Consumer unit

[Notasparky]

i need some help here, i currently have an old style fuse box supplying 4 curcuits 1 lights 1 emmersion heater 1 cooker 1 sockets how difficuilt is it to replace this unit with a new consumer unit with extra outlets? What size rcd's will i need?

[Octal]

Dead simple if you are an electrician that hold a part P, unfortunately there is only certain work you can carry out, and that doesn't included consumer units. By the way I am an electrician but even I can't replace it because I haven't got the part P. I should expand on that, you can replace it but you need a responsible person to certify it.

[Notasparky]

I take it this "part p" is a qualifiation ? which means i have to get a sparky in to do it ?

[Octal]

Originally Posted by Notasparky

I take it this "part p" is a qualifiation ? which means i have to get a sparky in to do it ?

Perhaps I should clarify it, you don't have to be a sparks to carry out any work, but if you do certain types of work like in kitchens, bathrooms and consumer units the work has to be certified by a responsible person who holds a part P certification, this site will give you more information on what you can and what you can't do:
http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/partp.htm

Edit: By the way, it's not really a qualification, it's a certification that is added to your electrical qualifications, in my case if I wanted to take it it's a 5 day course.

[Notasparky]

Thanks for your help m8 i'll check that site out ...

---------- Post added at 21:32 ---------- Previous post was at 21:24 ----------

Just a quick one before i go searching , how do they determine whether it is new work that youve had done ? Ive had a quick read on that site and it states that the government are introducing legistlation , im just wondering how they know whether its new work or old ?

[Rob]

If you have an old style fusewire board, many are upgradeable using replacement circuit breakers in stead of the removable fuses. That goes a long way towards meeting the modern safety standards and might be a cost effective option. But it won't add the RCD (earth leakage device) or resolve other more general issues like earth cross bonding of pipes and other services, or if there are inadequacies in the circuits themselves such as lack of earth wire in lighting (common in 1970s or earlier property).

Best option can be to get a full test and quote from a fully qualified electrician.

It's less about being qualified to part P standards (there are a few different ones of whether a sparks can do a complete rewire, or just a partial alteration), and more about whether the self certification done by the sparks will be sufficient to satisfy building control, and any potential purchaser of your house's solicitors.

---------- Post added at 21:38 ---------- Previous post was at 21:32 ----------

A giveaway of new work will be the colours of wires used. It changed, post introduction of Part P, to blue brown (as per a plug flex wires) from red black. Use modern wires in any alteration and it's easily spotted. However, unless someone has a specific electrical test, if you sell or let your house it's very unlikely someone would check this. Most surveyors, even on a detailed survey exclude services from anything other than a visual check so they won't remove switch covers and the like (surveyors, not being sparks, don't want to receive a spark).

Before Part P of the Building Regs came in, any electrician should have been self certifying work they did as complying with the IEE regs. Frequently the paper wasn't issued, hence part P to tighten it all up. When selling or letting a house, vendors, or usually their solicitors will ask for copies of recent tests. Ideally systems should be regularly checked anyway. If it's clear there have been upgrades, yet there is no paperwork, suspicions may be aroused.

[yesman]

Originally Posted by Rob

If you have an old style fusewire board, many are upgradeable using replacement circuit breakers in stead of the removable fuses. That goes a long way towards meeting the modern safety standards and might be a cost effective option. But it won't add the RCD (earth leakage device) or resolve other more general issues like earth cross bonding of pipes and other services, or if there are inadequacies in the circuits themselves such as lack of earth wire in lighting (common in 1970s or earlier property).

Best option can be to get a full test and quote from a fully qualified electrician.

It's less about being qualified to part P standards (there are a few different ones of whether a sparks can do a complete rewire, or just a partial alteration), and more about whether the self certification done by the sparks will be sufficient to satisfy building control, and any potential purchaser of your house's solicitors.

You have explained it in a nutshell
Just to add that sockets on a ground floor of a domestic property must have a disconnection time of 0.4 seconds, this can only be achieved with an RCD/RCBO at the source of the installation.
For the OP's benefit, you would probably need one of these installed and suffice to say, by someone who is qualified.
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MK5686.html