Electrician for landlords in Glasgow

Introduction of mandatory electrical safety checks 

03 Feb 2016 WES ELECTRICAL 0141 8405236
Electricians westend glasgow 

You may be aware the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 introduced a mandatory requirement for electrical testing in privately rented properties.

This will be implemented in due course through guidance from Scottish Ministers.

The Scottish Government are in the process of drafting guidance. In summary the proposal is: -
 
(1) Any new tenancy from 1 December 2015 must have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
(2) Any existing tenancy must have an EICR by 1 December 2016, so there will be a 1 year period to bring existing tenancies up to standard.
(3) An EICR which complies with BS7671 completed by a competent person since 1 January 2012 will be acceptable.
(4) An EICR completed on or after 1 December 2015 must have additional documents to show a record of appliances checked and any remedial work undertaken, but these additional documents won’t be required if the EICR was completed earlier.
(5) An ongoing duty to renew EICRs every 5 years.
 
SAL and the CLA are working closely with the Scottish Government as the guidance is being drafted, and have already been successful in ensuring that the proposed guidance allows for existing EICR certificates carried out before the legislation is implemented to remain valid. 

We will keep members informed of any developments in relation to electrical safety checks and we will issue the finalised guidance to members as soon as it has been published.

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SOLAR POWER SCOTLAND

Funding For Renewable Technologies in Scotland

To encourage people to install renewable technologies the Government has devised a scheme whereby financial incentives are available via grants.

For Solar Thermal and Ground Source Heat Pumps

Scottish Community Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI):

• FUNDING FOR HOUSEHOLDERS SET AT 30% OF THE INSTALLATION COST UP TO £4,000
• RESIDENTS IN SCOTLAND CAN CHOSE TO HAVE A SCOTTISH COMMUNITY HOUSEHOLDER RENEWABLES INITIATIVE (SCHRI) OR A LOW CARBON BUILDINGS PROGRAMME (LCBP) GRANT
• APPLICATIONS LIMITED TO ONE GRANT PER TECHNOLOGY FROM EITHER OF THESE PROGRAMMES
• MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE WEBSITE FOR THE LOW CARBON BUILDINGS PROGRAMME

Planning permission for solar panels

From 6th April 2008 the Government legislation ruled that the installation will not require planning permission and will be classed as a permitted development. This may not apply if the building is within a conservation area or on a listed building).

More information is available from the Energy Saving Trust.

Building Regulations for solar panels

Building Control supervision may be required for some types of roof, particularly where load-bearing capacity is in question or where considerable aging of structure is evident. C Hanlon can help you identify and solve any issue which you have with your roof.

Further Information – the Energy Saving Trust

The Energy Saving Trust offers free, impartial, expert advice about home energy efficiency and local grant schemes.

ELECTRICIANS GLASGOW

Metal Consumer Unit Regulation 2016 Amendment 3

Below is the new amendments for the 17th edition electrical installation regulations

Need an electrician in Glasgow? 

NEW NUMBERING SYSTEM

The Third amendment recognises UK only regulations and these are now identified by a new numbering system. Regulations with a .100 number are CENELEC requirements and those with a .200 number are specific
to the UK.

PART 2 - Definitions

Definitions have been expanded and modified, including the introduction of some new symbols. A list of abbreviations used in the Regulations has been added. The definition of ‘competent person’ has been removed and it has been replaced with ‘instructed person (electrically)’ and ‘skilled person (electrically)’. These changes have been reflected throughout the wiring regulations.

CHAPTER 41 - Protection against electric shock


There is now a requirement for RCD protection for socket-outlets up to
20A for all installations, however exceptions are permitted for:
a specific labelled or otherwise suitably identified socket-outlet provided for connection of a particular item of equipment, or
where, other than for an installation in a dwelling, a documented risk assessment determines that the RCD protection is not necessary
Maximum earth fault loop impedances given in tables 41.2, 41.3, 41.4 and 41.6 have been revised to take account of the Cmin factor. Cmin is the minimum voltage factor to take account of voltage variations depending on a number of considerations.

CHAPTER 42 - Protection against thermal effects

Due to the number of consumer unit fires reported within domestic premises, Regulation 421.1.201 (UK only) has been added and

requires consumer units and similar switchgear to have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material or be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material and complying with Regulation 132.12.
Please note: This regulation will be implemented on 1st January 2016 to allow for manufacturers to ensure an adequate supply of suitable cabinets or enclosures is available.

CHAPTER 51 - Common rules

Section 551 concerning compliance with standards requires all equipment to be suitable for the nominal voltage and also requires certain information to be noted on the Electrical Installation Certificate.

CHAPTER 52 - Selection and erection of wiring systems

A new regulation 521.200 (UK only) has been included giving requirements for the methods of support of wiring systems in escape routes.
The regulations concerning selection and erection of wiring systems have been re-drafted. Reference to “under the supervision of a skilled or instructed person” has been removed.

CHAPTER 55 - Other Equipment


A new section 557 Auxiliary Circuits is included. All auxiliary circuits are
defined in Part 2.

SECTION 559 - Luminaires and lighting installation

Requirements for outdoor lighting installations and extra low voltage lighting installations have been moved to new Sections 714 and
715 respectively.

PART 7 - Special Installations or Locations Section 701 locations containing a bath or shower

There is now a requirement for RCD protection to be provided for: low voltage circuits serving the location
low voltage circuits passing through zones 1 and 2 not serving the location.
Appendix 3 - Time/current characteristics of overcurrent protective devices and RCDs
This includes changes in connection with maximum earth fault loop impedance to take account of the Cmin factor given in CLC/TR50480:2011.

APPENDIX 6 - Model forms for certification and reporting

The schedule of inspections (for new work only) has been replaced by examples of items requiring inspection during initial verifications (which must be appended to the Electrical Installation Certificate).
A small number of changes to the Electrical Installation Condition Report and associated notes have been made, including a requirement to carry out an inspection within an accessible roof space where electrical equipment is present in that roof space.
This summary is not a definitive guide to all the changes introduced by Amendment 3 and contractors will be required to demonstrate a full and comprehensive understanding of AMD 3 at their assessment visit. 

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