Message Forums

Consider this scenario. You install an extra socket in your kitchen for your washing machine, but inadvertently cross connect the live and neutral. You don't bother to test, plug the machine in and it works. That means everything is fine or so you think.

A while later the machine breaks down, so you call in a washing machine engineer. He does what all washing machine engineers do, and only switches off the switch on the socket and does not remove the plug.

He puts his hand in side and receives a bad shock, so bad that he is so nervous he cannot work again. He hires a solicitor and sues you.

You have been negligent because you failed to have your installation tested and carried out the installation without sufficient knowledge. You could argue that the engineer should have removed the plug, but in practice, they do only switch off the switch, assuming that will isolate the supply, as it would in a healthy installation. Testing would have revealed this danger.

A similar story could be concocted for a caravan, but the tale above is actually a true story and the householder lost the case. Whilst it is true that testing is not a legal requirement, it is a very wise precaution.

The electrical installation on a caravan site, and in a caravan is covered by BS7671 which is the new name for the old IEE Wiring Regulations. They are covered as "special locations" due to their greater risk than a standard building. The owner of the electrical installation (the site owner) has a responsibilty for the safety of everything plugged into it and thus could require to see current test certificates for caravans and their mains leads before allowing them to be plugged in. Of course they do have to balance this risk against losing a lot of customers.

Quote: Originally posted by navver on 12/9/2009

Consider this scenario. You install an extra socket in your kitchen for your washing machine, but inadvertently cross connect the live and neutral. You don't bother to test, plug the machine in and it works. That means everything is fine or so you think.

A while later the machine breaks down, so you call in a washing machine engineer. He does what all washing machine engineers do, and only switches off the switch on the socket and does not remove the plug.

He puts his hand in side and receives a bad shock, so bad that he is so nervous he cannot work again. He hires a solicitor and sues you.

You have been negligent because you failed to have your installation tested and carried out the installation without sufficient knowledge. You could argue that the engineer should have removed the plug, but in practice, they do only switch off the switch, assuming that will isolate the supply, as it would in a healthy installation. Testing would have revealed this danger.

A similar story could be concocted for a caravan, but the tale above is actually a true story and the householder lost the case. Whilst it is true that testing is not a legal requirement, it is a very wise precaution.

The electrical installation on a caravan site, and in a caravan is covered by BS7671 which is the new name for the old IEE Wiring Regulations. They are covered as "special locations" due to their greater risk than a standard building. The owner of the electrical installation (the site owner) has a responsibilty for the safety of everything plugged into it and thus could require to see current test certificates for caravans and their mains leads before allowing them to be plugged in. Of course they do have to balance this risk against losing a lot of customers.

I think if you asked a site owner for his current test certificate he would show it to you. If he hasn't got one and the equipment is shot oyu shouldn't risk your life by taking a supply from it.

Part P covers domestic wiring and is mandatory under Building regs. It generally covers the high risk areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Part P does not specifically apply to caravans, although it does not take much imagination to see the link as you live in it and being high risk, has a high potential for electrical accidents and DIY wiring, the driving force for the introduction of Part P.

Part P applies also to electrical installations in commercial buildings containing a dwelling and in or on land associated with the buildings or parts of buildings including pond pumps in gardens and outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages and green houses. Seeing as a caravan takes a power supply from the supply to the site owners house, it's not difficult to associate it with Part P. The word "Caravan" does not appear in Part P, so it's not specifically excluded.

Incidentally my story about the washing machine engineer is true. A fellow engineer was an expert witness on behalf of the engineer. As part of his report he spoke to many washing machine engineers and established that very few do remove the plug. Virtually all simply switch off. With a healthy installation, this would have been safe, bearing in mind that, with PME, the neutral and earth conductors are at the same potential.

Bear with me UNG, the original question was "do caravans require a test certificate and can the site owners request to see them". I'm trying to construct a trail of legislation that does require it, even if inadvertently. I'm not saying it must be complied with, merely exploring if it exists.

Part P is mandatory and does apply to dwellings and business premises that have a common supply (page 5 of Part P). I'm sure many site owners houses share the supply with the site in which case Part P applies to the site.

Part P also applies to parts of the above electrical installations in or on land associated with the buildings or parts of buildings including pond pumps in gardens and outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages and green houses. (page 8 of Part P). As all the caravans are connected to this supply Part P would appear to apply to them.

Work that need not be notified does not include work in special locations or special installations. It merely lists those special locations and special installations and refers the reader to IEE Guidance Note 7 which gives guidance on achieving safe installations where risks to people are greater. (page 5 of Part P). So work in special locations and special installations must be notified.

Following this trail it seems that the site owner must comply with Part P and that all the caravans are part of that, so to ensure compliance he must ask to see the caravans certificate.

Horrible thought isn't it. The way out is to seperate the house supply from the site supply. Then explore whether a caravan is a dwelling!