On 26 May, 00:00, Rod wrote:
The company I work for has just undergone a health and safety
assessment. One of the items to come up was the need to change two
double sockets in the small kitchen to ones that have integrated RCD
devices.

Is this yet another example of a health and safety officer justifying
his/her job by putting something on paper? How many incidents (if any)
have occurred since the kitchen was put into use?


The kitchen is used for making tea, warming up the odd pasty in a
microwave or, when someone really pushes the boat out, toasting a slice
of bread. And there are only half a dozen or so staff.

Kettle - personal risk low unless staff are in the habit of holding it
whilst wating for it to boil or pouring whilst switche on
Same situation with microwave but toasters seem to suffer idiots
poking about inside with knife or fork so there may be justification
unless you would like to see Darwinism in action! The major problem is
then the ensuing paperwork.



1 There are actually three double sockets in the room. Not sure why only
two were mentioned. (Plus fridge and dishwasher - but they are hidden.)

2 There is a door leading out onto a small patio. So I guess you could
argue that devices used outdoors could be plugged in there. But this
would equally apply to the hall/entrance area.

Wait till the next inspection - it will provide another report
paragraph.


3 The wiring isn't exactly old - maybe 12 years.

So 15th edition then. Is metalwork everywhere infested with green/
yellow bonding wires? Bonding became the vogue when cable
manufacturers voiced there presence on the wiring regulations
committee - miles of cable to a captive marketg


I have not checked whether the circuits are protected by RCDs, and, if
so, what rating. For the purposes of getting an answer, I would assume
that they are protected. (I can see the argument if the circuits were
not protected - but wouldn't it actually make more sense to fit whole
circuit protection?) So far as I am aware, the circuits are sound and we
do not get nuisance trips.

If you do have an RCD at the consumer unit seving the kitchen circuits
you must never have had a problem with faulty appliances or earth
leakage.


I imagine all sockets would include a 30 mA device.

Maybe, maybe not. More than likely not if you haven't had tripping at
any time


And this is in England, in case that makes any difference.

So - what is the justification for providing this extra level of
protection?

I really can't see everyone testing the RCD every time they plug the
kettle in. Would fitting them really make any difference to safety?

Why should you? repeated operation would be unreasonable and introduce
unneccessary wear and tear. Three or four times a year is more than
adequate and in any case only tests the mechanism of the RCD not the
protection given.
If you simply provide an RCD at the consumer unit and it protects
other sockets there may be loss of data in the event computer supplies
are fed from it.

Swapping to 30mA RCD protected sockets would avoid a lot of other
problems if you decide to go down the route but beware - if there is
an RCD at the supply end ot the cable and it is a 30mA unit it will
not discriminate and all that will happen is you will trip both
simultaneously. If this is the case you could instead provide a 32A
RCBO feeding a 4mm T&E raidial dedicated to serving only the two
sockets involved.