and do the testing and then seal the main Differential (gfi)

David,
Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to track down the information.

I've never heard the term "Building Warrant" before. As I understand the system, in England & Wales we have planning permission (or planning consent). It would always be needed for a new building, major extension, and so on, but not for many minor extensions and changes, unless located in a conservation area or something like that. Quite separate, however, are the Building Regulations which apparently apply to all works, whether planning permission is needed or not. But as far as they go, they seem to make no mention of electrical systems whatsoever. So basically, residential wiring isn't regulated by anything or anybody.

If I've got my facts straight, there are really only two legal issues which might apply. First, if a contract specifies compliance with BS7671 (which most will), then obviously any works not in compliance would be breach of that contract. Second, if somebody were hurt due to dangerous wiring, there could be a lawsuit against the installer on the grounds that if he weren't competent to carry out a safe installation then he shouldn't have done it at all.

It sounds as though your Electrical Completion Certificate just puts on record who was actually responsible for the wiring so that if there are any problems down the line it's easier to trace who to hold responsible. Here, I see dozens of dangerous situations, but by the time I find them, in most cases nobody has the slightest idea who did the work.

Belgian,
Is your main GFI owned by the power company, or by the house owner? In England only equipment up to and including the meter itself is PoCo property. The main GFI (RCD) is not sealed at all.

"Is your main GFI owned by the power company, or by the house owner? In England only equipment up to and including the meter itself is PoCo property. The main GFI (RCD) is not sealed at all."

No, the GFI is here too, owned by the house owner. It's the inspector-not the company- which put a seal. It's so that the owner doesn't tamper with the electricians work. So, that the responsibility of a eventual fault cannot be blamed on the electrician.