Church electrics.

Dave Plowman (News) · 2015-10-12T11:36:34+00:00

My brother is on the buildings committee of his local church. Like many it's suffering from an aging and therefore reducing congregation. To try and supplement the churches income, most of it - halls etc - is available for hire when not needed for church business, and has been for many years. For some reason, they've been asked to provide a certificate of electrical safety for the entire premises. Some new requirement, as it's not been needed before. Although all the equipment has been PAT for some time. As with many older churches, the electrical installation has been updated and extended as needed. It has never been totally re-wired in one hit. All work carried out by (I assume reputable) local contractors. Definitely no amateur or DIY installations. Any maintenance done by non pros restricted to changing bulbs and tubes. The survey was done last week by a local contractor. Reported verbally to my brother who was present that they'd found some problems, and would do a full written report - which still hasn't arrived. One thing they did mention there and then was an absence of any RCD protection. And that in the church hall, there were fluorescent fittings which weren't earthed. Those fittings were installed many years ago to replace pendant tungsten - and by a local contractor. They are some 15 ft above floor level so not possible to be touched by a member of the public. Be interesting to see the written report and what they say is necessary remedial work. You'd hope local tradesmen would always do the best deal for a house of God - but sadly this isn't always the case. I've had to rely on what my brother tells me - it's too far away to have a look myself. Anyone know what regs apply these days?

Oct 12, 2015 22 Replies

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charles 10 years ago

but if you don't disturb the old stuff, its still within spec.

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Dave Plowman (News) 10 years ago

OK. So in terms of these florries, changing the two core flex feeding them from the ceiling rose to a three core with the earth from the BESA box would be good?

Anyone remember what the earth thread is in old BESA boxes? 2 BA?

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spuorgelgoog 10 years ago

IIRC yes, 2BA for earthing and 4BA for coverplates.

Owain

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