You have just had your electrical installation inspected and now you are wondering what all the codes such as C1, C2, and C3 mean. What do they really mean though, and more importantly, what should you be doing about them? A straightforward guide for you to make sense of these important classifications:
C1: Danger – Mandatory Action Necessary
A C1 classification is the highest level, depicting an immediate risk to life or property. These are the kind of defects that need immediate attention – should be fixed on the same-day. This could be exposed live wires, loose earth connections or damaged equipment (potential cause of shock/risks of fire).
If your papers contain any C1 codes, do not use the relevant circuits and contact a competent electrician at once. This is not something you can kick down the road until next week. During the inspection specially, your electrician must have isolated such dangerous circuits to protect you. For Electrical Testing Cheltenham, visit www.blu-fish.co.uk/electrical-services-cheltenham/electrical-testing-cheltenham
C2: Hazards – Remedial Action
C2 means hazardous and must be corrected as soon as possible, but not so immediately like C1. While not threats in their own right, these vulnerabilities could be leveraged into a dangerous situation depending upon the conditions at implementation time or over the long run.
Common C2 defects (No RCD protection) in flap installations for example, missing earthing or overloaded circuits. You will want these repairs completed right away – certainly in just days or weeks and definitely not ever months. Technically, properties coded as C2 will fail their electrical inspection.
C3 classifies mean safety improvements are desirable but not imperative. These are just findings for installations that aren’t currently up to the current standards, but not necessarily dangerous.
A C3 which means an improvement is needed and the rare FI (Further Investigation) signifies something needs to be looked into in detail. For instance, the replacement of functional but outdated wiring can be deferred temporarily or attributes like missing labels on your consumer unit and more.
C3 repairs do not have to be in a hurry, but they are useful when you eventually upgrade or renovate your electrical wiring.
Understanding Your Overall Result
A property will pass the housing inspection provided there are no C1 or C2 defects. Even just one C2 code flunks the inspection.
Your electrician must explain C1 or C2 codes in full and provide a written quote of rectification work. A retest is required or a minor works certificate that certifies all defects have been repaired.
Don’t Ignore the Codes
These classes have been put in place to help protect both you and your belongings. C1 and C2 faults are real safety issues that could cause electric shocks, fires or worse. If you know how to interpret codes, it allows all parties to handle repairs on a priority basis and means your property remains safe and in compliance.