I have been reading ECA correspondence and after all these years of me thinking that its committees had nothing better to do than sit around and make up silly rules, I may have to apologise.
For years, my colleagues and I have bemoaned all of the seemingly useless legislation, most of it from Europe, but perhaps we had it all wrong? For one, we criticised the over the top, and in our opinion, unnecessary testing procedures laid down upon us by the IEE, with the ECA's blessing. What was the point, for example, of locating and marking the centre point of a ring main? In the real world, it never happened.
But, the smoke is beginning to clear. Not the smoke of the explosions caused by trying to connect harmonised cables to (proper) old cables, but the smoke of confusion. ECA committee member Mr R Lovegrove has decided in his wisdom that ring circuits are potentially dangerous and wants them banned! Fortunately, the ECA has seen sense and realised that trying to prohibit ring circuits would be impossible and that radial circuits should be promoted for domestic installations. Now I understand all! The reason for marking the centre point of the old ring becomes clear - it's so we can cut it and make it into two radial circuits. Brilliant! Hold on though, I doubt if us old boys are qualified to do this and will need certification!
Then, we hear of a proposed ‘customer awareness campaign' to increase the use of socket outlets in the home! What on earth (if I may still use that word) is that all about? Is it suggested that people are so stupid that they forget they have unused sockets which prevents them from buying new appliances? Oh, and further good news; the ECA Technical Department is actively involved in the preparation of the new set of Wiring Regs due out in 2008. I can't wait!
A R Ferguson, Solent Power Systems, Southampton
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
