Hi,
Just wondering if anyone else is in the same Situation around the Country -
The Hamilton City Council Building inspectors are wanting a copy of the ESC for the Final Council Sign off on new builds.
They have required copies of the CoC for a while now, but in the last 6-8 months they are also wanting the ESC
The way it works in Hamilton is a Line Mechanic from WEL Networks comes the day before the Meter Installation and Terminates the Mains to the Pillar / Pole connection and leaves the fuse(s) in the Meter Enclosure. The Inspector will Inspect (If they are independent from the Meter Company), then the next day the Meter Installer will come and install meters and Liven Installation.
ESR 74A (1) says an ESC must be issued once work on an Installation / Part Installation / any fittings suppling an Installation is Complete.
ESR 74A (2) says work is only complete only once the installation is connected to a power supply
ESR 73A (5) says that connection refers to the prescribed electrical work that is the final step that will allow electricity to flow in the installation or part installation on which other prescribed electrical work has been done.
Which means the Meter Installer (being the person completing the work) is responsible for the ESC.
Despite all this, the Council wants the Electrician who wired the Installation to sign the ESC that accompanies the CoC for the Installation (Combined CoC / ESC). I've said that legally Electricians that wired the installation can't issue an ESC until power is connected, which is done by others.
What are others experiences on this? I guess to save a headache I can issue a CoC for the Mains Work to the Inspector and Living Contractor, then issue another Combined CoC/ESC for the General Work on the Installation? I feel the ECS from the Living Contractor still needs to be in the Paper trail submitted to the Installation owner along with all other certs.
ESC and Council Building Inspectors
Re: ESC and Council Building Inspectors
The Council is entitled to request a copy of the ESC(s).
For the scenario you describe, there should be two ESCs (at least);
one for connection of mains (upstream of meterbox) to network, and one for connection of mains downstream of meterbox.
What has been connected in each case is actually more complicated than that, but the point is that two connections that will allow electricity to flow have been made.
So yes the meter installer must issue an ESC for the connection at meterbox; but the line mechanic should have already issued one for the connection at pillar / pit / pole.
Incidentally; if the incoming mains at meterbox are not safely terminated (A& N) when the connection to network is made, then that connection is illegal. No different from connecting a subcircuit before the sockets have been fitted off.
The ESC is the primary safety document for new work. Whoever issues it is legally liable for the safety of whatever has been connected.
That person is required to sight (else issue) all necessary CoC(s) & RoI(s); and also to sight written records of test results.
This part of 73A is the only thing that ensures that PEW actually has been certified & inspected as required.
An ESC can only be issued by the person who made the connection.
So if the Council wants a copy, they have to ask the issuer, not the electrician.
They certainly should not expect anyone else to break the law by issuing one.
For the scenario you describe, there should be two ESCs (at least);
one for connection of mains (upstream of meterbox) to network, and one for connection of mains downstream of meterbox.
What has been connected in each case is actually more complicated than that, but the point is that two connections that will allow electricity to flow have been made.
So yes the meter installer must issue an ESC for the connection at meterbox; but the line mechanic should have already issued one for the connection at pillar / pit / pole.
Incidentally; if the incoming mains at meterbox are not safely terminated (A& N) when the connection to network is made, then that connection is illegal. No different from connecting a subcircuit before the sockets have been fitted off.
The ESC is the primary safety document for new work. Whoever issues it is legally liable for the safety of whatever has been connected.
That person is required to sight (else issue) all necessary CoC(s) & RoI(s); and also to sight written records of test results.
This part of 73A is the only thing that ensures that PEW actually has been certified & inspected as required.
An ESC can only be issued by the person who made the connection.
So if the Council wants a copy, they have to ask the issuer, not the electrician.
They certainly should not expect anyone else to break the law by issuing one.