HI All. Looking for advice for EICR certificate. My property has old style red/black/earth wiring. Does anyone know if this is OK for an EICR certificate, or will I need to consider rewiring the property?
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nothing wrong ,most properties have a mix of that and the new colours
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Thanks for confirming Colin3
Eicr is about safety. So long as itâs safe no need to replace is my understanding but you could ask on an electrians forum eg on diynot to be sure
See also
Electrical Wiring Colours - The Old and the New (UK) | EC4U Electrical Wiring Colours - The Old and the New (UK) | EC4U
https://community.screwfix.com/threads/black-red-wiring.247378/
Best
Thanks David240. Useful info.
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Onwoukd recommend you have an RCD cut out in the board. There is usually no earth on the old black and red cables. Bit with RCD in the board it will cut out in a thousandth of a second. Just double check with an electrician and ensure you have plastic screws in the light switches and advise them they cannot touch anything electrical.
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i have been a builder for a long time When using the âoldâ red/ black there was always an earth.. âŚTwin and earth red/ black cable . double insulated. You have to go back to really old wiring to find no earth.
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Search for âEICR best practice guide 4.7â and gen up on what is deemed âsatisfactoryâ and âunsatisfactoryâ in an EICR report. Electricians are looking for unsafe installations.
Items that trip up owners are : No RCD protection on Consumer unit, non fire rated and badly connected downlighters, lacking in Earth Bonding to name just 3.
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All great advice. Thanks to you all
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Jon, Have you had the EICR completed and did it pass or fail?
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Hi Ray. Not had it done yet, but will post you result when completed. Thanks
Jon, hope iâm not repeating the obvious to you, if you have prior experience of Domestic Electrics.
Red/ Black wiring is fine and compliant to 18th edition regs if made in PVC and not too old that it has âcable cancerâ, a green goo that weeps out from 1970âs cable that has deterioated with age and chemical attack from within. If its black rubber covered VR wire its of course well past its service life.
Lots of issues/ postings on EICRâs on here, be careful who you choose to complete the report. Attend on the day, stay in the background, watch, learn, when finished, ask exactly what observations they have made and why in laymans terms if they are able to, ie plain english. If possible, walk around well in advance of the visit and check all sockets, Light fittings/ switches for damage. simple things can be repaired in advance so they dont add to what might be a long list of non-compliances.
2x general types of electricians exist I have found, First type come in in a rush, stay quiet, dont communicate with you when questioned and list everything wrong or suspect as failures that they pass back to Head office to produce a work quote in the thousands to put right. EICR might cost a ÂŁ100 or ÂŁ150 and completed in an hour or so at most. If you have a good installation anyway they may not find much / already previously fixed and its a win for you.
2nd type arrive, take time to discuss the previous history of the installation that you are aware of , complete the report carefully and describe what there are doing as they go along, providing advice if it can be rectified in various ways and cost effectively. They might take half a day or longer depending on size of property but they will be more thorough and considered. The EICR may cost you ÂŁ250 or more but you will have confidence that your property has had a full MOT and you know if it can be made safe in the most cost effective way if needed. This electrician will immediately address any unsafe and dangerous matters there and then if found. Also offering recommendations for upgrades for the future.
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