Martin Bell Electrical

Accessory - switches, sockets, ceiling roses etc.

BS 7671 - the UK national safety standard for electrical installation work.

Capping - a thin metal or plastic shaped channel sometimes used to contain
cables when fixed to a wall before plastering. Capping is used to make it easy to run
several cables following the same route with the minimum use of fixings. It does
not provide protection against damage from nails or screws.

Chasing - making slots or grooves into walls in order to allow the installation of
cables or wiring systems. Chasing causes a lot of disruption, noise and dust and
once completed will require making good (see Making good). In Scotland, chases
are known as raggles.

Consumer unit - a consumer unit or fusebox is used to control and distribute
electricity around the home. It usually contains a main switch, fuses or circuit
breakers and one or more residual current devices (see RCD).

Earthing - the purpose of earthing is to minimise the risk of receiving an electric
shock if touching metal parts when a fault is present. This is achieved by providing a
path for fault current to flow safely to earth, which would also cause the protective
device (MCB, fuses) to disconnect the circuit removing the danger. The electrician
will check that the earthing and bonding is satisfactory before starting any work.

Electrical installation certificate - a safety certificate issued by the electrician on
completion of a new electrical installation, or changes to an existing electrical
installation. The certificate confirms that the installation has been designed, built,
inspected and tested to the UK national standard BS 7671.

Flush fitted - electrical accessories such as switches or sockets installed so that
their back boxes are contained in a wall, floor or ceiling and only the front plates are
visible. Flush fitting is more aesthetically pleasing but usually involves chasing (see
Chasing).

Fusebox - see consumer unit

Fused connection unit - enables electricity to be supplied to an item of
equipment or appliance providing its own method of circuit protection (by fuse),
and sometimes includes a switch. Fused connection units are sometimes referred to
in the electrical trade as fused spurs (see Spur).

Main bonding - connecting metal pipes (gas, water or oil) entering premises to the
main earthing terminal of the electrical installation via low resistance conductors.

Making good - restoring the finish of a wall or ceiling that has been damaged and
replacing floorboards which have been lifted during the electrical installation work.
Usually does not cover full redecoration, but will be the filling in of chases (see
Chasing) and holes. You may agree with the electrician to leave the making good of
walls and ceilings to another person such as a plasterer.

MCB - Miniature circuit-breaker (commonly known as a circuit-breaker). An
automatic protective device fitted in the consumer unit which will disconnect a
circuit if there is a fault or overload.

Mini trunking - a plastic enclosure having one removable side that is used to
install cables on the surface of walls and ceilings.

Minor works certificate - a safety certificate (see Electrical installation certificate)
used when only an addition or alteration is made to an electrical installation and no
new circuits have been added.

Partial rewire -- a common situation where it has not been possible or necessary
to fully rewire (see Rewire) the electrical installation. For example when cabling has
been confirmed as being suitable for continued use to minimise the degree of
damage and disruption to the decoration. Or where only a part of an installation
has suffered damage from a burst water pipe or similar. If you are considering a
partial rewire or it is offered to you as an option by an electrician it is very important
that you agree and understand exactly what work is and is not being done before
the work starts.

Part P - the specific section of the Building Regulations for England and Wales
which relates to electrical installations in domestic properties.
Periodic inspection report (PIR) - a report on the condition of an existing
electrical installation. Containing an overall assessment of the safety of the
installation, observations on its condition, and a number of recommendations (in
order of priority) for actions, if any required, to restore the installation to a
satisfactory condition for continued service.

RCD - Residual current device. This is a sensitive switching device that trips a circuit
when an earth fault is detected. RCD protection is particularly important for socket
circuits that may be used to supply portable equipment for use outdoors.

Rewire - the process of installing new cables, circuits and accessories and carrying
out the inspection and testing before putting the installation into service. A full
rewire should mean that all parts of the electrical installation are new. However you
may wish for items such as switches and light fittings to be re-used and the
electrician may wish to re-use a part of the installation which is electrically sound,
due to it being difficult to remove and replace. It is very important that you agree
and understand with the electrician exactly what work is, and is not, being done
before the work starts (see Partial rewire).

Scottish Building Standards - responsible for the implementation of the Building
Regulations in Scotland

Spur - an additional connection often taken from an existing accessory such as a
socket. It may provide a supply to a new socket or a fused connection unit (see
Fused connection unit).

Supplementary bonding - the connecting together of the metal parts of electrical
equipment (such as a heated towel rail) and the metal parts of a non-electrical item
(such as pipes) to prevent a dangerous voltage between them, if a fault occurs. May
be required in bath and shower rooms.

Surface mounted - this is where wiring or electrical accessories such as switches or
sockets are installed so that they are on top of the surface or front of a wall, floor or
ceiling. This causes less disruption to the decoration but is not as aesthetically
pleasing as flush fitting (see Flush fitted).